Napa - An Anniversary Celebration (Part 6)

Sunday morning, our last full day to enjoy California. Our plan was for Tracy and I to go get a facial together, but unfortunately they only had one facial specialist which for both of us to have a facial, we would have had to take ALL morning long which would take way too long. So we decided to just have one of us get the facial and my sweet friend, Tracy gave me the slot... even though I truly believe that she should have had the facial. Here is just one picture that I took of the spa before the facialist came and got me.

After my facial, off we went to enjoy the day.

Pictures of course had to be taken at the beautiful vineyard, Poetry, a Cliff Lede Vineyard.

Because we loved Bottega so much, we decided to have lunch there. Gnocchi... yummy. Maybe it was so delicious because we were so hungry. We had not made a reservation for this restaurant like we had with all the others. We just showed up for this one because it sounded good. When we walked into the restaurant, the hostess told us the wait was going to be about 1 hour and 15 minutes. We thought, sure, we can wait... people are getting up and leaving. Surly they will call our name soon. The wait really wasn't bad. We were able to sit outside on their patio and enjoy the weather and great company. But, apparently when the hostess says 1 hour and 15 minutes... that is what she means... even if there were tables available. Exactly 1 hour and 15 minutes later, we were seated. It was weird, but we learned our lesson. Always make a reservation. Opus One Winery - Owned by Robert Mondavi & Baroness Philippine de Rothschild

What a beautiful entrance into this place. We would drive by many times and just admire the beautiful view.

This was our last trip to a vineyard in Napa and while we were walking to our car, Daniel noticed by our car that some grapes had fallen off the fine and were laying on the ground. Well, you cant waste them, so he went and picked them up. We tasted them... they are nothing like the grapes you eat at the grocery store. As we were driving home, we noticed that if the grapes had fallen off the vine, then the stem would look like it. Ours didn't look like it. OOPS Apparently, or so we think... the farmers CUT some of the grapes and let them lay on the ground to alter the flavor of their wine. Sounds like a great assumption to me.

After being out and about... this is what we came home to in our sitting room. Cheese spreads, delicious breads, grapes and wine. Delish.

For our last night, we ate at Auberge du Soleil, the best view in Napa Valley.

We arrived just as the sun was going down and so the view was amazing. We were able to sit on the deck... See were the first "cone" shaped roof is from the left... we sat there on the second story balcony.

Here is the view... only imagine it as the sun is setting, it was very beautiful.

Prime New York Beef, Wild Mushrooms, Yukon Gold Potatoes and Caramelized Shallot Sauce.

Toasted Vanilla Angelfood Cake, Trailside Strawberries, Soft Strawberry Cream. This was simple, but very delicious.

While we were traveling around Napa, we passed this sign many times and kept telling ourselves that we HAD to stop and get a picture of Daniel and I under it. We kept telling ourselves... next time. Tonight was the last night we were going to be able to take the picture if we ever were going to do it. So on our way home from dinner, Jason pulled over, we ran to get under the sign to take a quick photo... we were on a fairly busy street. Unfortunately you don't see us very well, but you do see the sign.

This trip was AMAZING and a true Once In A Lifetime experience for Daniel and I. The vineyards were all wonderful, the food was great and my added weight from the trip is proof that it is true, the ranch was beautiful and completely serene and to top it off, the company was the best. The memories we made will last forever.