From the Napa Valley; Part 2

Mary Ann joined us for our first full day in the Valley, arriving in time for breakfast with us at the Vintage Inn.

After breakfast, we headed to Mumm Napa Valley for a tour and tasting. We missed the first tour of the day, which is at 10 a.m. and for which there is no charge and no included tasting. For the rest of the day's tours, there is a charge of $20 for the one hour tour which includes three tastings of Mumm's sparkling wines and participants get to keep their Mumm logo tasting flute. The cost for the tour/tasting for those under 21 is $10 and their tasting is of Mumm's non-alcoholic wine grape juices.

The Mumm tour is one of my favorites for learning about the production of Champagne, both in France and here in the Napa Valley.

The Tour starts outdoors in a small demonstration vineyard where examples of all the grapes used in making Mumm wines are grown. We were encouraged to taste the grapes right off the vine. Note how compact each bunch of grapes is. Wine grapes are very different in appearance and taste from the table grapes that we usually eat.




We then moved indoors to Mumm's production facility and viewed all stages of their wine production and tasted three different sparkling wines.




We all were amused at Bob the Robot who was lifting 18 bottles of wine at a time. While we were looking down on Bob, he missed a few bottles of wine in one lift and stopped working. He looked embarrassed, we thought.



Mumm's tour ends in their art galleries. Visitors can visit the art galleries at no charge, without taking a tour. The current special photography exhibit, "Paris Icons" by James Scholz is being shown through September 26, 2010.


While Mary Ann and I toured, Jim and Louie sat on Mumm's outdoor tasting patio and did their own tasting. Louie was presented with a large doggie cookie as soon as he arrived.



We then drove up to the Veteran's Home of California whose beautiful campus is in the hills on the west side of Yountville.



By now we were hungry for lunch and headed back to Yountville to Pacific Blues



where we enjoyed Burgers



and a Reuben sandwich .




Since Mary Ann has spent limited time in Yountville, we walked around town a bit. We explored the French Laundry's gardens which are across from the restaurant,




visited some of the town's shops, and simply enjoyed the day.

And then, it was tea time at the Vintage Inn.



We got ourselves plates of mini pastries and tea sandwiches and some lemonade and iced tea and headed to the pool until it was time for Mary Ann to head back home.

For dinner for me and Jim that evening, it was off to Hurley's where we ate lightly, but, as always, enjoyed the food.




This is the height of the fresh tomato season and I had to try their tomato soup which is made with tomatoes and other seasonings and absolutely no broth...delicious with a polenta crouton floating in the middle.



I follow my soup with an appetizer serving of Moroccan Beef Skewers which were served with salad and hummus.



Jim started with a Butter Lettuce Salad



and followed it with Steamed Mussels.

NAPA VALLEY 2009...LAST FULL DAY; MUMM & TERRA

Today is our wedding anniversary! While our outings were limited, they were special.

Sandwiched between a visit to Yountville Fitness



and a few afternoon hours at the pool, we spent a bucolic three hours at Mumm Napa Valley.





Mumm is one of my favorite Napa Valley wineries for more reasons than just their excellent sparkling wines. Their tour is one of the best in the Valley and even those who have no clue of hour Champagne is made, come away from the tour with clear understanding of the process.

Also, Mumm has a fine art photography gallery, part of which showcases the private collection of Ansel Adams photography The Private Collection Gallery exhibits Matthew Adams' private collection of his grandfather Ansel Adams’ photographs. Another part of the photography gallery features changing exhibits. The current exhibit of the work of George Rose "Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Other Perversities" Pop Culture of the 1970s and 1980s, presents fascinating photographs of Hollywood celebrities of the 1970s and 1980s. It will be here until August 21, 2009.






There is no charge to visit Mumm's photography galleries. For the first guided tour of the day, at 10 a.m., there is no charge. For the rest of the day's tours, there is a charge of $20 which includes a tasting of three of Mumm's wines on the original tasting terrace.



Three months ago Mumm opened its Oak Terrace, another outdoor tasting area where it offers its higher end "library collection" wines. We opted for the Oak Terrace where we enjoyed flutes of the 2002 DVX Rosé and the 25th Anniversary Brut Reserve. To go with it, we ordered a platter of a selection of cheese, nuts, fruit, and crackers. They served Louie a bowl of water and a very large doggie cookie. Cost for our two glasses of wine was $30; the cheese sampler was $20...very reasonable for this special tasting.







Sitting in comfortable arm chairs, overlooking the Valley, we had no problem passing several hours here enjoying our wine and what turned out to be a light lunch for us.







Our special dinner was in St. Helena at Terra, one of our longtime favorites that we've forgotten about for a few years.



Chef owners Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani continue to work their magic in their eclectic menu that has an Asian emphasis.





We shared the Fried Rock Shrimp as an appetizer. The Chive sauce was so delicious that we sopped up every drop with our warm bread and the salad greens.



Jim's main course was the fish of the day, a whole Petrale Sole, cooked in "magic broth." They boned his fish for him and it was garnished with Broccolini, olives, zucchini, and roasted tomatoes.



My choice was Halibut on a bed of white bean purée and haricots verts.



Everything was perfection.

We share sorbet with a coconut tuile for dessert. The sorbet flavors were strawberry and cantelope. And they wrote "Happy Anniversary" in chocolate on our plate.



Happy Anniversary, Jim!