I can actually do stuff I enjoy?

My doctor told me some wonderful news today: Red wine is not the devil’s drink and unpasteurized cheese doesn’t need to be off-limits! I mean, all of the maternity books make it sound like you shouldn't even be in the same room with these things much less wanting them for yourself! Oh, you’re a bad mother if you actually want these things.

Obviously I can’t consume as much wine as I did pre-pregnancy but a glass every once in awhile is fine. There are even some interesting studies on the benefits of drinking red wine during pregnancy. Not only am I’m relived that pregnancy is no exception to the everything-in-moderation golden rule but that I don't have to have another truffle debacle or a bad visit to Formaggio's again!

California Bliss (again)

I realize this getting repetitive but here’s another blog post about California! Yes, our golden state addiction is getting tough to ignore. For this visit – our third within a year and a half – we went to Napa and Sonoma Valley. Due to the fact these are major wine producing areas, it’s really no surprise we enjoyed ourselves tremendously. It was pure, wonderful indulgence.

First, we visited Nancy and Brian in Sonoma Valley, who were fantastic hosts. Brian’s wine industry connections hooked us up with some sweet recommendations for winery visits (and did I mention the food...oh god, so good). All four of us fell in love with Dry Creek Valley in northern Sonoma Valley.

As Andy and I headed west, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about revisiting the commercialness of Napa Valley, especially since I’ve developed an affinity for the smaller, and seemingly more down-to-earth vibe of the central coast (Paso Robles, specifically). Conclusion: It’s no accident Napa Valley wine is considered world-class. It was solid. Pricey, yes, but solid.

We tasted wines in every manner we could: we went on a bike tour of the Stag’s Leap district in Napa, which specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon; we did a wine blending session at Ravenswood; tasted out of barrels; tasted on patios overlooking vineyards; tasted with food pairings; tasted in a wine cave; tasted with vineyard dogs napping at our feet; tasted in house; tasted with a mouse; tasted in a box with a fox. (Ha! Just wanted to see if you were paying attention.)

Traveling in the off-season was the way to go for us: First and foremost, there were no crowds, we were able to kick back and talk about the wine with some winemakers; we were able to get reservations at restaurants like Bouchon (Thomas Keller); we were also able to stay in B&Bs we wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford by finding last minute vacancy each day. In fact, we found we could get a good deal by just asking for it. Very cool. Don’t feel bad for California, we did more than our share to contributing to the local economy - our wine cellar overflowth with all of the good stuff we brought back with us!

There's really a ton to say about our trip, I'll let the photos finish some of the story. Click here to see images from San Fran, Napa and Sonoma Valley!

(Still) California Dreaming

We just can't seem to get enough of California! This time around we headed to Paso Robles for their zinfandel, which did not disappoint. We visited very small production vineyards - in a few places we tasted with the winemakers themselves. Very cool. After Paso, we covered a lot of ground, revisiting Santa Inez Valley and LA and traveled as far south as San Diego.
See photos of our trip here

California Dreaming

Andy and I had an epic vacation in southern California. We visited our friend, Gilles, who just moved to Santa Monica; went on a couple of wine tasting tours along the central coast (Sideways country); played outside in the sunshine and more. We were just blown away by the scenery; the fresh and delicious food; the consistently perfect weather; and the laid-back, friendly people. We will be back!
We did lots of stuff - check out the photos!

In Vino Veritas

We visited the Finger Lakes in upstate New York for a wine tasting. You might not be aware, but the Finger Lakes are home to a ton of wineries and some really beautiful landscapes. This wine region is known for its whites and since it's a cooler growing climate, the wines tend to be sweeter. I have to commend those brave little grapes - I could barely make it through Rochester winters myself!

We had a great time with our pals, Amie and Brett and their families who were super gracious: putting us up, feeding us and driving our buzzed butts around the lakes!
Photos here!