MCBEE'S WINE DIARY: Spring in Napa Valley

THE MCBEE WINE BLOG DIARY

My mother, Camille McBee, partnered with Bobby G. Smith, Winemaker, in North Texas for over 30 years. Together they worked to develop a National and International name for Texas Wines. In 2009 she passed away too young, but she left behind a Texas Wine Industry that was better because of her dedication and she left a family with a deep rooted love and appreciation for wine and entertaining. This blog serves as a diary of my adventures in wine and as a lasting toast to my mother. -Cheers!

This blog is NOT intended to be the authority on tasting notes, or a professional guide for wine experts; it's simply a place for me to share some of my opinions and findings about wine with my friends and other wine lovers.

I truly hope you will use this blog to help you the next time you are thinking about what to buy at the wine store or deciding what to order at a local restaurant or when you travel to the wine country. ENJOY!

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Spring in Napa Valley

Breakfast at Carneros Inn

Just got back from three days in the wine country. This time we were back at the Carneros Inn, this place is a little pricey, but it is simply one of my most favorite places to stay, anywhere. The service is always great and the food is amazing. TO the left is a very of the wine country from the restaurant on the hill.

This trip was a new adventure for both of us. We decided NOT to visit any of our normal hangouts. We tried some new and amazing places.

WINERIES

Overlook of Napa at Cade

Corsin Winery was a new one and we really enjoyed the people ant the wine there. We had a scallop lunch and bubble tasting at Chandon. This was a little commercial for my taste, but i can't take anything away from the food or the champagne, it was all great. We visited Ladera Vineyards for the first time and ended up joining their wine club, this one was a real great value. Our good friends the Sachs hooked us up with an amazing tasting with the winemaker at Cade, an offshoot of the Plumpjack people, where we were treated to a cave tour and a barrel tasting of their soon to be released Cabernet. We made a quick stop an fought the madness at Silver Oak and had a tasting a toured the grounds at Duckhorn. A new favorite, Spring Mountain Winery. I really like a lot of the Spring Mountain Area wines, so we had to try this and we were not disappointed. OK, I lied, we had to stop in and see our friends at Nickel and Nickel, and of course had to belly up to the bar at Napa Wine Company.

Farmstead Burger with Farm Fresh Egg

EATS
We stayed with our plan and tried some new places to eat. We had dinner at Farm at the Carneros Inn and it was very nice. We had a casual lunch at Farmstead. They are a working farm, Long Meadow Ranch, grow their own beef and other items to make for an absolutely fresh menu. All I can't tell you is GET THE BURGER! OMG!

After a day of wine a cheese, we changed it up and had an amazing experience at Morimoto Napa. I can't even begin to explain how complex the presentation was on all the food. I felt bad eating it!

Another amazing trip to Napa Valley in the books, can't wait to go back.