Sonoma County Wine Country, Day 1

After arriving in Wine Country very early this morning, we began the day with the free breakfast at the Best Western Dry Creek Inn in Healdsburg.  Now I normally would put the Best Western down in the category of a Red Roof Inn, cheap, semi-safe lodging but the Dry Creek Inn could change your perspective.

Yes there is an outdoor entrance. However, access to the complex is only through a key so it's as safe as any indoor access lodging.  No worries there.  As far as the rooms are concerned, this one has a nice balcony overlooking a courtyard.  There's a reason why this is referred to as the Tuscan wing.  The room is equipped with a king bed, a fireplace, a jacuzzi tub and a shower. Like I said, not your standard fare.

While the free breakfast isn't necessarily fine dining, it's decent and filling.  No sense wasting dollars on breakfast when there's wine tasting to be had and other great meals. I'm not one to to be too picky when it comes to breakfast.  At least the coffee was strong and hot!

V-M-L Winery

After a late breakfast we began the vacation day in the very best way -- with no agenda and no idea where we were going to stop.  Leaving the hotel and wandering south on Westside Road we came to a beautiful winery called V-M-L.  The initials stand for the winemaker, Virginia Marie Lambrix.  The gardens leading up to the tasting room were absolutely stunning.

When we got into the tasting room, we found the wines to rival the gardens.  Stunning. V-M-L is an artisan winery specializing in Pinot Noir.  While all of their offerings in the tasting were delicious, I found myself surprised by the Rose of Pinot.

I'm not really a Rose sort of guy.  Actually, I usually categorize it akin to a White Zin. So much for being a wine snob.  This is the sort of wine that I can easily be drinking on the back porch on a warm summer day.  (Note to self: Let go of your preconceived ideas about wine!)

With the purchase of a couple of bottles for the room this week, the tasting was free.

Gardens at V-M-L

When I come to Wine Country, I'm looking for those out-of-the-way, previously unheard of (by me at least) wineries.  So having enjoyed one new find, I inquired about others on our way south.  First on the list was John Tyler Wines.

Haven't heard of them?  Neither had I.  That's good for a start.  We pulled into a relatively new tasting room.  It wasn't surrounded by lush gardens or a massive structure.  It's a simple building just off of Westside Road.

While the building may be new, the family behind the wines -- the Bacigalupi family -- aren't newbies.  They've been growing grapes for other wineries for years.  Only recently did they begin crafting their own wines.  Obviously, they've learned something along the way.

If you've heard of the movie Bottle Shock then you may know of their grapes.  You see, the vines from one of their vineyards produced the grapes that Chateau Montelena used to send the international wine world into a frenzy.

Being of German ancestry can't be any happier when the French are turned upside down!

On my last trip to Sonoma, it was the Frick Winery that was the surprise find of the visit.  This time, I'm thinking it's going to be John Tyler Wines.  After being greeted by 4-month old Cali, we were treated to an insightful tasting and history of the winery by Nicole. They are making some really wonderful Pinot Noirs.

The Japanese Garden @ Arista is stunning!

What was nice about the visit was the insight not only into the wines but also the growing of the grapes.  The difference in wine from different vineyards no more than a few miles from each other. Couldn't leave without purchasing another bottle for the week.

After a nice visit and a recommendation to head down to Arista Vineyards (the second recommendation for Arista in two stops) we meandered our way down to Arista for a tasting.  Once again we were greeted by a phenomenal view and spectacular gardens.  The tasting was primarily Pinot again.  After all, we're in the Russian River Valley.  It's amazing the difference a few miles can make in the climate.

In our own meandering way, we stumbled upon three previously unheard of wineries and found some really spectacular wines.  And some great advice and recommendations. After telling Jeff of our thoughts for lunch, he steered us to the Francis Ford Coppola Winery for a spectacular view and really fine food.

Much like his films, the winery itself is a monument.  You could probably spend a day just visiting the various parts of the winery.  You can even see his Oscars in a case on the second floor.  But that's not even the best part, it's the spectacular view from the terrace of the restaurant.

I ordered a glass of the Director's Cut Cinema red wine to go along with the Moroccan Lamb for two. I'm not sure I can put into words how delicious both were.  The Cinema is a big wine and it held up well with the lamb.

It is cooked for hours in what looks like a stoneware vase.  It comes to the table, along with a plate of couscous, and served from the vase. It's the most tender lamb I've ever had -- and I try to get lamb every opportunity I can.

Frankly, there was enough lamb for four people. Unfortunately there was only enough couscous for 1-1/2 people.  The only disappointment in the dish because everything was delicious.

After putting a dent into the lamb and a short night, I have to say I was ready for a nap.  I know what you're thinking and yes it's true.  I can't push through like I could when I was 40 and not 50.  After a refreshing nap, we went up to Diavola Pizzeria for dinner.

We heard about Diavola from Seghesio's Enologist Sonja last year when we were here for a special Seghesio event.  Her husband owns the pizzeria and salumeria.  This place was packed when we got there but with a few seats open at the bar, we took those.  After the huge lunch, we didn't have a big appetite but the wood fired pizzas looked to die for.

