How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Napa - Series

Turning 40 is a big deal to most people.    Many will throw a party, but what I really wanted was to spend a few days in Napa with a few old friends.   I can't tell you how many times people had mentioned wanting to go, but not really know how to plan the trip.    So to I set out to plan the perfect trip to Napa.   

A group of old friends, 33 in all, made the adventure.    Over the next few posts I will share our experiences and hope that you can take some of theses ideas and maybe plan a trip for yourself.   I will be including comments on the hotel, the restaurants and all the wineries that we visited.   The pictures are great, so check back in over the coming days and enjoy.    

We planned a four day trip and set a detailed schedule so that our guests simply had to follow their itinerary.   We built in plenty of flex-time for people to relax or take in additional sites, but we planned every last detail.    It was really a pretty fun experience; one that readers of this blog should benefit from.   This post is the first of a series to chronicle the adventure...

DAY ONE:  Meredith and I went out a day in advance to get things organized for the group.    We were joined early by my brother and sister-in-law, Betsy and Clay McBee.   We spent the first day running around and getting organized; picking up snacks and bottled water for the bus trips and stuff like that.   

In the gardens at Duckhorn

That afternoon we made time to squeeze in a tasting at Duckhorn, North on the Silverado Trail.   This is a great winery just to stop in and have a tasting.  Reservations are not required, although I always suggest calling ahead to check on current availability.   They do a great tasting on their patio with crackers and cheese.    They have a friendly staff and some great wines.  (Tip: I like stopping at a winery early in the trip; you can pick up a few reasonably priced bottles to take back to the resort; beats the room service prices)    It was great just hanging out with my brother that day!

Complimentary Dessert at Brix

Great selection with dinner!

The first night, my brother treated to dinner for my birthday and we tried a place for dinner we had not been before, Brix.    Brix had been on the agenda many times before but for some reason other places just always made the cut.    Brix serves California classic cuisine and has a  great local wine list.   Clay was at the helm and chose a Hope and Grace winery Cabernet Sauvignon.   It was great; so great in fact that we made it to their tasting room in Yountville later in the trip to buy a few bottles to bring home.  Dinner was great and we had fabulous service in a very comfortable, casual atmosphere.  I highly recommend Brix.

After dinner, it was on to the resort to get a good night's sleep.     Had to rest up...    Our guests would arrive the next day and we had plenty to do to get ready.   

  

This inspired me!

I mean, you gotta love that!    I have a ton of information to post from my most recent trip to Napa with all my best friends, but I have gotten behind with all my year end business to dos and all of the holiday madness.  

However, when driving in Dallas this weekend I saw this and suddenly I am re-inspired to get my posts done.  

So look for some great pics and commentary over the next few days from the most excellent trip to the wine country I have experienced.

November 3rd, 2012: HEADED TO THE WINE COUNTRY

It's here...    We are headed to the wine country to celebrate 40 years of drinking wine...   wait, no that would be just 40 years of life...   drinking wine is more like 19 if you take away 21.   Something like that anyway.

We are off to Napa Valley with a few close friends to eat at some great restaurants, tour some really cool wineries, sample some good wine and have a good time with close friends.  

It is such a special place to my family and I know that my mom is looking down on Clay and me this week.    Look for some great posts in the coming week.

NAPA VALLEY, HERE WE COME!

Neighborhood Services - Preston

Dined last Friday at Neighborhood Services on Preston.   (Please click through for information) Had not been here in a while but the atmosphere was definitely upbeat and lively, and we had a great overall experience.      

This may be one of the best neighborhood based restaurants in the city.    Had dinner with the family, Meredith, the kids, Jan and Kent and my brother in law, Porter Miller.

Porter was hosting, so he picked the wine.   He choose a 2009 Veraison by Krupp Brothers Winery in the Soda Canyon area in Napa.  

SOURCE WIKIPEDIA: Véraison is a viticulture (grape-growing) term meaning "the onset of ripening". It is originally French, but has been adopted into Englishuse. The official definition of veraison is "change of color of the grape berries." Veraison represents the transition from berry growth to berry ripening, and many changes in berry development occur at version.

