It wasn’t really our plan to stay in the Napa Valley after a Saturday video shoot at Clos Pegase Winery.  Our budget is tight and Napa Marriott, always helpful that way, was full up and couldn’t take us.  As we headed down Silverado Trail from Clos Pegase for a late lunch in Yountville we stopped in at Paoletti and Casa Nuestra for tastings. Again, not planned  but their open signs were too tempting.

Scene from the bed into the wonderful courtyard of the Hotel Luca, Yountville, Napa Valley

It was 5:30 PM when we left Casa Nuestra and a big storm was approaching.  Katya called around to several hotels but they were full. Our destination was the warm and inviting Piero restaurant in the upscale boutique Hotel Luca.  We knew we couldn’t afford this hotel but Katya pleaded that we are wine travel media which everyone knows doesn’t have a budget for such places.

The Hotel Luca folks pitied us and took us in from the gathering darkness at a rate we still couldn’t afford but at least much less than normal anyway.  Only one night is really not enough there but that was the best we could do. What a beautiful, warm, inviting, and cozy little Tuscan style hotel!  We are in LOVE with the place.

The restaurant Piero is becoming a favorite not due only to the good menu and food but we really like the staff and sitting at the counter observing the kitchen activity.  We feel a bit like gulls waiting for treats to be thrown at us but it’s fun to watch everyone’s meals being prepared and chatting with the kitchen staff.

The room we had at the hotel was on the small side, especially with the king bed upgrade they gave us, but the bath was huge.  The bath travertine tile floor is heated which was good because the storm was rather cold and very wet.  There are two sinks, a large tub, and a separate shower, all better than usual.  The courtyard that all the rooms share is architecturally interesting with a Tuscan village ambiance.  I dipped in the hot tub on Sunday morning for a while before their included breakfast at the Piero.  There is a pool available and a spa.

While not within our travel budget means this little hotel will stay in our dreams.

- jim

Napa Valley Marriott guests are invited to a complementary tasting in the afternoons most days.  The wines are from quality vintners in the Napa Valley, many of them very small operations, and the pouring is done by the vintners or their staff.

Tasting Salvestrin's fine Napa Valley wines at Napa Valley Marriott

Most of the wineries seem to be by appointment only types so this is a chance to taste their wines without an appointment.  But that isn’t the only attraction.

This is a great opportunity to meet with visitors from around the world and discuss a wide variety of topics.   The people who hang out at this hotel are interesting and well traveled.  The lobby design encourages mingling and socializing, a far better design than most hotels.

The afternoon of this photo we were tasting Salvestrin’s wines. Salvestrin is a small winery just south of St. Helena on Highway 29 that also includes a B&B.

They poured their 08 Sauv Blanc, 08 Cab which is Napa robust with nice tannins, and an interesting Super Tuscan blend with Sangiovese.  I found all their wines to have interesting nose, flavors, and finish to explore. None just disappeared on my palate.

After a long day of tasting wine in Napa Valley it is SOOOOO nice to sink into a Marriott bed and take a nap before heading out to the fine dining available nearby.  When I lack energy for dining elsewhere I dine in their cozy and comfortable cafe which has excellent food and ambiance.

- jim

We intended to ride out last weekend at home working, as usual.  However, on Wednesday I noticed that the Sonoma County tourism guy posted a real bargain on Twitter.com.  Rooms at 50% off at the stunningly beautiful Victorian-era Madrona Manor in Dry Creek Valley.  Rooms there are normally $350 a night on average and not the investment we need right now.  However, for $350 for the weekend …

Katya took Friday off and we made a lazy trip north up Highway 101 from San Jose, through San Francisco, and on to Healdsburg.  We dropped by the new Winery Collective tasting room near Fisherman’s Wharf for a visit and a little tasting.  This is a winery tasting room, actually owned by wineries, but is like a tasting bar in that you can taste from dozens of wineries from all over California.  Great ambiance in an old historic building with huge timbers, a nautical theme hotel, and one of my favorite restaurants – Blue Mermaid.

Later that afternoon we arrived at the Madrona Manor and checked into our Victorian style room with a wood fireplace – which we used often.  We had a little view of the surrounding gardens which are just starting to bloom.  LOTS of oranges on the orange trees and Katya picked a few with permission.  The landscaping there is famous in the area.  Spring and summer would be better but still beautiful.

It was strange that they had rooms available as this was the Russian River Wine Road Barrel Tasting weekend #2, one of the biggest local events of the year.  We avoided the event and tasting rooms so we could relax and enjoy the room and gardens for the weekend.  For us to avoid tasting rooms is a real adjustment.

We dined at our favorites, Santi in Geyserville on Friday evening and Ralph’s on the Healdsburg Square Saturday.  While we avoided tasting rooms we did meet up with wine bloggers in Healdsburg on Saturday afternoon and helped deplete their large collection of wines.  Rowdy bunch!

On Sunday Katya wanted oysters for lunch so we we packed up and drove along the Russian River to the coast and then south on Highway 1 to Tomales Bay.  Oysters are everywhere along the bay, in cafes, restaurants, stores, and many oyster plants. While I’m not into oysters at all I love to drive through the dark redwood forest along the Russian River and the expansive views and rocky Sonoma and Marin coast.

We love to stop at the little cafes for apple pie, rock cod tacos, hearty clam chowder, and of course oysters.  We bought whole milk from a dairy store in a real glass bottle and a variety of local cheeses are available.  Munching your way down or up the coast is a great way to get to or from wine country!

- jim