Spring Mountain Gem: Lokoya

In an effort to dine at all 3000 San Francisco restaurants(850and counting) and visit all 600 Napa wineries(350 and counting),my wife Linda and I recently traveled to Lokoya Vineyards on Spring Mountain.

Lokoya is an Indian word translating "where the Geese fly."  A winding road leads you to this mountain top gem giving you a feeling that you have arrived where "angels" have landed and live eternally among the sensational hillside grape vines.

Established in 1995, Winemaker  Christopher Carpenter crafts elegant  100 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon wines from 4 appellations, Diamond Mountain, Spring Mountain, Howell Mountain and Mt. Veeder.

The tastings are by appointment only and done at the stunning Spring Mountain location.

We were honored to have Bradley Wasserman, Estate Manager, as our host today in the elegant Howard Backen designed tasting room overlooking this 75 acre slice of wine heaven.

We began the tasting with the 2014 Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon. It was described as having "tannic curves, lush middle body and dark cherry, bay leaf and mocha character." It has been rated 96.

Next we tasted the Lokoya Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon. It has" floral aromatics, ripe boysenberry fruit character and fine minerality." It was scored 98 points.

The 2014 Howell Mountain was sampled next and described as"broad tannins, complex aromas of dark berry, expresso and minerality, and a future to develop." It received a rating of 99.

Finally we tasted the 2014 Lokoya Mount Veeder composed of "rich blue fruit, vanilla toast, expressive violet aromatics and a finish that lasts forever."
Robert Parker also rated this one at 99.

These are powerful wines that reflect the individuality of each Mountain Applelation. The ratings reflect near perfect scores and a great addition to any wine collection. We especially enjoyed the Spring and the Howell Mountain Appellations and took both back to Danville with us.

 For more information and to schedule a tasting go to: http://www.lokoya.com/

Ojai Valley Inn And Spa: Luxurious Southern California 5 Star Diamond Retreat

 
Recently my wife Linda and son MJ traveled to the sensational Ojai Valley Inn And Spa.
From our home in Danville, we flew from Oakland to the Burbank airport. From Burbank, It is an easy 1.5 hour drive to the Inn.

The Inn has been open since 1923 and is located in a revered setting that the Chumash Indians described as "perfect sacredness." They described the Ojai Valley as the vortex of magical mystical energy. Many come every year to experience the "Pink Moment" where the sunset has a pink glow of timeless serenity as it sets over the beautiful mountains.

The Inn offers "something for everyone" and has also has a trolley available for guests to explore the downtown area offering wine tasting, shops,  restaurants and art galleries.

We arrived and experienced a happy, helpful staff who checked us into our spacious and recently updated mini suite complete with fireplace and balcony with sensational mountain and golf course views.

This is a perfect place for weddings, special occasions, business conferences or just to enjoy a break from the rigors of modern life.
You can enjoy lounging by the pool, bicycling, world class golf and dine at one of their great restaurants. The 31,000 square foot award winning spa also offers a variety of treatments to suit your needs after a day of golf, tennis or a boring business meeting.

We enjoyed playing golf and experienced the "magical peaceful energy" that the Chumash Indians discovered many years ago in this valley. The course is very friendly for all skill levels with multiple tee options. It is flanked by post card magical mountain scenery and fresh air so pure that even your "bad" shots are  enjoyable.

After golf, we enjoyed wine tasting at nearby Topai Mountain winery that just opened 1 year ago.
The brush and bubbly experience is also a unique offering and a way to enjoy your creative abilities.  Enjoying a glass of your favorite bubbly will also help unleash your hidden artistic skills.  This is very fun and can be arranged for groups of 4 to 8 people.

There are 7 restaurants to choose from casual to fine dining. We enjoyed an elegant dinner at the upscale Olivella  restaurant.  There are also special  rooms available with fireplaces to create a peaceful ambience to enjoy special occasion and business dinners.   We had the honor of meeting Chef Andre Rodella who has Italian roots and prepared us a fantastic dinner. We especially enjoyed the Grandma's daily fresh made rigatoni with a perfectly seasoned sauce that has been a long time favorite of the Inn and a recipe from the Chef's family for many years. The food went well with the bottle of the Mara Nella 100 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon crafted by my long time Southern California foodie friend and winemaker Guy Finello. The grapes are handpicked from Villa Peline a private estate in famed Alexander Valley near Healdsburg, California. The wine is  a full bodied wine with an array of fruit tastes and a smooth finish that pairs beautifully with any type of cuisine---- especially Italian.

We also enjoyed a warm Southern California "pink moment" sunset with stunning views of the golf course and mountains from our table on the patio. Each evening at approximately 7pm the sun hits the mountain range at exactly the perfect angle and throws off a vivid pink color over the mountains and sky. It is breathtaking to see.  The night also featured a lightening show coming from over the ocean which graced the sky and made for a magical evening.

The Olivella Wine Room also has a collection of many great wines and also offers a unique place to dine for up to 14 people.

We also took the trolley into town of Ojai that is very close by. You can enjoy wandering  the various art galleries, shops, wine tasting rooms, and have lunch or dinner at one of the many fabulous restaurants. The trolley leaves hourly from the front of the Inn.  This charming town is like being on a movie set in the South of France or Tuscany.

In conclusion, the Chumash Indians description of the Ojai Valley as being the "vortex of perfect sacredness"  is a wonderful description of this magical mountainside resort. The calmness one experiences at this special refuge is very soothing to your soul and a refreshing break from the high anxiety world that we live.

The only the downside about Ojai is having to" leave" this sensational slice of heaven on earth.

Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is definitely a destination to put on your bucket list of "must do's".

For more information and to make reservations go to: https://www.ojairesort.com