Las Vegas: Bellagio Hotel and Exclusive Shadow Creek Golf Course

Recently, we had the pleasure of playing the exclusive

                 “Shadow Creek Golf Course “ 

in the ‘city that never sleeps’, Las Vegas, and staying at the famous Bellagio Hotel. 

Southwest Airlines offers a great selection of 1.5 hour direct flights from the Oakland airport.

The famous Bellagio Hotel is a 5 minute drive from the airport. Bellagio means ‘elegant relaxation’ and is named after a town in Lake Como, Italy. It is known for its 8-acre lake with multi-colored waterfalls that dance to perfectly choreographed music.

This massive hotel is a Las Vegas favorite living up to its billing of ‘elegant relaxation’ with  stately appointed rooms, multiple restaurants, pools, spa, entertainment and a first-class service staff.

The ‘dancing waterfalls’ are very soothing to your soul and attract many people to enjoy the 24 hour show on the Las Vegas strip.

After checking in, we enjoyed a great dinner at Gordon Ramsey’s English Pub at nearby Caesars Palace. This was our second Ramsey experience as we also ate at his Black Cat restaurant in London. We were not disappointed and enjoyed great service and food in a casual atmosphere at his pub.

On another night, we enjoyed great service and a fabulous Italian dinner with a very good international and domestic wine list at famous Rao’s also located at Caesars Palace. The meatballs and lemon chicken are not to be missed. The cannoli for dessert was one of the best we have experienced!

We had the pleasure of playing the Tom Fazio designed 7500 yard masterpiece Shadow Creek Golf Course. Originally built by casino owner Steve Wynn, it has hosted many famous celebrities, Presidents and golfers on its hallowed grounds.  

Recently, Phil Mickelson beat Tiger Woods in a 4-hole sudden death $10 million match.  In 2020, long hitting Jason Kokrak won his first PGA tour event in a star studded field CJ cup that was moved to Las Vegas due to Covid travel issues.

Your exclusive golf experience begins when a Limo picks you up at your hotel and takes you to the course. The 7500 yard golf wonderland has multiple tees to challenge any golfing skill level.

Long time General Manager, Monte Montgomery, assigned us to a famous caddy named Bogey, who navigated us around this meticulously manicured slice of golf heaven.

Every hole can be considered a signature hole. Bogey’s stories of many famous people playing here were also interesting and entertaining.

When we asked him who was his favorite person to caddy for, he said very politely, “aside from Linda and Mike today, I really enjoyed Mark Wahlberg, Justin Timberlake and President Obama. “

You can play this formerly very private course if you stay at one of the MGM resorts. MGM purchased this heavenly property a few years ago. It is truly a ‘must do’ bucket list experience for the avid golfer. 

For more information go to:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_Creek_Golf_Course

Faust Wines: A Napa Treasure

Recently, we had the pleasure of visiting Faust Wines. These high-quality wines showcase what makes the Coombsville Region so special.

Faust is part of a winery/brand portfolio owned by Huneeus Vinters including Napa based Quintessa.

The Faust House is one of Napa’s newest tasting rooms that opened in 2020.There is a refurbished 1870s Victorian Mansion and outdoor shaded patio areas overlooking terraced vineyards where we enjoyed these great wines.

The mansion’s lavish interiors are meant to recall its namesake Dr. Faustus, the literary character who made a pact with the devil.

Nate, assistant guest services manager showed us the lower- level speakeasy. Supposedly, it is haunted by 3 ghosts-August, Joanna and Mary.  As the story goes, August liked whiskey and as a result they keep a bottle of Jameson always open for him.

Our knowledgeable and energetic host today was Ty. He did a great job telling us about the wine and the snack pairing that went with the wine.

We enjoyed a sensational sun splashed day on the patio overlooking Napa. We began with a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, followed by the 2016 ‘The Hour’ a unique blend of Merlot and Petite Sirah.  We concluded with an elegant 2016 and 2018 ‘The Pact’ 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. We especially liked the 2016 Hourd and 2016 100 percent Cabernet. One bottle of each went home to Danville with us.

