Got Grapes?

We did a lot of initial research on the best way to get a feel for Napa Valley. There were bus tours, bike tours, shared shuttle vans, rented limos/SUVs, and the Wine Train (which doesn’t even let you off). A sense of independence, adventure, and a tight budget dictated we choose the drive-yourself-and-figure-it-out route.

Napa County is known as one of the finest viticulture regions in the world. There are two roads that form a circuit through a large number (over 200) of vineyards. Our first stop was the Chimney Rock Winery in the Stag’s Leap District.

Our next stop was Rutherford Hill. We had a nice walk around, smelled a few flowers and went on our way.

We then stopped at Calistoga's Old Faithful Geyser. Whether it is natural, and just opened when domeone was drilling a well, or whether the it was created by someone drilling a well around the turn of the century, it's now considered by many to be one of the three "Old Faithfuls"
in the world (designated as such due to constant, predictable eruptions). While we were there it performed about every 15 minutes, spouting scalding water about 50 feet into the air. The water comes from an underground river, which boils, expands and builds up pressure after flowing over molten magma deep in the earth. It may even be used in the prediction of earthquakes.

After the geyser, we head to Clos Pegase Winery, which had lots of cool sculptures. Further along, at Sterling Vineyards, we took a tram ride up to the winery. They had things set up for a self-guided tour (educational, and from grape to glass), followed by a tasting. We bought a bottle of 2005 Malvisia Bianca. We had an early dinner at Mustard's Grill in Napa--great food featuring fresh local ingredients. Tasty.

Back at the hotel we were greeted by the field-full of long-eared Jackrabbits next door.

For more pictures of this lovely day, click here http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/d3loeber/San%20Francisco/Napa%20Valley/