Early Birdies

Thank you First Class for a morning PICK me Up!

Landed 15 mins early- lots of turbulence!

Not sure John and I are on the same trip….he doesn’t seem to have enough luggage.

Guess whose luggage is whose….

Jeep Wrangler for the week

But FIRST a beer stop! Food smells SOo good, too bad we just ate MickeyDs!

Yes it does!

Island Beats Tropical IPA and Tropic of Vermont Pale Ale

John and ran in to a Packer fan here, turns out he’s from Chicago and is in area for honeymoon. Dad grew up in GB- hence Packer fan! Small world.

Beer and a Band- Truly a Sunday Funday!

OFF to Healdsburg- destination for the week. Before checking in we stopped at Seghesio Vineyard- actually a tasting room location in town- Vineyards are in other locations. Wine was fine nothing special- just a couple of small samples. Friendly staff though full of tips and more local connections to WI! It’s been a long travel day and we gots to get ready for din! Din!

1st Official winery/tasting of the trip

Checked in to hotel- totally cute and has a courtyard. Very peaceful on our small patio. Decor feels very Italian like- we’ll just pretend we are in Tuscany! 😂

The Lodge at Healdsburg Courtyard- duh- it’s a Hilton property of course!

Dinner at Cyrus in Geyserville. Amazing! Server gave us a full tour of restaurant, back of house and met chef, sommelier and sous chef- what fun and it wasn’t even a site inspection for work! Beautiful place and phenomenal food.

John’s drink had a crystal clear ice cube in a fabulous etched heavy bottomed glass that did not sweat! Server told us was “sexy” ice and I looked it up- you can buy a mild or make it at home.

Sbragia Vineyard- Cork Toss vs Bean Toss!

Tasting Room at Sbragia-

Relaxed enjoyable host and experience. Good wine- not available in our state - boooo

Under construction- but good recco for quick lunch

Cheapest meal we’ll have all week and delicious! Lunch at Dry Creek General Store

Good eats from the local general store

Not as impressed by this place- wine was so so and experience not as genuine. But beautiful over the top grounds with fresh herbs veggies fruit and flowers and a lime tree!

Dry Crrek Valley- Sonoma…Did all of these today- CHECK ….no not really of course!

Just good thoughts on a wall

Tonight we had $1 oysters at Harmon Guest House in Healdsburg town center. Along with tuna tartare- both excellent. A bit windy on the rooftop and a bit “chilly” for CA but nice views.

Tuna Tartare

Oysters

Dinner at Chalkboard- \240also downtown- also DElish

Calamari with pork belly radish shisito peppers \240and other yummy stuff

Old Fashioneds

Lamb pasta w basil & cherry tomatoes in a buree rouge sauce

Halibut w sticky rice kimchi broth

Single Thread Dinner Arrival

Had a ridiculous and lovely 10-course tasting at this Michelin rated restaurant.

Floof at its finest

Presentation amazing- the swamp looking footprint thing was lightly crisped and filled with gooey goodness.

Birthday card signed by all restaurant staff.

Single Thread Kitchen -So many moving parts and all seamlessly done.

J Vineyard Tasting Room

J Vineyard tasting during the day. Was not our favorite- awfully formal and fancy compared to others today-but always fun.

DAVero Winery- Owner is fromRichland Center area in WI.

DAVero is an organic, hands on- small winery. This tour was absolutely delightful! Guide showed us around the farm which includes the vines of course, a garden full of veggies, herbs and flowers, pigs! So peaceful chill and laid back and delicious wine tasting in a quaint cottage setting.

We had no idea the owner was from WI. Simply intrigued by a small scale production winery.

Sunflowers at DAVero

Grapes at DaVero

Did an unplanned stop at Armida Winery- Nice views, not so great wine. Compared to others it was like the “box wine” of the bunch in more ways than one! Their claim to fame is a wine called “poiZon” Whatevs! But cross it off the list! Every experience counts.

Armida Winery view with Heron in the foreground.

Dinner at Bravas Bar De Tapas- Check out the beer menu…had paella here as well.

Shout out Wisconsin!

Cheapest Meal alert! $13 for both of us- local yocal taco dive- yummmmm!

Lunch in between wine tours

Library at Silver Oak

Barrel Room Silver Oak

Silver Oak Vineyard

Bacigalupi Quick Taste!

Nice map of area and what grapes grow where- most popular anyway

Next up- Aperture- last minute add

Final will be Chalk Hill Estates

Dinner tonight at Dry Creek Kitchen in town

Flowers was fabulous delicious relaxed and delightful - have I used that word enough this week? We’re never coming home.

Photo at Flowers of where they grow some grapes along the ocean.

Flowers Chardonnay grapes straight from the vine to sample

Fancy personalized tasting menu of wines AND small bites

Aperture Wines

The week has been long …

I can’t believe a whole day has gone by with a few tastings. Looking forward to dinner.

At dinner- about to have our ribeye- they brought dinner plates out That ARE HOT! Never have we had that! Bring it I say, bring us the ribeye on our hot plate- lol lol ❤️

Last dinner in Healdsburg- Dry Creek Kitchen

Bought this wine - Robert Young Winery- wanted to get there but didn’t.

Caves that were drilled for aging in recent times - like not early 1900s or anything.

Beautiful mountain and valley views from property.

At 10:30 am- you drink Rose first!

Another nice pic moment on Tom Eddy property

Mid- Morning Snack with a View

Fun fact- the land they have is half Sonoma County and half Napa Valley- border crosses through their property.

Fancy Nancy gate entrance to Tom Eddy - had to access with code.

Tom Eddy owner and wine maker and their dog Nala

Next stop and final wine stop 😭 at BV in Napa Valley- all the wineries we visited were within 15-20 minutes of Healdsburg where we stayed in Sonoma Valley.

Reason for stop at BV

Currently in Napa area where the wine train leaves from. At Fieldwork Brewing prior to heading to SFO for our red eye flight.

Local Napa Brews

Beautiful sky on the drive to SFO

Finally made it to SFO - Took over an hour to return rental car, check-in, get through security- blah blah blah. Now in the Delta lounge waiting for our red eye !