Wine Country

Ask a first grade teacher about the beginning of the school year and you might get a strange look in response! It's hectic, we often get hoarse from talking so much, and we're frantically trying to establish the routines and structure that will create an environment  that promotes independent learners. That first August and early September of retirement is when it really hits you that you are no longer teaching. No setting up a classroom in 90 degree heat minus air conditioning. No going from discount store to discount store shopping the "back-to-school" sales.

So what a wonderful surprise to discover that my daughter had planned a trip to California that fall back in 2011 to celebrate my retirement. Now I'm both a foodie and a wine lover so a trip which included both Napa and San Francisco was double the pleasure. 

We flew from O'Hare to San Francisco where we rented a car to drive to Napa. And this "fear of heights" lady handled the Bay Bridge just fine!! By mid-afternoon we had checked into the Westin Verasa Napa Hotel.  The location was convenient (Wine Train right across the street and Oxbow Market a 5 minute walk from the front door), the room was spacious and the bathroom gorgeous, but alas...no tub. Lucky for me that DD had accumulated enough business points for such elegant accommodations. The following image is from their site:

We decided to treat our senses and explore the nearby town on foot. One of our more memorable stops was the Oxbow Public Market where we became regulars for the rest of our stay. The draw - Ca' Momi which served an amazing pastry called ciambellina. I'm not big on sweets, but that has become my all-time favorite dessert....now if I could only find something like it near Chicago...sigh. We sampled charcuterie and wine on our walk and tried the beer can chicken at The Bounty Hunter Wine Bar. DD is not a fan of eating dinner at a crowded bar, but I dug in with relish!

(This photo from Yelp reviews)

A big first for me ... The Hog Island Oyster Bar. Seated at the bar we had a front row seat watching them shuck the fresh oysters. Back home it's now a treat to go for oysters at Shaw's. 

I had really wanted to take the Napa Wine Train during our stay, but my daughter was concerned about some of the reviews we had read. So I decided to treat that day and boy were we happy that I did! I booked a lunch package which included a trip to Domaine Chandon Winery. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and made sure to try one of the recommended wines for each course. Both of us agreed we preferred that meal to the steak dinners we had at Cole's later that week. We were also fortunate to be seated with a wonderful couple from England whose who were fascinating conversationalists!

My DD scheduled wine tours through Platypus Wine Tours for two days of our trip. The first tour we went to Sonoma and what an amazing day! The driver had great social skills and was extremely knowledgeable about the area. We quickly developed a rapport with the other passengers and by the end of the day our small shuttle was filled with laughter and conversation. Of course, that may have been influenced by all the wine we had imbibed! Besides our tastings at 5 different boutique wineries we had a wonderful lunch in a serene setting. My daughter rolled her eyes when I packed small baggies of mixed nuts and trail mix early that morning to stuff in my purse, but they were quickly devoured by everyone in the shuttle after our last stop! My only regret ... not purchasing a marvelous meritage ... simply too pricey for this retired woman!

The second day we focused on some boutique wineries in the Napa area. Half of the shuttle was filled with Europeans who became very disgruntled by the end of the trip complaining how costly the tastings were. Apparently they were used to free tastings back home accompanied by small plates of food and that was certainly not the case here. Of course a little research before they booked could have alleviated this problem and made for a more congenial travel group. Many tasting fees are waived if a suitable bottle purchase is made. Our first stop that day was at Signorello Estate where we were treated to amazing views beside an infinity pool as we sipped our wines. It was here that  my daughter found the FIRST glasses of Chardonnay she enjoyed. Before we left they had a new wine club member and we had a bottle of Hope's Cuvee Chardonnay to share in San Francisco.

Now if you know my daughter, you know she loves her "creature comforts." What does that mean in Napa ... a trip to the spa of course! After browsing through all the reviews, she selected Spa Terra at the Meritage Resort. The appeal ... the spa is located entirely underground in an estate cave. It was a perfect way to relax and rejuvenate in the middle of our stay. My poor feet needed a break and from there we relaxed poolside at the hotel. That night we dined at Cole's Chop House, but coming from an area with a rich history in prime beef we were not suitably impressed ... it was just an ordinary good meal. 

After five amazing days it was time to return the car to the airport  (rental was much cheaper if we dropped it there rather than by the hotel in SF) and then off to Fisherman's Wharf! We stayed at the Sheraton knowing it would be within walking distance of some of the more popular tourist attractions. We were meeting up with Aunt Pat at the hotel and then we got our first surprise ... Lisa had come with her mother! We managed to pack a LOT into our short stay: we toured Alkatraz with headsets, browsed around Pier 39, took the hop on/hop off bus tour, went to Chinatown (great shopping - I could spend a whole day here),  had dinner at an Italian restaurant in North Beach, and ate ate hot fudge sundaes at Ghiradellis. It was my second trip to this fabulous city but I enjoyed this one so much more!

But the surprises kept on coming ... more family arrived!

I know they say you can never "go back" and duplicate wonderful times, but I'm sure a return to Napa would bring a new set of fantastic memories. Thank you again, Kris, for such a wonderful trip!