I was fortunate enough to spend two wonderful days in the Napa Valley during the misty January weather. I have always loved visiting this region of California, which is about two and a half hours from Santa Cruz. I have many memories over the last 30 years of visiting there with different girlfriends or with my husband. It has always been fun. The devastating fires that raged through the area in the fall of 2017 were devastating. My heart goes out to all the people who lost their loved ones, homes and belongings. The Napa Valley is beautiful with its oak-covered hills, crisscrossed by vines and small towns. Here you find the kind of pastoral beauty rarely seen outside Tuscany. My driver (and husband) decided to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge to get us to the town of Napa where we stayed the first night. Napa has a fabulous food culture with some great stores. Our hotel, the Westin Versa, was within walking distance of the 40,000 square-foot Oxbow Public Market. It is a foodies' paradise. I bought a bottle of brandy cordial and some bitters from a Napa Valley distillery. I would have had some oysters or ice-cream, but already had a delicious sandwich from the "Fatted Calf Charcuterie," which was out of this world. I tasted some lard with truffles, since it was truffle week in Napa. I never saw so may sausages as I did in this store. Next door is the "Model Bakery," which supposedly has exceptional oversized muffins. Unfortunately, I missed tasting them because I had one of those "have to have oatmeal" mornings. That evening, we had a special dinner at "La Toque," a Michelin-starred restaurant which is Chef Ken Frank's landmark eatery. The restaurant pairs wine with the food. We chose the "Core Menu," where you can make a selection from a list of different dishes. If you are in the mood to splurge, this is the right place for you. The food is inventive and delicious and the service is flawless. While in Napa, we visited three wineries. Everything I know about wine, I learned from my husband. He is a very knowledgeable wine lover. He belongs to a wine club which gives us access to some of the smaller wineries in Napa Valley. Our first stop was the Foley Johnson Winery. My favorite wine was the 2014 Estate Meritage. We also visited a very small winery called Merus where I bought my husband a special bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. The last winery was Kuleto Estate. The wine was great, but I fell in love with the setting and the place. It's like a Tuscan villa, and would be gorgeous and on a sunny day. So, I will come back to this magical place, even though you have to go up a steep and winding road to get there. They have tours of the property on weekends. We all have special places in our lives, and for me, one of those places is the pool at "Indian Springs" in Calistoga. This pool is filled with water from a geyser on the property, the same as the drinking water you buy in the store—except this is an oversized pool filled with 103 degree hot mineral water. It is heaven. Years ago, Indian Springs used to be a funky place with small cabins, but they have beautified it and added a restaurant where I had a delicious breakfast with homebaked bagels and home-cured lox. It was delicious. I will always come back here and float in the pool as long as I am able to. I should have put this on my Wanderlust blog, but because I can't send an email from that page, it is on my food blog. I had kohlrabi with crab at La Toque. Kohlrabi is an everyday vegetable in Germany. My mother grew it in her garden and loved to cook it all the time. She was a farm woman and her food was simple but good. Here is a recipe I posted years ago when I visited her and we cooked kohlrabi with meatballs together. If you feel like a fancy dinner, here is a recipe for crepes filled with fennel and salmon in a white sauce.
49 Comments
1/19/2018 07:36:20 am
Gerlinde, thank you so much for taking us with you on this beautiful getaway! Although virtual travel is all I'll be able to do, I really enjoy it. (That probably didn't sound right, but I have no wish to travel in person.) It was fun to visit the wineries with you. What a relief that Nature spared part of that slice of heaven. That old firetruck is wonderful.
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Gerlinde
1/21/2018 09:52:26 am
I always enjoy traveling but I know many people that don’t like to travel or are unable to do so. Kohlrabi tastes a little bit like cabbage. Hugs to you my friend.
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1/19/2018 09:46:29 am
I love this post, now I've got some serious wanderlust!
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Gerlinde
1/21/2018 09:54:08 am
Thanks Susan, I hope you get to travel this year.
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1/19/2018 10:15:37 am
Your adventure posts are always so scrumptious! From the settings to the food, we enjoy your delicious travels!
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Deb
1/21/2018 09:55:04 am
Thanks Deb, I enjoy traveling with you
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Gerlinde
1/21/2018 09:58:02 am
One of the reasons we went to the Napa Valley was to support them and give them some needed business.
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Calistoga is one of my favorite towns in the world, and it remains a rather hidden secret. I hope not too many of your readers see this, because then it may not be! :-) We have SF bay friends who own a cottage in Calistoga, so we've spent many wonderful days/weekends walking the town, visiting the wineries, enjoying the spas. I DO remember when Indian Springs was a kind of tacky spot - I'll have to try it next time I visit (please, please let it not be too far away). It was so scary when Calistoga residents were evacuated during the big fire. Fortunately, most of it came through unscathed. What a glorious time you two had. Thanks for bringing me along, virtually.
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Gerlinde
1/21/2018 10:02:04 am
I can only imagine how scary it was for the people in Calistoga when they had the fires. Although the town itself had no damage. I think everything is back to normal.
