Napa Day 6...

Today we were up and about but lazily started the day since our tour we had booked at Castello di Amorosa wasn’t until 11am. We did our usual up, shower, coffee and made breakfast – a routine I’m getting to love and will hate to see come to an end, but this morning my compadre locked us out.  Whoops!  She found a maintenance man and they (after quite the struggle and laughs as I just sat and continued eating my breakfast while they battled the door) let us back in (actually broke us back in quite easily I might add).  We finished getting ready and off we went.

We got to the castle a bit early and were immediately blown away by the sites.  It was a friggin castle!  My friend who recommended the place had said “You have to check out the castle built by a crazy vinter”.  I am so glad we did.  It was absolutely stunning!!!!    The story behind it is this guy went to Italy and was so bummed the castles there were all run down.  He decided to build an authentic castle here.  It took him over 20 years to build!  The tour began with our guide named Mark.  He was very cool with an awesome deep voice and off we went.

Outside the castle

The view coming up the drive

Our tour guide Mark

The great hall was magnificent.  The artist Fabio Sanzogini painted the entire thing!!!  Apparently Dario Sattui went to Italy in search of an artist and found this fellow.  He came back and painted the entire Great Hall.  Gorgeous!

The view from the castle wall

I liked the contrast here of the old skool castle door and the modern wine vat!

We then went down underground where ¾ of the castle is built.  We went through tons of barrel rooms – so friggin rad and through a library where he keeps all the original wines, old wines, old wine bottles, etc in little caged off rooms!

This is one of the many caged libraries of old wines and bottles!

The armory

Libby found one her size

We then went into the torture chamber.  Um ya – torture chamber.  They guy has a legit Iron Maiden and all kinds of the old torture devices.  This is where the “crazy” started running through my head.  He even had an actual dungeon!!  Really dude?  But so rad of course.  I could not get over how cool the underground portion was.  So authentic!

A legit Iron Maiden.  Eeek!

Just walkin through the coolness!!

After the tour we ended up in one of the big barrel rooms and did an actual barrel tasting.  So good!!!  It was one of their Cabernets. 

We then strolled through some more cool underground barrel areas then he took us to his bar.  What was super cool was there were all these little bar areas set up underground that the tour guides each had.  So our little group (of about 15 or so) had our own bar and Mark was our wine dude.  Our tour included a tasting and it was well worth it.  We had plenty of wines to choose from and Libby got to do an entire white tasting and I a red.  So rad!  Lib actually bought a couple of the whites and I bought a Primitivo and a Blend.  I got an extra taste of the Cab and we were set.  We chatted with a nice older gentleman touring by himself who was from the east coast and shared some hilarious wine stories with us.  We laughed, drank and I still was totally tripping out on the fact were in in an underground portion of a castle!!!

After we were done we tipped nicely and checked out.  We found some animals of course and made our way out. 

 Then we got my jumping shot!
Yay wine!

By this point we were pretty hungry so we decided to stop at the next place we found.  Unfortunately this was a horrible greasy spoon.  My BLT was ok but Lib’s food was awful.  It wasn’t as much as I wanted to eat so this would limit my tasting later.  Blergh.

We hit the road again and arrived at Chateau Montelena.  This was a recommendation of my friend because of its pretty ponds and gardens.  So glad we stopped!  We didn’t even go into the tasting room but instead wandered the grounds of the winery.  There was a huge lake and beautiful gardens.  A few Asian themed bridges and nooks.  We took plenty of photos and found ourselves just staring off into the lake at one point enjoying the serene nature of the place.

I think we started out in to this serene sight for a while

On the road again.  Our next destination was Stags Leap Winery.  I had wanted to stop here for sure and after a very hard time finding the place we finally did.  Cameron was a nice wine dude but a little pushy when it came to stuff.  I enjoyed the wines for sure but felt a bit rushed.  If the Cabs weren’t so expensive I so would have bought a bottle.  He poured me an extra taste of a yummy bolder Cab (I think trying to get me to join the wine club) I paid and was about to leave but he had me taste yet another Petite Verdot.  I mean how could I say no.  Such good wine, but a little too pricy for me.  Also got some lovely side of the road shots.  I loved the flowers along side the vineyards.  This was everywhere!

We swung back at the condo to freshen and drop off our goodies then back out again.  We headed into downtown again planning to have dinner then validate our groupon for a chocolate and wine taste.  We wandered around looking for a place and landed on Napkins.  The food was decent but the service was awful!!!  We were just about to leave because the entire song of Hotel California had played before someone helped us but they finally came out.  We opted to stay and it was fine but seriously – crappiest service ever.  Lib’s chicken was good and my shrimp linguini was decent. 

We saw a concert in the park which we crashed for a bit and wandered a bit downtown again.

Lib learning the Cha Cha

Off to our Chocolate and Wine tasting and Vintage Sweet Shoppe.  We tasted 5 wines pared with chocolates.  Oh. My. God.  Two of my favorite things!!!  It was just the right amount of sweets and a chocolate covered strawberry was our pallet cleanser.  Um hello! So good!  The wines were ok but the candy was so yummy!  I ended up buying a box of the Cabernet Truffles we tasted.  Yum!!

After this we realized it was still a bit early to head back to the condo so we headed back over to Oxbow Market for a drink.  I was hoping to see the darling Italian waiter from earlier in the week but alas no.  We sat at the bar, ordered some wine and a meat/cheese plate (I was still hungry) and had the perfect topper to the day.  On the way over I actually broke down and cried a bit while talking to Lib about the week because I am so extremely grateful this has even happened!  We have had such a truly amazing time and nothing has sucked!  I mean with the exception of the shitty hotel in San Fran and the nasty greasy spoon today – everything we have done has fucking rocked!!!  I cry all the time now a days but I’m seriously just truly happy.

Of course I ate again.  Fattie.

We also found out that the cupcake place we traveled to San Fran for is in OXBOW MARKET!!!  No regrets going into the city – but seriously – the same place!!!!???  Hilarious.  We bought more cupcakes and headed back.

We had intentions of drinking more and Jacuzzi tubbing it but exhaustion has won out.  We have a bike ride tomorrow then it’s all over!  I knew this week was going to go fast but damn – I wish I could slow it down.  It has been such an amazing week with my best friend and we have had such an amazing vacation – I seriously could not have asked for a better time!!!

One more day!