Day 2 - Napa!!

I can't believe we did it but we finally managed to get everything packed up and we're finally heading out on this great adventure! Our first stop on our way north is none other than Napa Valley!! I know Napa like the back of my hand but this was a first for Haley. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love wine and appreciate wine, so it’s always exciting getting to take Napa virgins to the holy land. Driving into Napa is one of the best parts in my opinion. Of course years ago when it was just that two lane road surrounded by vineyards, before the outlet stores were built and the road was widened, it was a much nicer drive! Parts of the drive are still that way and it's spectacular. Whether you're a wino like me or not you can't help but get caught up in the beauty that is Napa! 

We did the Mondavi tour because personally I think it’s the best and most inclusive tour. We got there right as a tour was setting off but we begged the lady to let us jump in with them and thankfully she did, otherwise we'd be waiting over an hour till the next one. We had a very diverse group of people on our tour ranging from South Americans to New Yorkers, there was even a couple from Miami which was exciting for me being a Miami native and all. The tour was fun and educational and of course ended in a tasting. Unfortunately this isn't the most exciting time to be in Napa in regards to the actually wine making process. The harvest isn't for a few months, typically in September, and the crush isn't until October. As we were touring the property our guide explained what would generally be going on if it were harvest season. As we followed the path the grapes would take from being on the vine to ending up in our glass we saw just how much effort, science, and love goes into each bottle. As we were enjoying our tasting at the end we learned that the couple from Miami had just gotten engaged so our tour guide gave us an extra wine to taste to celebrate!

Next we did a tasting at Cakebread, which is a family favorite of mine. Nance has been going there since it was just a tiny little barn and I've been going there since before I could legally drink wine! Fun fact: Cakebread is actually the first place I ever used my fake ID back in the day! Am I allowed to say that?? Oh well...anyways whenever I'm in Napa I have to stop by and at least have a glass of their Sauvignon Blanc, my absolute favorite!! I've made myself known there which I'm not sure is a good thing or not haha whoops! But for our sake it was a good thing today since we were getting there as they were starting to close up. Thankfully Christian saw me and led us outside for a private tasting! Haley had never had Cakebread wine and she LOVED it which I mean how could she not I obviously love it for a reason! After this second tasting however we decided we should probably get some food!!

There are numerous incredible restaurants in the wine country but my absolute favorite would have to be Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch. A few of you reading this have definitely been there with me, and quite a few more have heard me rave about my love for this place! So would anyone like to guess where we ate?? Before you even get a chance to experience the wonderful food you're greeted by the most charming and inviting ambiance. There are fire-pits outside where you can enjoy an appetizer and a glass of wine, or even have your whole meal there if its not too chilly for you. Inside has a rustic wooden decor that I swear looks like it was straight out of a Pinterest board! The kitchen is open therefore not only can you smell the deliciousness the moment you step inside but you even get to see a preview of what you're about to enjoy! One of my favorite parts is they have these long wooden community tables, which is where we usually sit because I just think it's so fun meeting people anywhere I go! Tonight however since we were a bit ahead of the dinner rush we ended up having the long table all to ourselves, which was probably for the best since we ended up ordering an absurd amount of food! There are a couple staples that I always order right off the bat, one of them being the Burrata with Heirloom Tomatoes. Everything is farm-to-table so I'm sure you can imagine just how fresh everything is! Needless to say we had a wonderful meal and left feeling fat and happy!! Nothing too crazy to report of the rest of the evening, Napa closes up pretty early, plus we wanted to get a good nights sleep before our drive to Crater Lake National Park in the morning!