Weekend in Napa

This past weekend I visited Napa Valley.  I had signed up for a Stanford Continuing Education Course,  “The Geology of Napa Valley”.  Here was my opportunity to learn about the underlying terroir in Napa, and visit some of the most exclusive and celebrated wineries of the area.  Our itinerary  included Oakville Ranch, Rudd, Groth, Swanson, Opus One, Mondavi, Paradigm, MacDonald, Hoopes, and Harlan Estates.  At each venu we were privileged to hear from an owner, a winemaker or a viticulturalist who spoke to the unique place that they represented. Our professor, David Howell, offered us an overview of the various soils that  make up the “terroir” and their origins.

Rudd
Harlan Tasting Room

Our dinner was a fabulous 5 course meal at Brasswood in Calistoga. It’s hard to beat such an idyllic setting for a weekend getaway.

Dinner at Brasswood–indoor/outdoor
View of hillside from Harlan