This Kenzo Estate vintage is named ai, which represents the color indigo in Japanese.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOn our last day, we arrived early at Model Bakery, where lines form for the Oprah-famous English muffins, and noshed on breakfast sandwiches before our vineyard tour at Kenzo Estate. Encompassing 3,800 pristine acres in the mountains east of Napa, 80% of the world-class wine produced here is sold in owner and Capcom founder Kenzo Tsujimoto\u2019s native Japan. We couldn\u2019t resist shipping home a Kenzo ai cabernet and the Bordeaux-style blend Rindo, available exclusively through the vineyard.<\/p>\n
Our final tasting was O\u2019Brien Estate\u2019s Bordeaux-style blends Romance and Seduction, which boast varying percentages of cabernet, merlot and cabernet franc grapes, and are only available to members. We capped off our last night by heading to Auberge du Soleil for sunset cocktails and a late dinner of micro-regional rustic Italian at Bottega by Chef Michael Chiarello in Yountville.<\/p>\n
My grape love affair with Napa is official. A girls\u2019 trip is next: Add mud baths, spa treatments and shopping to the wining and dining. Who’s with me?<\/p>\n
TOP TIPS<\/strong><\/p>\n~ There’s a lot to do from Napa to Calistoga, so don\u2019t try to fit in more during a brief stay.<\/p>\n
~ Reserve ahead and visit two wineries a day, preferably in close proximity. Tasting and tours are usually 90 minutes, plus drive time.<\/p>\n
~ The first vineyard experience should be educational to learn about the area, then just enjoy the tastings.<\/p>\n
VISIT NAPA VALLEY<\/strong><\/p>\n707.226.5813
\nvisitnapavalley.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Four exquisite days in Napa Valley. Napa Valley has been on my bucket list for most of my adult life. The region reopened three weeks prior to my travel dates and exceeded every expectation. After a direct flight from Atlanta to Sacramento and a one hour drive, my husband and I settled in for a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":22636,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[22461,19,234],"tags":[22542,22543,22536,22549,22545,22537,22535,22546,22539,22540,22547,22541,22532,22550,22534,22533,22544,22548,22531,22538],"thb-sponsors":[],"yoast_head":"\n
GRAPE EXPECTATIONS – Simply Buckhead<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n