We ordered the Bambino which came with house smoked salumi along with a little basil on top along with the house Dego Red wine.  No I'm not trying to be a racist, that's what they call it. We saw a lot of it being poured and we know why that is.  Delicious.

The pizza came out and was better than advertised.  Colin and Dino, GM and chef respectively, have a tremendous business. If you find yourself within 50 miles of Geyserville, take the trip and find this gem of a restaurant. Not much more to do today but head back to the hotel and rest up.

As Scarlett O'Hara once said: tomorrow's going to be a better. day!

The Nashville Food Scene

I've only made a few visits to Nashville in recent years that have allowed me to extend my reach beyond the Gaylord Opryland.  If you've been to any of the Gaylord facilities, they're a bit of a world unto themselves. You can spend weeks there never actually breathing air from the outside. 

They seem to be a little bit of Sin City in Dallas, DC and Nashville (there may be more but I've not been there).  But when I have had the chance to step out and breath some of the great Tennessee air and try some of their restaurants, I've been really pleased with the food scene here in Nashville.

My first experience was with a little Italian restaurant that delivered a fantastic meal, allowed me to bring in my own bottles of wine and to reconnect with a dear family friend who I hadn't seen in ages. Nothing fancy about it, just top flight food in a really inviting setting. 

Obviously my friend knows the best places to head and on another trip introduced me to Cantina Laredo.  Now I know what you're going to say: it's a chain so what makes it a unique find in Nashville?  Perhaps it's not just limited to Nashville but if you're looking for upscale Mexican, Cantina Laredo can't be beat. 

It's more than just the food.  They make this really fantastic guacamole table side with their secret spice mix.  I asked the server what he put in, but he told me he'd have to kill me if he told me but some of the spices were on the table.

I took that to mean that there was some salt and pepper but from the taste probably included a little cayenne with a hint of something else I can't quite get my tongue around.

I also had the the Fiesta de la Parrilla which included shrimp, quail, chicken, carnitas and beef on the fajitas -- a very generous helping to be sure.  You heard right. Quail in the fajitas. The classic Mojito included a generous helping of rum and a bit of sugar cane to stir the drink.  If you go home hungry you're either a teenage boy or you have a tapeworm.

The following night it was the Sunset Grill over by Vanderbilt University which was a surprising delight. You can't have a southern dinner without a side order of fried green tomatoes. Growing up I never was a huge fan of this little fruit but over the years I've developed a love of the tomato.

Now I can't say I didn't like stuff with tomatoes in it like pasta sauce, salsa or the ever popular ketchup. But as a stand alone item, it was not something I would pick. It's certainly different today as I now have eight tomato plants in my small little garden that are about to deliver their goodness to the table. But green tomatoes have a slightly different taste than their red cousins -- a delightful taste when lightly breaded and fried.

The Sunset Grill does a fabulous job with these.  They also had a delightful play on the traditional lox and bagel as a grilled flat bread.  A wonderful way to start.  What was even better was getting to know some new friends better over a wonderful meal.  The meal ended with a delightful, warm mixed berry cobbler.

Have to say that most of the meal centered around the duck that was ordered by a companion and the incredulous reaction by one of the other diners. All in all it made for a great night.  More so, I'm really interested in exploring more unique restaurants in Nashville and discovering a few more gems.

The Most Important Meal of the Day

It's 7 am on a Tuesday morning.  The family is gathered around the breakfast table with fresh squeezed orange juice, steaming hot biscuits, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and fresh fruit are in their respective plates and bowls.

The conversation is centered around the plans for the day and the challenges that each family member expects to face.  This is a scene that is played out every day around the country as families prepare for the day around the breakfast table.

Ok. Perhaps it only happens in movies like Pleasantville but today's fast-paced world really doesn't seem to allow this type of activity to take place regularly.  Frankly, I'm lucky if I remember to grab the fruit that's been cut up and a hard boiled egg or two.  Conversation is limited . . . if at all.

Unfortunately I don't think I can count on one hand the number of breakfasts I had with my children as they were growing up.

Shame on me!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and not just for physiological reasons.  It sets the tone for relationships.  All too often I'm pushing because I'm late and frankly, I'm too busy.  It's time to reset those things that are most important in life and it isn't the things.

Perhaps I should get up a half hour earlier not so that I can rush out the door but so that I spend time on the relationships that matter.

I was reminded of that again this morning when I had breakfast with a long-time family friend. I've been in Nashville for a few days and had an opportunity to catch up.

This morning it was at a deli in Nashville called . . . are you ready . . . Noshville.  After getting in the car and driving around a few blocks to find it (it is right behind the Hampton Inn I was staying at!), the parking lot was full.  Not really too bad but it was raining a little.

After living in Oregon for a few years I learned that a little rain never hurt anyone and it wasn't a reason to pull out an umbrella or to run.  You get wet. You dry off.

It was fun to get caught up over a wonderful meal.  A great cup of coffee along with a generous helping of Lox, cream cheese and an everything bagel.  The only thing that seemed a little unusual was that the capers were a side order rather than standard.

But as tasty as the food was, it was the reminder that I should be making time to have a conversation over breakfast and take the opportunity build relationship with those that matter most that was the best part of the morning.

So for the next week I'm going to make a concerted effort to make time to not just refuel the body during breakfast but refuel the important relationships in life.