Napa Day #2 - Wine, tourists and wine (and wine!)

 .....and, now that I've gotten some food and sleep...... 

Today was Cakebread Winery, Oakville Grocery and Chandon. My thoughts, in totally random order.... 

Tourists: I figured out how to identify who's a tourist, and who is a local! If you're wearing a flowered sundress and straw hat (and likely carrying a high end purse) or slim fit khaki pants, you're a tourist. Not joking, it is the strangest thing of "I am an individual, but I'm going to dress like everyone else to blend in". Except they're not blending at all. Locals are in t-shirts and shorts. 

Cakebread Winery: For perspective.....some of the "accompaniments" I've been given at NC wineries include a single Hershey kiss, and the pours are barely a swallow. Here, you're served a sample as soon as you walk in, a tasting with four courses (small ones, but they included steak!) and a glass to enjoy while you walk around on a tour of the winery. They do NOT mess around. I wasn't a fan of their chardonnay, but really liked their Cabernet sauvignon. I also discovered the cheapest souvenir around - wine corks! They happily shared some with me, and I'm planning to ask at the rest of the wineries as well. 

Oakville Grocery: A combination general store and cafe / sandwich shop, this place was absolutely packed. Worth it though, for a good lunch that wasn't ridiculously priced. What made me laugh....I was talking to the couple ahead of me (please see post in previous comment about me talking to a post) when they asked me where I was from. When I replied "Charlotte, NC" I heard a voice behind me say "Us too!". Two couples were right behind us, and they were from the South End area of Charlotte. 

Chandon: The US version of Moet and Chandon. Lots of bubbly varieties and a very helpful staff. I mentioned a varietal that was on the website but wasn't on the tasting, they got it and started pouring. And pouring another similar to it. And pouring some more.....They also gave me a whole bag full of corks. I bought a bottle of champagne infused with an orange Argentinian liquor. Really good. 

And finally, dinner with Mary! Mary and I both went to UNCG and stayed in the same dorm. When I said I was visiting Napa, she kindly offered to take me around. I've been loving hearing the local perspective on the city. It's a lot of insight I wouldn't get otherwise. 

And now, more pictures! 

Cakebread Winery.....beautiful use of wood in design. The architecture is so different here - it's fascinating. 

The driveway and scenery at Cakebread

My welcome sample of wine

The tasting menu. The chef gave us all his business card and encouraged us to email for recipes. They also have a large garden on site. The husband and wife founders had an agreement - he got a winery, she got a garden. 

Four wines, four food samples 

I had never seen this. Some wine is stored in concrete eggs. I asked, it's still referred to as "unoaked" :) 

Mountains! 

From college to now!