Ok, ok. Full disclosure, I’m back-dating this entry to 1 Nov but it’s my blog and I’ll do what I want! NaBloPoMo stands for National Blog Posting Month where people do their very best (and often succeed) at posting daily. So I’m off to a great start!
But I have reasons and excuses! I was busy wine-tasting with my favorite in-laws! Yes, Rip and Linda are back in town after a misadventure with their Tesla. They were in Paso Robles when their car wouldn’t start after a SuperCharger stop. But now, they have a loaner car that is a Tesla Plaid! So cool! I haven’t driven it yet but I definitely will.
So, my day really started with a quick trip into work for a time-sensitive procedure and after a little bit of catch-up paperwork, I was ready to start my PTO day. We piled in the car and headed to Napa where we had lunch at Oxbow Market. Well, actually, we ate at Gott’s right next door but we walked through the market.
After a short walk around Napa, we rolled ourselves into Walt where we had their tasting of “1000 miles of Pinot,” which ranges from Oregon to Monterey. SMS and I really like their wines and we took a bottle of 2021 Shea with us. We were able to taste 2022, but I liked the lighter, brighter 2021 better.
Next, we drove up to St. Helena where we went to a very high-tech public bathroom with voiced instructions, movements, automatic locking, and a stern warning that you have maximum 10 minutes before the door unlocks. After the bathroom stop, we went to Olivier where the saleslady was very persuasive. Her attitude was “How could you not buy the best _____ in the world?” She’s my new hero because she is 90 years old. OMG. She said the secret is to keep moving. I asked her if wine was helpful and she said, “Actually, vodka. I’m preserved.” I said, “Better than being pickled” to which she replied, “I’m almost that.”
Then we went to Hall, land of delicious cabs, heavy pours, and a very nice Member’s lounge with fire pits.
For dinner, we went to Charlie’s in St Helena. We weren’t the hungriest, but we did get to try a few things. We had oysters, a table side of carrots, and SMS split the little gems salad and trout. It was very good. The dessert wasn’t great- it was fig based and I think fig season is over. It was also really loud in the restaurant, especially towards the end of the meal so it was a little hard to hear. But slight complaints aside, I would 100% go back and I recommend!
We’re staying in Healdsburg across from the hotel we stayed at last time. This hotel is nicer and gets the thumb’s up from SMS.
“Actually, vodka. I’m preserved.” This is hilarious. I have to remember that.
I totally support you dating back the post because you do you o your blog of all places.
Your day sounds fun. So much good food.
I need to go back and search your blog again on what you are doing exactly. Some sort of doctor? medial field. I am sure you shared somewhere.
Yes, I’m an ENT surgeon. I talk about it here and there but I don’t really post about it as a focus. I’m excited to read your upcoming month posts!
What a great day! My friend is a member at Hall, and has invited us to go with them to a tasting, but we have begged off for now. We don’t agree politically and I can’t manage that right now. But I do love the wine, and my friend, so will make it happen at some point!
Looking forward to your month of posting! I love the sales ladies attitude. My dad also says that “keep moving is the best advice”. He is 81 now and still retry together.
I definitely agree!
Do you know that the Halls are really big in the Democratic fund raising circuit and that she was an ambassador to Austria during the Clinton administration (meaning they gave a lot of money and support during the election!)? There’s a hilarious article from the NYTimes (which seems to hate CA) from the 2019 primary when Elizabeth Warren called out Pete Buttigieg for having too bougie of a fund-raiser there (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/19/us/politics/wine-cave.html).
Thank you for telling me this, I will be happier going when we eventually do!
Yay, so happy you’ll be joining the writing frenzy that is November. And what a fun day in Napa (I haven’t been in a while – need to go back!). I love the interaction with the sales lady… I hope she’s doing this ‘just for fun’ at 90 years old though.
“Just for fun” was definitely the vibe I got. She said she’s been a widow for 35-40 years and she likes keeping active and social.
Your reasons and excuses are good ones! Wine tasting in Napa… delicious food… that saleslady. Sounds like an awesome PTO day.
I need more PTO in my life!
Back date away. NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW.
You say that but one time I backdated a trip report by a few weeks and someone thought their Feedly was acting up, hahaha. I didn’t say anything 🙂
That sounds like a lovely day. I love that area and this is a great time to be there! My brother worked at a winery on Dry Creek Rd. and I used to go and visit him up there often. I love that old lady; she seems like a hoot. Well preserved, indeed!
I love Dry Creek. I sort of want to live here but it would be a long commute 🙁
This osunds like a great day, and bonus, I now knoe the secret to longevity.