This winery is a ‘must do’ to add to your Napa wine tasting bucket list.

For more information and to make an appointment, go to: https://faustwines.com/

Sullivan Rutherford Estate: Established in 1972

Recently, we had the pleasure of visiting Sullivan Rutherford Estate sitting on 26 acres of beauty in the heart of Napa.  It is a boutique winery that has been making Bordeaux style wines since 1972.

James (Jim) O’Neil Sullivan founded this  winery and his vision of making world class wines continued when the winery was sold in 2018.

Now under the guidance of Juan Pablo Torres Padilla, this winery continues their ‘quest to be the best’.

Our host today was Laura.  She met us with a great smile and two glasses of Chardonnay when we arrived. Her passion and proud description of these great wines made for a very enjoyable day.

In addition to the 2018 Chardonnay, we tasted the 2016 Coeur Du Vigne, 2016 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 2015 James O’Neil Merlot and 2015 James O’Neil Cabernet Sauvignon.

We especially enjoyed the 2016 Coeur Du Vigne which was a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 2% Petite Verdot.  

The label on the  bottle is also graced with a  colorful painting by James O’Neil’s daughter. We took a couple of bottles home with us.

The peaceful, pastoral setting and perfectly manicured grounds reminded us of being in Ireland. This is a ‘must do’ Napa wine experience. 

For more information and to make an appointment go to: Sullivanwine.com

Oakville Grocery: Established 1881

In our quest to visit 600 wineries in Napa, we enjoy having lunch at one of the many great Napa restaurants after our tastings.

One of our favorite places is the Oakville Grocery that was established in 1881. The owner of Raymond Vineyards Jean-Charles Boisset has continued to make the Oakville Grocery a popular place to enjoy lunch on one of their many picnic tables and taste wines in their elaborate tasting room and museum.

Wood fired pizzas, salads and a variety of sandwiches make for a great Napa experience. We especially enjoy their Muffuletta sandwich.

If you are a Raymond member ,as we are, you also qualify for a discount.

In addition, you get a complimentary glass of Raymond wine poured from their high tech perfectly temperature controlled dispensers.

We enjoyed their ‘1881‘ Cabernet that paired well with our Muffuletta sandwich and is only sold at the grocery.

There are also many other great wines to taste or purchase.
The dispensers hold 4 bottles of wine and one had 4 bottles of ‘100’ point wines you could taste.

We also learned in the near future you will be able to taste world famous and sensational “Screaming  Eagle‘ wine.

In conclusion, Oakville Grocery is a ‘must do’ experience for great food and wines after a day of visiting Napa wineries.

For more information go to:
https://oakvillegrocery.com/

VGS Chateau Potelle: Premium Wine and Food Tasting Experience

Recently, we had the pleasure of visiting VGS Chateau Potelle and enjoy their premium wine and food pairing experience located in the heart of St. Helena.  French winemaker Jean-Noel Fourmeaux was sent to the Napa Valley by the French government in 1980, shortly after the Paris Tasting in 1976, to “spy” for 6 months. He was the son of a Bordeaux winemaker, and he sent a telegram home saying: “Looks good, I stay.” VGS (Very good shit) Jean-Noel Fourmeaux was enticed by the richness of the Napa Valley fruit. He admired the freedom given to California winemakers that allowed for great creativity and expression.  Hence the name of the winery evolved as VGS Chateau Potelle.

The wines were perfectly paired from Chef Ken Frank Michelin star rated La Toque restaurant in Napa.

Our host today was Luis. His knowledge and passion for these great wines made for a very enjoyable day.

We began the tasting with a 2018 Chardonnay paired with a vichyssoise soup with chive oil and a crispy potato. The VGS 2018 100% Zinfandel was next with a duck rillette with fig, pickled plums and tarragon.  Next was VGS Potelle Two with a blend of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon,44% Grenache,16% Petite Sirah and 14% Merlot. It was paired with a Moroccan Spiced Lamb Loin with eggplant purée and pansisse cake.  The final taste was the 2017 VGS Cabernet Sauvignon. It was 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Malbec and paired with beef loin with choucroute duxelles and garlic aioli on fried rye. All the wines were great and the food pairings very well thought out and sensational.

