Blogs from Napa Valley, California, United States, North America

We have an early start this morning – not a big deal for daughter no 1 and me, as our body clocks haven’t adjusted to the 8 hour time difference and we are up and raring to go by 5.30 am. When the kids were little and recently arrived in the US, I used to take them to Walmart in the middle of the night as it was the only place open where they could run around and let off steam until the rest of America was awake. Now she is older and less hyper, we make do with tiptoeing to the living room and checking our social media. This morning, daughter no 2 and I are running Byxbee parkrun. Daughter no 1 cannot be persuaded to join in. Byxbee park is an area of wetland ... read more

Written in 2014, my first email regarding wine or champagne. From the Napa Valley Vintners: As winemaking activity in the Napa Valley transitions from the vineyard to the cellar, we asked our vintners to respond to frequently asked questions about this year's harvest.When did harvest begin?The first sparkling wine grapes were picked on July 30; however, for most vintners and growers, harvest didn't really kick into high gear until the third week in August. (Earlier than normal, Aug. 4 at Gloria Ferrer)... read more

I love this short video. https://youtu.be/OoPwVs50Hh0The Wine Clip: Why I Drink ChampagneKaren MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible and editor of WineSpeed, tells you about the reasons why she drinks Champagne. For ... read more

From Winespeed: While in the Army and stationed near Fresno during WW II, Joe Heitz got a part-time job at Italian Swiss Colony in Asti, Sonoma County. After getting bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of California at Davis after the War, Joe worked under the legendary André Tchelistcheff at Beaulieu Vineyard. In 1961, he left to start Heitz Cellars. Five years later, in 1966, he made the first famous vineyard-designated Napa Valley wine—Heitz “Martha’s Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville’s “Martha’s Vineyard,” owned by Tom and Martha May. When it was released, the 1966 Heitz Cellars “Martha’s Vineyard” was $7 a bottle—an astronomical price since Heitz’s regular cabernet sauvignon, released just three years earlier, was only $1.99 a bottle. Tucked against the Mayacamas mountains on the west side of Oakville, Martha’s Vineyard is surrounded by ... read more

OK, all of you chardonnay sippers out there, beware! We can all use a little bit more wine knowledge than we already think we have. Do you need it to enjoy wine? No. But would you like to be slightly more knowledgeable than your average "Two Buck Chuck" neighbor or friend who seems like a "know-it-all"? Here are some wine basics: It takes about 2.8 pounds of grapes to make one bottle of wine. Over 21 million people visit the California wine country each year. Ninety per cent (90%) of the wine... read more