Wicked Winery

Wicked Winery…. and we mean that in a good way!

Scarlet was invited by friends to a remote cabin in Tennessee. As you know we never pass by on an opportunity to travel. Along the way we stopped by Amber Falls Winery and Cellars in Hampshire, Tennessee. When you arrive at the winery it seems like a small out of the way place and this winery was fabulous. We arrived to find classic charm and fine wine.

The outside setting has a covered gazebo filled with lights and a local quartet playing. After meeting up with friends we ventured down to the eccentric tasting room which is located in the cellar. This is where we were met by Gabe, Seth, and Kathy. These three made the experience even more exceptional. The wine choices consist of dry wines all the way to sweet wines. This was great because Jen only likes sweet wine while Scarlet prefers the red ones. Our favorite wines that night were the Cabernet Persuasion, Cranberry Caress, and Peach Persuasion. We just love the names of these wines. The best part is they will ship anywhere!! Read more

The Lovely Napa Valley

I have dreamed of becoming a wine connoisseur for a long time. After deciding that the first leg of our honeymoon would be three days in Napa Valley, CA, my husband and I began to study up on the best wineries to visit, the types of wines we enjoy, and the different varieties of grapes that exist. Having only been to one wine tasting ever, we were afraid of not knowing enough about wines while visiting the vineyards. Well, let me tell you that every place that we visited in Napa was amazing and we were never made to feel stupid about not knowing enough about wine. Actually, it was the complete opposite. Everyone we met was so friendly and when we showed a sincere interest in learning about wine, they were eager to share their knowledge with us. The wineries we visited were as follows:

 

 

Del Dotto Caves and Historic Winery - Napa Valley

Hess Collection - Napa Valley

Signorello - Napa Valley

Sawyer Cellars - Napa Valley

Pina - Napa Valley

Darioush - Napa Valley

Peju Province - Napa Valley

My husband and I wanted to steer clear of the super touristy wineries and instead visited the more boutique-y wineries where you can have a better learning and tasting experience. We loved each winery we visited and each had it’s own vibe and flavor. We toured caves, picked grapes, met people from all over the country, snacked on cheese, conversed with winery owners, all while tasting amazing red and white wines.

 

The great thing about visiting Napa, is that there is something to do for everyone. Located along highway 29, Napa is breathtakingly beautiful and so close to several other cute towns which have great shopping, sites to see, and places to dine. We rented a car with navigation, which I highly recommend doing, and drove along the Silverado Trail, which runs parallel to 29 and is less congested. We visited Yountville, Rutherford, St. Helena, and Calistoga. Each town was distinctly different and lovely.

If you love wine, delicious California cuisine, shopping, and spending time outside in perfect weather, Napa Valley is for you. We’re already planning our next trip!