The Long Road To Oenophilia

Getting to love wine takes quite a while, at least for me whose drinking fare consists mostly of milk, tea, fresh juices and water. Besides, drinking wine triggers my hyperacidity which is such a darn spoiler. Definitely, it's not like second nature to me whose wine encounters are mostly functions of time and place, pretty much situational and neither due to culture nor upbringing.

I can count with my fingers the precious moments that I kind of liked wine - when it went with Morton's steak in Chicago, Ruth's Chris steak in LA and surprisingly, right at home with tender juicy Wagyu given to us by a relative from Australia as a Christmas gift. I also take to liking wine when I'm in Napa Valley, with charcuterie to match.

Although Napa is new world, it's good enough for me, quite good that I was fortunate being there twice. But after Napa, what or where? Well, still Napa and more of Napa with plenty of vineyards to visit. Better yet, some of the old world vineyards in Italy and France. Just wishing.

My first time in Napa was in 2010, spent evenly between two vineyards - Artesa in Sonoma and Joseph Phelps in St. Helena; second time was in 2013 at Sterling in Calistoga. All were memorable experiences. If I'd be lucky enough to visit Napa again, I'd be interested to try a vineyard with sparkling wines or with cave tours for a change.

In the meantime, let me share with you some Napa sceneries I captured on cam during my second visit.

 



 Our friend Chelly drove us to Napa Valley. Stopped over at

classic Oakville Grocery (since 1881) to grab some sandwiches

to fill us up prior to wine tasting. Empty stomach is a no-no.

 

Colors of autumn greeted us as we entered our

chosen vineyard - Sterling - in Calistoga.

Sterling is perched on a 300-foot hill; we had to take

an aerial tram (more like a small cable car) to get

us to the winery for the wine tasting. 





 

The aerial tram surely gave us an initial thrill

in getting to the winery. The view on the

way up was definitely breathtaking.



Touring the vineyard is a DIY which is good because we

were able to do it at our own pace. It's very educational

with all the relevant signage in place. 

 



 The views to behold while up there. Vineyards galore.

Anyone who is staying in the estate below is

assured of absolute peace and quiet.



Holding on to our welcome drink prior to wine tasting.

 

 

There is really so much to learn in a winery.

This is the area for fermentation. 

 

A treasure trove of vats full of wine.

A nice place to chill and to just enjoy the view.

The best part of it all. Let the wine-tasting begin

with some charcuterie to go with wine.

 The Chardonnay was more to my taste. And the Riesling too.

The reds are just too strong for me. Or maybe my taste

buds are not yet mature enough for the reds.

So there goes the long road to oenophilia. It's far from over and a couple of visits to Napa Valley is never enough. There is so much more to come back for. And we can only wish for life to be like wine - that it gets better as it ages . . . 

Thanks so much.