We especially enjoyed the VGS Potelle Two and took 2 bottles home with us. 

We would highly recommend this wine and food pairing experience.

For more information and to make an appointment go to:
https://www.vgschateaupotelle.com/

Tres Sabores: A ‘Must Do’ Napa Valley Gem

Recently, we had the pleasure of visiting Tres Sabores in the heart of Napa Valley. 

 

Owner and Winemaker Julie Johnson was the former owner of Frogs Leap for many years.  At Tres Sabores, she has created excellence in 3 flavors, The Terroir, The Vine and The Spirit.

 

The winery is certified as organic with a variety of grapes, Meyer lemons, pomegranates, olive trees and beautiful gardens gracing this pristine property creating a Monet like painting. 

 

Our host was Anna whose passionate explanation of these great wines made for a very interesting and enjoyable experience.  

 

We tasted 2019 Headline White Wine, 2019 Ingrid and Julia Rose, 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, 2017 Headline Red Wine, 2018 Zinfandel, 2019 Por Que no? California Red Blend and 2018 Rutherford Perspective Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

The Por Que No? (Why not) is also known as ‘party in a glass’ and a blend of 36% Zinfandel, 35% Petite Sirah, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petite Verdot. We especially enjoyed it and the Cabernet Sauvignon taking a bottle of each home with us.

 

For lunch, we went to the famous Oakville Grocery. They have a variety of freshly made sandwiches, salads, wines and wood stove pizzas.

 

We enjoyed their muffuletta sandwich and promised ourselves to ‘return again soon’ to enjoy this culinary delight.

For more information and to make an appointment go to:https://www.tressabores.com/

 

 

Gundlach Bundschu: 1858 California’s Oldest Family Owned Winery



Recently, we had the pleasure to visit Gundlach Bundschu winery in Sonoma.

This winery has been producing excellent wine since 1858. It is the oldest family owned winery in California.

They focus on Bordeaux blends,  cool climate varietals and produce 44,000 cases annually. 

Our host today was Misty. She was very knowledgeable and full of ‘Gun Bunn’ passion.

We enjoyed a 2019 Gewirztraminer,  2018 Chardonnay,  2017 Zinfandel, 2017 Merlot,  2017 Pinot Noir, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2015 Vintage Reserve. 

We especially enjoyed the 2017 Heritage Merlot.  It was  medium bodied, well structured and balanced with aromas of spice and lavender. We took a few bottles home with us.

In conclusion, we highly recommend a visit to this 6th generation gem. 

For more information and to make an appointment go to: 

https://www.gunbun.com/

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Raymond Vineyards; Winemaker For a Day Blending Experience

Recently we had the opportunity to be a ‘winemaker’ for the day at Raymond Vineyards. As wine lovers we have always dreamed of making our own personal “blend”. Raymond was the place to do it!

They offer a very fun blending experience that allows you to craft their wines to your own personal Bordeaux-style red wine from actual barrel samples. Once crafted you cork it, foil it and then attach the custom named label and voila you have your wine!

During the blending process we learned winemaker’s tips, interesting facts and techniques about getting the perfect personal blend and the shocking difference between the same vintage grapes barreled in American Oak vs French Oak.  We took a good friend to this blending experience and named our wine ‘Friends’. Our host was Joseph, who was very professional and knowledgeable.  Our wine was a blend of 50% 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% 2018 Merlot and 20% 2018 Cabernet Franc.

The great thing is that you can reorder your personal creation any time and also change your customized label for holiday, birthday and special occasion gifts.

Prior to the blending appointment, the Raymond Tasting Room Manager, Bill Farmer, gave us a wonderful tour of the eccentric tasting facility created by Jean-Charles Boisset. We loved the “Red Room” which took us back to the glamour and excitement of yesteryear with red velvet lined walls lit by Baccarat chandeliers.

