Napa Classic

Its a 2 hour flight to Napa from our home airport, but always a treat to visit. Arriving at Bridgeford flying services, our car met us at the plane to begin our tour.

First stop was Domaine Carneros, which is home not only to some extraordinary Pinot Noir, but also the Tattinger Sparkling wine (methode champagnoise). The best of each tasting flight, in my humble opinion, was the "Famous Gate" Pinot and the "La Reve" Champagne. (The purists will forgive the unauthorized appellation). A stunning 1990's reproduction of a French Chateau houses the main tasting rooms for Domaine Carneros.

Next was the inimitable Opus Winery. More like a bunker than a winery (see the website), it is built into a mound rising to a trellised roof terrace where you can enjoy the selection(s) at $30 for a 4 oz taste, and no, you can't keep the glass.

Literally across the street is the Mondavi Winery. You may know that Opus is a collaboration of the Robert Mondavi and Baron Phillipe de Rothschild, so the location is not surprising. The tours at Mondavi are very informative but it is a large-scale tourist operation and not as clubby as, say, the Girgich winery. Nevertheless, Mondavi is well worth the visit for those on their first tour.

The final stop was lunch at Tra Vigne, probably one of the most famous Italian restaurants in the Napa Valley, and deservedly so. The tree-shaded courtyard was a pleasant setting for lunch.

Potted Pomegranate and Fig trees formed the perimeter of the courtyard, which was centered on a most unusual fountain. At first blush, it looked like any other dining table for two, but curiously with a puddle underneath continuously filled with dripping water from the table above. In reality it was a sculpture fountain which blended in perfectly until your eye settled on something-non-quite-right; the reward for which is pictured here.

The best recommendation, however was for the driver and the company that hires him. Beau Wine tours, and driver John Knapp, responded on short notice (i.e. no notice- we called them an hour before arrival) and were waiting for us at the airport. John made the day just right by knowing where to go and how to get there effortlessly.