Napa

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Happy Wine Wednesday! Who is in the mood for a nice glass of wine? I am having another roller coaster of a week, and I am excited for tonight’s wineup to benefit the Red Cross with Red White Boston. Speaking of Red White Boston, have you checked out the new forums? Talk about wine, read about wine, write about wine, you can do it all there. I am hoping to help Red White Boston make it a great community space, so check it out!

Today, Wine Wednesday brings us to Peju Province Winery, a gorgeous property in Napa Valley that we visited on our last trip to Napa. Our first day in Napa was a rainy Sunday, but Peju’s architecture and landscaping, not to mention their wine, really brightened the day. A drive up the long driveway, lined with sycamore trees, provided a dramatic entrance to the winery.

Peju Province Winery

Peju Province Winery

Various sculptures in the outdoor gardens were beautiful and whimsical. I really love how, just how wines have their own character, so does each winery.

Peju Province Winery

Peju Province Winery

Peju Province Winery

Once inside, we had a short wait to be guided into the tasting room.

Peju Province Winery

The tasting room was stunning with different counters spread out for comfortable, unhurried tasting.

Peju Province Winery

The tasting menu for the day included 2009 Peju Estate Chardonnay, Provence, 2007 Merlot, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc.

Peju Province Winery

I was not a huge fan of the Chardonnay, but the Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Provence all blew me away, especially the Sauvignon Blanc. It was so crisp and aromatic, full of citrus and stone fruit flavors. We left with a few bottles, and I wish we had picked up a few more. I love this wine.

Peju Province Winery

I don’t remember the name of the gentleman at the tasting bar, but he was awesome. We had similar tastes in wine and both happened to be going through a white wine phase, so we had a lot to chat about. I don’t know how we passed by Peju so many times in the past without stopping, but I know I will return.

When it comes to wine, are you a red or white fan? Does it change seasonally or depending on your mood?

Tags: Napa, Peju, Rutherford, sauvignon blanc, Travel, wine, wine tasting

Avia Napa

Edited to note that the Avia Napa is now the Andaz Napa. I have not had the pleasure of staying in the Andaz yet, so I can’t attest to the service or anything, but I can say its Napa location is fabulous!

I hope you enjoy this post regardless, and please be in touch with any questions on our travels to Napa or Sonoma!

 

Another travel post, I hope you don’t mind! I don’t always devote a full post to hotels and inns that we stay at, but our recent stay at the Avia Hotel in downtown Napa is certainly worth its own post.

As you probably remember, I was supposed to run the Napa Marathon until I decided not to. Prior to withdrawing from the marathon, I booked an amazing deal at the Avia Hotel in Napa, and since it was through hotels.com, we had to pay for the room whether we stayed there or not.

I am SO glad that we went ahead with our stay for so many reasons. Not only did we discover a love for downtown Napa, but this hotel was an incredibly priced true getaway place for us.

Avia Napa

Upon check-in we were informed of a complimentary upgrade. I hadn’t shared my blog or anything, so the upgrade was pretty much “just because”, and we were very pleased. Check out that room! It offered a sitting area, free wi-fi, superbly comfortable bed, and a rain shower in the bathroom.

We also had a private balcony with a little café table.

Avia Napa

The flat screen TV could be watched from the bed or the sitting room, just by turning it around.

Avia Napa

The other side of the TV said this.

Benjamin Franklin wine quote

Amen Mr. Franklin!

The beauty of the hotel extended beyond our room to the terrace, which was lined with private porch swings.

Avia Napa

On our first night, after an amazing (not photographed, but seriously, amazing) dinner at Bistro Sabor, we relaxed on one of the swings under the stars.

Avia Hotel Napa

We also had morning coffee and juice out here the next day.

Avia Hotel Napa

We didn’t eat in the Avia Hotel’s restaurant, but it was so cute that we will definitely be making a reservation next time!

Avia Napa

The whole experience, from the comfortable lobby with chess boards and a fireplace, to the complimentary wine hour with Vic Bourassa from Bourassa Vineyards to the valet staff to the front desk, and on and on, was perfection. If we only stayed in Napa two days and went home, I would have felt this a completely wonderful vacation, with many thanks to the Avia Napa for being a wonderful wine country getaway in the middle of it all.

Avia Napa

It didn’t hurt that we were within walking distance to many restaurants, tasting rooms, and the Oxbow Market. I would stay at the Avia Napa again in a heartbeat.

Tags: Avia Hotel, hotels, Napa, Napa Valley, Travel, wine, wine country, wine travel

Bottega, Yountville

Of all of the places we have eaten in Northern California, Bottega is my favorite. The Yountville eatery of famed chef Michael Chiarello, Bottega combines laid back California relaxation with a touch of old world Italy for an unforgettable dining experience.

Bottega Yountville Bottega Yountville

Zazu, Santa Rosa

Zazu is a roadhouse in the heart of Sonoma wine country with an intense focus on fresh and local food. Most of the ingredients at Zazu are grown on the property or within a few minutes’ drive, and when we dined there last summer, our meal was blissfully simple and perfect. Zazu also offers a fun blind tasting option on their wine list so you can see if all of that wine tasting has paid off!

dinner at Zazu

Scopa, Healdsburg

Nestled in a narrow space in a row of restaurants and stores, you can easily miss Scopa, but it is definitely a fantastic find. Just be sure to make reservations. Scopa offers a variety of Italian small plates, pizza, and pasta in addition to Italian and local wine in a very cozy atmosphere. A great place for dinner for two!

arancini

Oxbow Public Market, Napa

Oxbow Public Market is almost everything to almost everyone. Want a pint of beer and some oysters? Wander down to the Hog Island Oyster Bar. Interested in having the best English muffin in the US? Model Bakery is there for you. Or maybe you are craving a good old burger and fries. Oxbow Public Market has that covered with Gott’s Roadside. And there is so much more. You could eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Oxbow, for days, and never eat at the same place twice!

Oxbow Public Market

Dry Creek Kitchen, Healdsburg

Light, airy, with a wall of windows open to the outdoors, Dry Creek Kitchen is comfortable elegance with beautiful cuisine. Chef Charlie Palmer’s “Progressive American Cuisine” is like art for both the eyes and the palate. To top it off, you can bring your own wine to Dry Creek Kitchen, and there is no corkage fee if the wine is from Sonoma County.

Dry Creek Kitchen

 

Meghan Malloy is the blogger behind Travel, Wine, and Dine.

Tags: Dining out, Food, Healdsburg, Napa, Napa Valley, Sonoma, Sonoma County, Travel, wine, wine country, wine tasting, Yountville

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