A Couple Things a Couple Should Do in Napa Valley!

By chelsea | November 1, 2013 5 Comments

we got to spend a whole day Napa, California AKA wine country! at first i was very overwhelmed by all of our choices and getting to fit as much in as possible until i connected with Ché at ‘Everything Napa.’ i had a quick call with her about what we were interested in, what type of day we were looking for and then she compiled some options for us in an email so we could scope them out! awesome. so if you a planning a trip to Napa Valley, shoot her an email at chedanielle.everythingnapa@gmail.com and tell her this wife sent you! now let’s get to it….

1. be at your first winery by about 10:30am (be warned though…day drinking gets exhausting so drink water too)

start with Artesa because it will blow your mind. they had some of the most unique architecture and sculptures we’ve ever seen. we even had a dream session on their patio about what our future home will look like!

2. ask the wine pourers (do they have an official name?) to take a picture of you

this is important because you want to do this earlier in the day so your teeth still appear white because after all that red wine sampling…things can get a little scary in there. if you say we look like brother and sister in this picture, we are fighting.

3. go on halloween because there are buckets of candy e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. and they don’t care if you take 5 pieces. i checked.

4. go to Palisades Deli Cafe to grab lunch to-go in the charming town of Calistoga, CA

it’s in that yellow building to the left and they have affordable sandwiches and great salads!

5. take that lunch to go and find somewhere scenic to eat it.

we heard about the ‘California old faithful!’ if you are into geysers and petting zoos this place is for you! i turned out not to love it a ton because it turns out i don’t like eating my food when i can hear and smell farm animals. now i know. it’s also $14 a person (most tastings are $15-30) so when i go back i will probably pick another scenic area.

they basically got me in the door because they have Tennessee fainting goats…so after i finished my lunch i attempted to scare them into fainting. my husband recorded a ridiculous video of this for your viewing pleasure…

i still kind of feel bad.

6. back to the wineries after appropriate carb loading!

visit Raymond Vineyards for lots of unique opportunities like blending wines, smelling aromas of wine and of course their super cute outdoor area!

i love my husband. he’s tall and silly and can jump ridiculously high.

they also have an exhibit on biodynamic farming in the Napa Valley. apparently Oregon has been doing this for a while but California is catching up (win for Oregon!).
8. ask other people you meet in the tasting room where they like to go

this led us to one of our favorite spots at Jamison Ranch Vineyards. i think my Colorado roots and his Texas roots both felt at ease in this log-cabin type place that had a touch of western to it.

magnificent views too!

9. ask questions to learn more about wine

the people behind the tasting counter are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about wine so don’t be afraid to ask them questions. when we asked how “so there are like 10 kinds of wine or what?” the nice lady pulled these cards us and told us there are a ton.

 did you know:

>that different wines come from the different types of grape used?
>that during the fermentation process of red wine, you leave the skins on so that creates the color while whites you typically just use the juice from the grapes?
> if the bottle of wine has a cork in it, it should be stored on its side or upside down (dry corks can let air in)

see. learning.

10. find a cute places for dinner in downtown Napa!

this was what we were supposed to do but instead i found out that day drinking when you are 26 instead of 21 is different and i was ready for bed by about 5:47pm so we ordered pizza. but don’t be lame like us…go find a cute restaurant and tell me about it!

the new wifestyle: there is apparently a lot that goes into wine making than just drinking it! take a trip and learn more about it with your significant other for a fun date.

questions:
1) can you tell the difference between wine that’s been aged in oak vs. steel? (husband can 95% of the time…i’m at like 50%)
2) have you been to Napa Valley before? favorite winery there?
3) have you ever made a goat faint? i need pointers.

**please share this article if you found it enjoyable or know someone who may be going to Napa Valley soon! thank you!**

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