Tuesday:
It's that time again!  I'm heading to Oakland via Chicago Midway.  I'm sitting in my seat looking through Sky Mall.  My birthday isn't until next April and if you want to get me something, I'd really love a signed photo of the "Soup Nazi."

Anyway, I'm taking another class at the CIA on Wine Sensory and Analysis.  It will be interesting; the reason I chose this class is because it would help me remember wines I tasted.  There are only a few wines I've tasted that I truly remember every aspect of.  I hope this class will teach me how to remember the not so memorable wines.

I have a few winery visits that have been set up through a couple distributors from Binny's Beverage Depot.  They should be fun, I'm not sure what to expect with the visits.  I made a few appointments of my own as well.  Shafer is one of the best wineries in Napa.  I'm looking forward to this visit the most.  Well, time to rent a car and start drinking (tasting.)  When tasting a lot of wine in a short amount of time, you should spit.  It will keep your senses awake.  My estimation of wines I taste this week are 100.

What a weird start in Northern California.  I have a GPS system and "Maggie" told me to keep to the right heading through a toll way.  Whoops, I was too far right going through a "bus only" lane.  It got me pulled over and I was already going the wrong way on the highway.  I crawled through San Fran, went over the Golden Gate Bridge and drove up the 101 to Napa.  It was a gorgeous drive.  It's good country.

My first stop was Darioush, one of my favorites.  Great, great Cabernet and in my opinion the best looking facilities of any winery I've been to.  Most places charge for a tasting flight, but if you're in the business most will not charge and give a nice discount on wine purchased.  Working in wine retail has its benefits.

Next was Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, another well known, great producer in the Stag's Leap District.  I showed them my business card and they said that they would go through their non-reserve wines without charging me, but to taste 3 of their reserves would be $40.  Wow!  I have had a few wines from them and they were wonderful.  I couldn't bring myself to spend $40 on three wines I might get to taste soon at the store anyway.  I was truely angered by this and will not sell another one of their wines. 

I visited Plumpjack next.  They have a loyal following.  Restaurants get most of their wines and people ask about getting it.  They are good wines, but a little pricey.

Next was Heitz and Milat.  Heitz is known for their Martha's Vineyard Cabernet and I got to taste it.  Holy Cow, it's wonderful.  Heitz is open to the public and does not charge for tasting.  It was a great visit. 

Milat is a smaller producer that owns 17 acres.  Their Cabernet is my favorite $20 Cab.  They were good wines for great prices and I got to meet the owners.  They're great people.

After my winery hopping, I went to my hotel in Sonoma and out to a restaurant called Mirepoix.  I had a warm salad of sautéed arugala, escargot, bone marrow and toast. Wow was this good stuff.  This was one of the best dishes I've had.  It was a nice return to Northern California.  After day one, I tasted through 31 wines.  I'm well on my way to tasting over 100.  This will continue, cheers!