Day Two…
Day 2 in Napa was filled with wine tasting, wine tasting, food, wine tasting and more food. Did I mention we did some wine tasting??
Julie’s boyfriend, Michael Jackson (not kidding) works for the Napa Valley Vintners and organized an entire day of lovely tastings at some great wineries. Thanks MJ!
Our first stop was at Schramsberg, where we toured 2 miles of underground caves and tasted sparkling wines fit for presidents. No really, Obama served it at a reception earlier this year. Nixon, Reagan, Clinton, Bush Sr., as well as Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth have served it as well. You know, I like to keep good company when I drink champers. :)
Michael Jackson, Julie, Kevin and me at Schramsberg.
After Schramsberg and a quick stop for some BBQ, we headed to Chateau Montelena where we tasted the Chardonnay that put Napa valley on the map back in 1976 at the Judgment of Paris (for the Cliffnotes edition, watch Bottleshock…)
Outside the Chateau…
Here I am with a famous bottle of that 1976 Chardonnay that won so many awards in 1976 and solidified Napa as a legit wine competitor to France.
Next we headed to Summers Winery, for the sole reason of sipping wine while checking out the Old Faithful Geyser (the winery is right next to the geyser!). Summers also had a ‘petting’ vineyard for tourists like us to play in!
“Petting” Vineyard, weird but fun. Of course we ‘pet’ them.
Next we were onto Miners Vineyards (no, not the burger place in Yaks) and then headed Michael Jackson’s private barrel tasting - yum! We ended the evening with a delicious dinner at Redd, which both Julie and Michael Jackson said was one of the best restaurants in the valley - I agreed!
