Notes from Napa

Clearly it's vacation season here at FS. While I'm not sure I have the wherewithal for a full trip report, here are some observations and other random thoughts:

• The food is fan-f-ing-tastic there. We hit a wide variety of food experiences: the Ox Bow market to get picnic fixings to eat at Clos du Val's picnic area (amazing cheese counter at Ox Bow); Taylor's Automatic Refresher for the biggest, juiciest burgers and thickest shakes I've ever had; Bouchon for a foodie meal (cripsy pork belly, cheese course, chocolate mousse); Mustards for a wonderful late afternoon lunch (swordfish tostada, some sort of warm chocolate desert, which either is escaping me or I was too loopy to actually remember); Tra Vigne for a relaxed meal on the patio (rabbit ragu over house-made pappardelle). We also did the just snacks for dinner thing. And what really struck me was one night when we were too tired to do anything else, we walked across the street to some chainy Mexican joint (Compadres Bar and Grill) and ended up having a fantastic meal and kick ass margarita (pulled pork on an avocado with cheese and fixins).
• Wine tasting is a racket. I spent ... um ... way too much money on wine. (Let's just say it's a good thing that bonuses were handed out in 2008.) They get you a little tipsy on the tasting, and the wine is good, and there's a fair amount of social pressure to buy. And the next thing you know, the girl who usually thinks $15 is a correct price for a bottle of wine, is dropping some serious coin. The only things that saved me: a. Pa. has shitty laws and we could not ship back to the house from the wineries. Thank God! Or else there may be cases of wine here right now. b. I did find a place to ship and had one (just 1!) case box. So by the time we hit tasting day three I had mostly filled it up and did not buy the reserve wine at Stags Leap -- even though I wanted to. 
• By far, our favorite place was Pride. Amazing views. Amazing wine. Amazing service. Cave tour. Barrel tasting. 
• Rubicon is no longer the  shrine to the Coppola family that it once was. Almost all the movie stuff has been removed. Frankly, I think I liked it better that way. The focus is pretty squarely on the wine and the history of the estate. Both of which I appreciated. Especially their Cask cab and 2-source Zin!
• Other good spots, imo: Cakebread, Stag's Leap, Clos du Val. I liked the wine at Grgich, but didn't think much about the experience.  
• While I'm not a huge sparkling fan, there's something to be said about the tasting at Mumm, mostly because you sit on the patio and someone waits on you. The sitting down part was much needed. Also the pours were huge (three, 4-oz pours). 
• Aside from wine tasting, we also drove to the coast (first time seeing the Pacific for me!), walked through the redwood forest, played cards and spent two days in San Fran.
• After weeks of listening to FS say "Welcome to the Rock!" in his best Sean Connery voice (which is pretty darn good), he did not say it one time when we actually toured Alcatraz on principle.
• It is a pretty safe bet that the weekend leading in to Pride week, there is no need to point out cute guys on the street.  
• JR and I were in Ghirardelli Square when news of MJ's death hit. It's fascinating to watch as people get txt msgs, check their BBs and generally share news with one another.  
• FS and I saw David Byrne in the airport on the way home. It really was all I could do not to make the little "same as it ever was" arm motion to him. I'm pretty sure FS is the only person there who recognized him.    

So, all in all, a successful trip. I would definitely go back. Both to wine country (although maybe hit some of Sonoma next time) and to San Francisco (would love more time to explore the neighborhoods). 

Comments

[FS]

Really liked Bouchon.

[JR]

Tra Vigne was my favorite meal - scallop and pea risotto with a lemon sauce. So yummy that I wanted to lick the bowl clean. Taylor's hamburger was also amazing.

Pride Vineyard was hands down the best. I can't wait to open up one of our many bottles from there.

I was so disappointed that FS never once said "Welcome to the Rock" while we were there. Even after much goading and proding, still nothing. And yes his Sean Connery impersionation is great.

Ghiradelli hot chocolate - amazing.

Riding on the cable car in San Fran, while holding onto the side was cool. Seeing you go up and down the big hills was a great experience.

And most of all, it was fun to have some great friends to share the trip with!