This weekend surprised Napa Valley with an uncharacteristic thunderstorm and cool, cloudy weather.   While the moisture was welcomed, it certainly was atypical for Harvest.   However, it provided ample opportunity to mull over autumn recipes and pour a white wine better suited for slightly cooler temperatures:   Chardonnay. Chardonnay originally hails from France and in the region […]

Napa Valley is buzzing with activity as it prepares for Harvest.    While the wineries are harvesting grapes, residents are harvesting their vegetable gardens for heirloom tomatoes, lettuces and other vegetables.    Whether the day is spent toiling in a vineyard, crushing grapes at a winery or tending to a backyard vegetable garden, a cool glass of […]

This week launched the month of September but brought hot temperatures to Napa Valley.   Despite sweltering weather, the end of summer looms as this weekend hosts the bittersweet holiday of Labor Day.   Societal lore dictates, after next Monday, that white pants are not to be worn until next summer and summer backyard barbeques are to […]

Ever heard that phrase “it’s an oldie, but a goodie”?    Some things in life simply transcend time:   such as, a classic vintage car on a warm August afternoon, a carefully planned picnic with time-tested recipes, roadside grape vines before harvest and a good bottle of an old vine wine.  Regardless of when you choose to […]

Napa’s warm days are growing shorter and its evening cool coastal breezes are arriving earlier and gracing the late afternoon.   The hint of cool marine breeze combined with warm late summer afternoon sun reminds Napa Valley’s residents that autumn is just around the corner.   With thoughts of autumn in mind, wine connoisseurs affectionately dream of red […]