Yountville Gem: Goosecross Vineyards

Recently, we had the opportunity to visit Goosecross Vineyards in charming Yountville. Owner Christi Coors Ficeli has a 5-generation legacy of brewing beer with her Coors family roots. Her love of wine is clearly her passion creating world class wines with renown winemaker Bill Nancarrow. Although the winery has been in existence since the 70’s, Christi brought new life to it when she purchased it In 2013 and opened in 2015.

 

Today our host was Ari who shared his knowledge of these wines on the outdoor terrace of this great winery. We began our tasting with the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc chilled, refreshing and crisp. We then enjoyed the 2019 Rose for Lucy named after Christi’s daughter. The 2017 Pinot Noir boasting a dark Ruby color was also fantastic. We concluded our tasting with the 2016 State lLine Cabernet Sauvignon and 2015 Summit Selection powerful Petite Sirah. We especially liked the Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Petite Sirah and took bottles of each back home to Danville. 

We would highly recommend a visit to this ‘Yountville Gem’. For more information and to make an appointment go to: http://goosecross.com/vineyards/

Atelier Crenn: 3 Star Michelin Experience in San Francisco

In Cow Hollow, San Francisco, Atelier Crenn is a restaurant in the city that had our curiosity peeked. Based on the concept of Poetic Culinaria, we looked forward to experiencing what the The World’s “Best” Female Chef served.

The meal began with a Happy Birthday card personally signed by chef Dominique Crenn.  She also came to our table and introduced herself before our dinner. She is a worldly person who grows her fresh produce from her 4 acre farm located in Sonoma.

Our attentive server Antoine then presented us with a ‘poem’ that described each of the entrees that read:

 “Summer has come with its cool breeze

By the shimmer of black pearls, tumbling in the ashen cloud

See-the efflorescing beauty with rosy cheeks rises

And summer star’s glow, though hidden in the summer gray

As delicate creatures of green and blue surface to bloom

For the verdant bounty of the gatherer’s harvest in caring hands

Gleaming through the canopy, an orb so felicitous and splendid

Summer has come and is full of sweet surprises

Sweetness, bounty, thanks.”

The tasting menu was served outside the restaurant on the terrace that included a Kir Breton, white sturgeon caviar tart with gold essence, miyagi oyster with smoked crème fraiche, tomatoes served on top of a tomato sorbet with nori, trout mousse with bread soaked in squid ink and brioche with house-cultured butter.  All the dishes were perfectly balanced and paired beautifully with the wines. Service was beyond outstanding.

Dominique Crenn moved to San Francisco in 1988 and loved the city. She made her name at Luce in the Intercontinental Hotel, where she earned her first Michelin star.  In 2012 she became the first female chef in the US to achieve 2 stars.  In 2016 she was voted as The Worlds Best Female Chef and in 2018 Atelier Crenn earned the three Michelin stars.

In conclusion, we would highly recommend this restaurant for a very special occasion. It is no wonder that Dominique has a 3-star Michelin rating.  

For more information and to make a reservation go to: https://www.ateliercrenn.com