I always thought that was a cool name for a wine.  This was not one of the cheaper options on the menu, but was a great choice.    I have not had this wine in a while, but it is a restaurant staple with wide distribution, so you will see it often on restaurant menus.   We all enjoyed it, enough to try it again with a second bottle.  

Neighborhood services - Great Time, thanks to the whole family...   Way to go!

Economy, Politics & Great Wine

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, Dallas...   the quintessential Dallas Steakhouse.     It is the name that comes to mind when you want a great steak in Dallas, Texas.     Known for their shrimp remoulade appetizer, hot sizzling steaks and amazing after dinner options, Del Frisco's is always a treat.  

Last week we attended an event to hear a presentation on the current political scene and the impact the elections might have on the economy. Hosted by our business associate Michelle Gantt, the evening was full of good information and nice company.   The dinner was served family style alongside each person's steak selection.    The Wine was preselected by the host and we were offered two options.   The 2007 Prisoner by Orin Swift and the 2008 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cody and I decided to order both and compare each along with the meal.   The Honig was a nice even bodied selection as was certainly a great wine.    It was one of the most reasonably priced wines on the wine list that evening and for the price i thought it was a super selection.   Buuutttttt....   it hardly stood up to the big bold taste of the Zinfandel Blended Prisoner.   Honestly hard to drink these side by side and hold a fair comparison, because they are not the same varietal or even the same style.    I always enjoy this wine.  It widely available and i have had it many times, so it was no special opportunity, but the wine is a great option for big groups when you want to serve some good wine at a fair price.      I appreciate the hosts selections this night.   She did an excellent job picking some really great food elections along with two super wines.  '

Next time your at Del Frisco's, i suggest a bottle of the 2007 Prisoner, I think you'll agree that "for the money, this one is right on!"

Birthday Dinner at Al Beinat's Dallas

Thanks to all my friends in the Rainbow Huskies, my daughter's Y princess group, for sending me to Al Biernat's.     I had a great dinner with Meredith and my in laws, Allison and Mike Miller.     W had the pasta/escargot and the shrimp appetizer to start and of course had some amazing steaks with the lobster risotto and brussels sprouts for dinner.  

Most Dallasite's know this, but the wine selection at Al Bienat's is extensive.   There are plenty of ridiculous selections to choose from, but if you take some time, you can find some really great options for a fair markup.   We started with a 2007 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon.     The sommelier informed me that they only had three bottles left of the 2007 and I had this last time I was here, so i knew this was a good buy on the menu.     Second bottle was the 2007 Palmaz, Cabernet Sauvignon.     I have had my eye on a bottle of this wine, but had not had the opportunity to have one until now.   I have passed this winery many times in Napa.   This was really an amazing bottle of wine.   Big wine, lots of oak and earth and went well with our steaks.   I have not visited this winery, but now plan to make this a priority.    I will be out in Napa in November and plan to make reservations.

Again, thanks to all my Rainbow husky friends for the gift.    I put it to good use!!

Pepper turns 40 and turns her nose at Italian Chardonnay!

Happy Birthday to my long time friend Pepper Edens!!     After attending the Texas Tech, TCU game this weekend (sorry bout that Ashley) in Fort Worth, the Edens treated us to a great dinner at a little italian place in downtown Fort Worth, Texas called Bella Italia West.     The atmosphere was quaint and "local" and the food was really good.    We had great service all night and we all loved the warm hearts of palm appetizer.   Among our other favorites was a Buffalo tenderloin and some amazing home made pastas.

Much to the dismay of Pepper, there was no California Chardonnay on the Menu, and the Italian Chardonnays, lacking the oak and buttery finish to which she is accustomed, left her a little disappointed.   After a few tastings, we did find an italian Pinot Grigio that she could handle.

Another great night, with our good friends, some authentic italian food and after a few trials and errors... some good Italian Pinto Grigio.  

Happy Birthday Pepper!