Art, wine...and a little sunshine

RustRidge Ranch & Winery

Recently my wife Pim and I were treated to a nice relaxing cruise on Lake Berryessa with our neighbors Heather and Jeff on their boat. With the temperature in the mid 60’s, it wasn’t quite as warm as the few days before record setting highs, but it was clear and bright. We even saw an American Bald Eagle fly by!

After a few leisurely hours we decided to put the boat in its storage and take advantage of the local wineries in the hills east of the famed Napa Valley wine growing region.

We soon found ourselves on Chiles Valley Road which lead us to the RustRidge Ranch and Winery; a horse ranch, winery and bed and breakfast inn.  Small signs lead us past the little B&B and through the ranch to their wine tasting room. We were greeted by a few of the ranch’s ambassadors, three very friendly Labrador retrievers.

Instantly, the feeling was of tranquility. Yellow mustard was growing vibrantly among the still dormant vines in this peaceful setting. Within a few minutes, Susan one of the ranch owners arrived and the tasting began! We were the only visitors at this late hour in the day which lent even more to the intimacy of our experience.  Susan poured a very nice 2010 Sauvignon Blanc as our first sampling. I am by no means an expert but I could tell immediately that this will be the wine of choice to compliment my wife’s gourmet sushi dinner presentations. Their 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon also came to be another excellent choice of fine wines that day.  What a view out of the windows of their small but comfortable tasting room. Go see it and you’ll know what I mean. We left with a few bottles their great 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Racehorse Red, and of course the Sauvignon Blanc.
RustRidge Ranch and Winery  - Click here for more information.

After biding goodbye to our new friend we headed home, however another surprise was waiting not far down the road….

The Nichelini Family Winery greeted us with yet another gift of the day. Located on Hwy 128 (2950 Sage canyon Rd) their tasting room is part of an old home situated right on the highway. We were greeted by Linda and Jeff, who finished their day hosting us. We were instantly blown away by their 2009 Petite Sirah., “a complex wine that is deep, dark, full-bodied, very long-lived and has a wonderfully fruitful finish.” I mentioned to my neighbor also named Jeff that this would compliment his excellent roast leg of lamb that he so artfully creates.

Our hosts introduced us to their offerings of a beautiful Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, their delectable Primitivo, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Linda and Jeff gave us their gracious hospitality making us feel like we were visiting old friends. We happily left with a bottle of 2009 Primitivo and a couple of bottles of the 2009 Petite Sirah and a membership to their Wine Club.
Nichelini Family Winery – click here to visit their website for more information.

Although these two wineries certainly don’t need “my review”, I bring them to your attention in that they are “off the beaten path” as it were. The areas bordering on the Napa and Suisun Valley provide a less commercialized setting allowing for a relaxed environment to taste and enjoying their extraordinary wines. Visiting the actual “makers” of the wines and hearing their stories is a truly special experience.  It not only allows for a great learning environment, but provides a basis for a wonderful and evocative imagination one envisions when visiting.

And how does this relate to a Photography Blog?  Well all I can say is,”don’t forget your camera” you won’t be disappointed when you go exploring this region of what is “Wonderful About California”.