Calistoga mixed with Nantucket! April 17

   Another wonderful day!
    We left Emeryville and headed for Calistoga, one of our favorite spots on the planet. It is at the upper end of the Napa Valley and a place we have camped many times. This will be our first with a real roof over our heads.
    The weather was ideal - it got to the low 80s with lots of sun.
    As we were very early, we went slowly. We stopped at Oakville Grocery and got some olive oil. We stopped at Sattui Vineyards where we have enjoyed their wonderful shop and deli in the past. Mark got a delicious pesto and cold cut sandwich and Barbara got a seafood ceviche. We ate in the beautiful garden with a backdrop of the vineyard. The roses were in full bloom and fragrance as well.  We bought some mustard and olive oils.

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    Then we went to the Comfort Inn - a very nice one, too. We soaked in the mineral water hot tub for a bit and then went to Viader Vineyard where former student and drama kid, Ian Dooley is manager. Ian was in Mark's memorable high school performance of Noises Off! He is married to a lovely Argentinian who he met while traveling in New Zealand. They each work at a vineyard and both are qualified Level 2 sommeliers.
   As a bonus, Sam Herrick and his girlfriend, Randy, were also there, so it was a wonderful gathering.
   Ian was off work, yet voluntarily met us at the Viader, open only by appointment, so we were given a code to open the gates. Ian gave us all a wonderful tour of the vineyard which overlooks Napa Valley. It is owned by an Argentinian woman who is considered a very accomplished and innovative wine maker. We went through the vines (Cabernet and Cabernet Franc) and into the caves. All the grapes are hand picked and the grapes are not crushed, but slowly pressed by their own weight. Everything is done on site, from the grapes to the fermenting, crushing, bottling..... We bought a bottle of their flagship Cabernet which has been described as "liquid cashmere."

Ian explaining about growing the grapes at Viader

Looking down through the grapes of Viader toward Napa Valley; reservoir in the photo

Sam and Randy at Viader

Viader Tasting Room

    Those of our readers who know us best, know that we have given up alcohol for three years in solidarity with a loved one who has embraced a life of sobriety. We did waver on that today as we did sip a little bit of wine, but very little. We bought the bottle for a future celebration to share on a special occasion.
    Afterwards, Ian's wife, Florencia, met us at Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen where we had one of the best meals of our entire journey of three months. Barbara had the Ahi Tuna salad and Mark had the spaghetti carbonara. Sam and Ian had the duck burger about which they raved. Conversation was stimulating and it was truly a delightful evening.

Florencia, Barbara, Sam

Ian and Florencia