Napa Valley & Sonoma







Next stop on my road trip up northern California was Napa Valley.  This area of Cali is famous for its world renowned wines.  

I stayed at the Fairmont Inn & Spa which was a lovely, cosy stay.  The spa was the best I've ever been to, so if you're looking for a weekend of wine and spa treatments, this is most definitely the place you'd want to stay.  The full body massage is highly recommended!

As for wine tasting, we started at Del Dotto Vineyards which was a great place to begin.  The wine tasting is done in the caves of the winery where the difference between different barrels and the woods of each barrel is explained. I really love wine and I've done many wine tastings but, to be perfectly honest, I don't know much about it.  This particular tasting was fantastic for me because everything that I loved but never understood was explained throughout.  The difference between French and American wine, the different aging processes, the different smells, the taste at the front/middle/back of the palette were all broken down for everyone to understand quite easily which made everything so much more interesting.

Next stop was Domaine Carneros.  This place I had seen pictures of on one of my favourite blogs and I made a mental note to look out for it on my trip.  Turned out this gem of a winery was on the way from our hotel towards all the other wineries so it made for the perfect stop on the way back.   The building is so impressive.  If I had to describe it, it would be like an American chateau.  If you're in Napa I would definitely add this to your list of places not to be missed by any means!  We didn't do a tasting here, we simply ordered sparkling wine and cheese plates and enjoyed the atmosphere of this beautiful place and a golden fall afternoon.  

That evening we had dinner in Sonoma right near the town hall which was is so quaint and lovely.  The Girl and the Fig restaurant is really popular but we ate at the hotel nextdoor which has a gorgeous outside area alongside the pool.  I had the most delicious butternut squash soup with marshmellows.  Interesting combination but, as I love both, I tried it and I was most definitely impressed!



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Arum Lilea: Napa Valley & Sonoma

Wednesday 20 November 2013

Napa Valley & Sonoma







Next stop on my road trip up northern California was Napa Valley.  This area of Cali is famous for its world renowned wines.  

I stayed at the Fairmont Inn & Spa which was a lovely, cosy stay.  The spa was the best I've ever been to, so if you're looking for a weekend of wine and spa treatments, this is most definitely the place you'd want to stay.  The full body massage is highly recommended!

As for wine tasting, we started at Del Dotto Vineyards which was a great place to begin.  The wine tasting is done in the caves of the winery where the difference between different barrels and the woods of each barrel is explained. I really love wine and I've done many wine tastings but, to be perfectly honest, I don't know much about it.  This particular tasting was fantastic for me because everything that I loved but never understood was explained throughout.  The difference between French and American wine, the different aging processes, the different smells, the taste at the front/middle/back of the palette were all broken down for everyone to understand quite easily which made everything so much more interesting.

Next stop was Domaine Carneros.  This place I had seen pictures of on one of my favourite blogs and I made a mental note to look out for it on my trip.  Turned out this gem of a winery was on the way from our hotel towards all the other wineries so it made for the perfect stop on the way back.   The building is so impressive.  If I had to describe it, it would be like an American chateau.  If you're in Napa I would definitely add this to your list of places not to be missed by any means!  We didn't do a tasting here, we simply ordered sparkling wine and cheese plates and enjoyed the atmosphere of this beautiful place and a golden fall afternoon.  

That evening we had dinner in Sonoma right near the town hall which was is so quaint and lovely.  The Girl and the Fig restaurant is really popular but we ate at the hotel nextdoor which has a gorgeous outside area alongside the pool.  I had the most delicious butternut squash soup with marshmellows.  Interesting combination but, as I love both, I tried it and I was most definitely impressed!



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16 Comments:

At 20 November 2013 at 19:45 , Blogger Unknown said...

nice photos :)

http://izabielaa.blogspot.com.es/2013/11/secrets.html

 
At 21 November 2013 at 00:13 , Blogger Ariane said...

This is such a nice blog post! love it!
http://arianeonthego.blogspot.com

 
At 21 November 2013 at 05:34 , Blogger Erin said...

really cute photos! I love Napa and Sonoma!

xx

Erin @ http://www.truffles-ruffles.com/

 
At 21 November 2013 at 16:45 , Blogger Amy Breckenridge said...

i've never been to napa, but your photos are so beautiful! looks like an amazing time :)

 
At 23 November 2013 at 07:32 , Anonymous AEKK said...

From the beautiful pics, i have known that you have a great happy trip.
The view was very wonderful.
Thanks for sharing.

 
At 24 November 2013 at 20:57 , Anonymous Stylishlyme said...

I've been to that place in the second photo! It's such a gorgeous place! I've been wine tasting in Napa a couple of times - one of my favorite places in California.

-V
http://stylishlyme.com

 
At 25 November 2013 at 08:51 , Blogger Unknown said...

Thank you so much Izabela!

 
At 25 November 2013 at 08:52 , Blogger Unknown said...

Thank you Ariane! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

 
At 25 November 2013 at 08:53 , Blogger Unknown said...

They're such wonderful places. It was such a treat visiting!

 
At 25 November 2013 at 08:53 , Blogger Unknown said...

Thanks so much Amy! I hope you had a wonderful time in Paris

 
At 25 November 2013 at 08:55 , Blogger Unknown said...

I really did. I had the very best company, wonderful scenery and some gorgeous wines. Thank you so much!

 
At 25 November 2013 at 08:56 , Blogger Unknown said...

I thought it was the prettiest place in Napa. It's delightful, isn't it?!

 
At 25 November 2013 at 08:56 , Blogger Fash Boulevard said...

Oh my goodness, talk about breathtaking. So fun. Fabulous post, love. If you get a sec, I'd love to hear your thoughts on my latest. xo

www.fashboulevard.com

 
At 25 November 2013 at 13:03 , Blogger Johlet said...

I cannot wait to meet you so that I can hear all about your holidays!
Seems like you know how to do the perfect holiday trend!
http://johced-ourjourneytoeverywhere.blogspot.com/
xxx

 
At 25 November 2013 at 13:14 , Blogger Jade Wright said...

Oh wow it looked amazing and wine tasting in the caves!? Incredible. Wine tasting is one of my favorite things to do and we are so blessed to live in South Africa where we have Franschhoek and all the amazing winelands surrounding us.

It must have been so interesting to hear all about the differences in the french and american wines. I'm completely green with envy :)

Looking forward to more posts xxx

www.bohemianmuses.blogspot.com

 
At 25 November 2013 at 17:52 , Blogger Riley McGilvray said...

Looks like a fabulous trip,girl! I would love to go to California for some wine tastings!
-Riley
www.beautyandthebasshead.com

 

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