wines, vines and dining in style-Napa Valley

If you could spend a day in the country, any place in California, where would you go? Wining and dining in the Napa Valley, of course! So much to see, so little time--start out early with a hot air Balloon Ride over the valley! Napa Valley aloft is located in Yountville, at the V Marketplace, Vintage 1870. You will be amazed at the beauty of being above the valley seeing for miles!

By the time you return you will need to find a restaurant quickly for lunch in order to have time left for wine tasting. You may consider finding an inn for the night because you really need more than one day to fully enjoy this area. Napa Valley Lodge is near the balloon ride so it would be quite convenient.

Restaurants are plentiful in Yountville so you will have no problem finding a place for lunch and then --- Let's head out to the wineries!

As you head north on highway 29 you will come to Peju Winery at 8466 St Helena Hwy 29. They will be happy to pour their wines into your glasses to sample (for a fee of course). Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Fifty/Fifty, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Provence, a proprietary blend of red and white varietals in their landmark tasting room tower.

There are far too many wineries in the Napa Valley for me to mention them all so I will just share my favorites and you will find too many to visit in a day as you travel around the valley. My favorites are: Beringers, Sterling Vineyards Castello di Amorosa .

Beringer is located in St Helena on Hwy 29 on the most northerly edge of town. They have a very nice tasting room, lovely gardens and a tour of the wine making facility.

As you leave St Helena and travel a few miles, on the right side of the road you will see a white building up on the hill with a gondola gliding though the air toward it. Don't miss the Gondola ride, it is worth the price and includes the wine tasting. However, if you don't like heights, you can drive your car up to the winery.

My next and probably most favorite because of the uniqueness of the property, is Castello di Amorosa. It is an actual castle that was brought from Europe and reconstructed in Calistoga. It is unbelievable, if like me, you have never seen a real castle. Click on the link above for a slide show of the building inside and out!

When you arrive at the Castle please think of me and raise a toast to such a masterpiece of architecture!