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1/19/2018 02:16:45 pm
My husband and I are talking about where we want to go this year. I've always wanted to see Tuscany but if I can see California at the same time, I should head west! These are wonderful photos and a great review of your trip. Thanks so much for sharing it with us :)
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Gerlinde
1/21/2018 10:05:25 am
Tricia, I think you should go to Tuscany first and then come to the Wild West that isn’t wild anymore.
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Gerlinde
1/21/2018 10:07:01 am
It is devastating for the people that lost everything.
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1/19/2018 06:14:23 pm
Wow. Looks like you had a fun and busy trip Gerlinde. A trip to Napa Valley is on my bucket list. I've never ever been to California and I can't wait to make it there one day. Perhaps I'll need to put Indian Springs in Calistoga on my list too. Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos and highlights of your trip!
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Gerlinde
1/21/2018 10:09:15 am
Mary Ann , you should visit California and stop by my house and say hello.
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Gerlinde
1/21/2018 10:10:22 am
You are good with fancy dinners, your pink pasta blew me away.
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Diane
1/20/2018 04:53:05 pm
Napa looks so nice in the winter when all of the tourists have gone home. And Calistoga is a special destination for me as my great aunt was principal of the high school there in the '20's. Unlike Napa, the character of the town hasn't changed much since then.
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Gerlinde
1/21/2018 10:14:31 am
Your are right Diane, the Napa Valley is easier to get around in the winter. There are far fewer tourists .
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Gerlinde
1/21/2018 04:39:34 pm
I remember seeing your photos on Facebook. It is amazing how fast things can change. We had some haze from the fires here in Santa Cruz.
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1/22/2018 07:28:12 am
Foggy or sunny and rainy are all perfect for a get away! It is all what you make of it, right? It was fun following you along on your journey.
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Gerlinde
1/22/2018 07:47:16 am
It was a wonderful two day trip.
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1/22/2018 09:33:59 pm
What a treat to tour NAPA along with you via your post, savoring the adventures and the flavors. Your link to salmon and fennel crepes added a new menu item to next weekend's brunch menu. Yum!
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Gerlinde
1/22/2018 09:40:08 pm
Thank you for the comment, the salmon and fennel crepes are very tasty and make a great presentation.
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1/23/2018 06:43:43 am
What a delightful travel you had. Kuleto winery has that rustic feel🙂
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Gerlinde
1/23/2018 07:34:29 am
It’s so beautiful up there.
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1/23/2018 09:45:11 am
I love that whole area so much. It's been 2 or 3 years since I've been and these pics and words bring it right back to me. GREG
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Gerlinde
1/23/2018 09:12:55 pm
It’s getting pretty crowded and gentrified but I always will love it,
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Gerlinde
1/24/2018 11:06:04 am
Thank you Frank, I am fortunate enough to live near the Napa Valley. I had so much fun there over the years.
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1/24/2018 08:49:11 am
What a fun time you had! And wow, you had some delish food and drink. Neat pictures, too -- such a great place to visit. Thanks!
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Gerlinde
1/24/2018 11:08:33 am
Thanks John, a friend of mine just texted me another list of good places to eat in the Napa Valley. It’s a great place for a foodies.
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1/24/2018 01:56:43 pm
We have made several weekend visits to Napa but that was so many years ago. How nice to be able to get in a car and drive rather than fly! Totally love it there and your weekend sounded beyond fabulous! I hope you are beyond stuffed!
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Gerlinde
1/25/2018 05:41:43 pm
It’s such a treat to visit this beautiful area. There is so much to see and to do.
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1/25/2018 08:51:38 am
It is a shame that the weather couldn't have been sunny and warm for your stay but it still looks beautiful in the fog. Sounds like a delicious two day adventure.
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Gerlinde
1/25/2018 05:43:47 pm
The weather didn’t bother me as long as it wasn’t pouring rain. It’s very hot during the summer.
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1/28/2018 09:22:04 am
Several days ago I tried to post a comment but had trouble for some reason. Lucky you to be able to go to Napa Valley in January or anytime! Husband and I have been several times and love it as there is always so much to explore. Thanks for taking me there on a dreary January day here. Great photos!
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Gerlinde
1/28/2018 01:53:50 pm
My blog needs a lot of work, I’m glad you were finally able to make a comment, I appreciate your effort.
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2/4/2018 12:21:07 pm
I love this area of California. Those fires were devastating. You did a great job of capturing the beauty of it all.
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Gerlinde
2/4/2018 03:16:47 pm
Thank you for the compliment Patty.
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Gerlinde
2/4/2018 10:38:05 pm
I think you would enjoy the Napa Valley and the surrounding valleys. There is so much to do and see. Unfortunately it is so popular that it is often overcrowded with tourists.
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2/8/2018 04:03:01 pm
Gerlinde, Napa Valley is one of my favorite places on earth! And your photos are soooo good. I want to be there now!
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Gerlinde
2/8/2018 07:40:09 pm
We have sommer weather here, I wouldn’t mind going back.
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Gerlinde
2/10/2018 08:01:36 am
I love to visit Australia, my niece loved her year in Melbourne.
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1/24/2019 08:39:53 am
Gerlinde, I love Napa, one of my favorite destinations. Your misty photos are gorgeous and have me longing to be there!
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