Raymond’s wine blending experience is a ‘must do’ to add to any wine lovers bucket list. Plan a trip to Raymond with a few friends and create your own wonderful wine. It is a memorable experience.

For more information and to make an appointment for the blending experience or wine tasting. Go to: https://raymondvineyards.com/about/

Buena Vista: Established in 1857 California’s First Premium Winery

 

Buena Vista: Established in 1857 California’s First Premium Winery

Recently we had the pleasure to experience California’s first premium winery, Buena Vista. It is located in Sonoma, an easy 1-hour drive from our home in Danville.

The Buena Vista Wine founder was Agoston Haraszthy. He proclaimed himself as the “Count of Buena Vista”.  He was described as having a colorful personality, loved life and especially great wine.  Immigrating from Europe in 1840, he sought “purple gold” and founded Buena Vista Winery in 1857

Today the winery is owned by Jean- Charles Boisset another brilliant businessman and flamboyant personality. The Boisset Family owns a number of wineries including Raymond Vineyards in Napa which we are members. The original Buena Vista winery is now a California Landmark.

Our host for our tasting was Ariel.  She was very knowledgeable and proudly informed us about their extensive selection of wonderful wines. The ambiance for the tasting was very fun. We visited on Presidents Day and the outdoor covered tasting tables were full of people enjoying the wine and a soft rain that made it feel and look mystical.  We tasted their 2018 Reserve Chardonnay, Reserve Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Charbono and 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. All of them were excellent and very enjoyable.

Our final tasting was the 2018 Sheriff of Buena Vista. It honors the ‘Counts’ role as San Diego’s first sheriff.  It is a unique blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Syrah, Syrah, Grenache, Petite Verdot, Mourvèdre, Merlot and Mission varietals. We took 2 bottles of this great wine home with us along with a bottle of smooth and sensational Buena Vista Port.

After our tasting, we enjoyed a great lunch at El Dorado Kitchen overlooking the charming Sonoma square.  Fresh oysters, Seared Ahi Tuna sandwich, crispy French Fries, and warm churros with caramel sauce made for a great ending to a special day.

 For more information and to make an appointment go to:
 https://buenavistawinery.com/

A Napa Tradition: Cakebread Cellars

 

Recently we had the pleasure of visiting Cakebread Cellars. It was founded in 1973 by Jack and Dolores Cakebread. It is still family owned and operated and produces 150,000 cases of wine each year. Jack is still alive and his wife Dolores recently passed away at age 90.

The tasting room has been recently remodeled and has an intimate warm feeling with high wooden ceilings and large bottles of their great wine proudly displayed.  Jack is also an amateur photographer and has many of his photos gracing the walls.

We enjoyed a tasting in their outside garden overlooking their grapes on a spectacular sunny warm Napa winter day.  Our host was Gabe who was very knowledgeable and passionate about the wines.

We began with their famous crisp and refreshing 2018 Chardonnay followed by 2017 Pinot Noir, 2016 Merlot, 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2017 Vaca Cabernet Sauvignon.  We especially enjoyed the Merlot that was 82% Merlot, 7% Petite Verdot, 6%Petite Syrah and 5% Cabernet Franc. The Vaca Cabernet was also a spectacular full bodied rich wine We took both of these wines back to Danville with us.

We also tasted the 2018 Rubaiyat Wine. This wine is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 49% Petite Syrah and 1% Grenache. It was named for a famous love poem by the 12th century Persian philosopher/poet Omar Khayyam. The poem is written on the back of each bottle. 

A perfect bottle for Valentine’s Day!

After the tasting, we enjoyed a great lunch at Farmstead. Hog Island Oysters, pulled pork sandwiches and their famous beignets with caramel bourbon sauce made for a great ending to another fantastic day in beautiful Napa.

For more information and to make a tasting appointment go to:
https://www.cakebread.com/