F1 Season Starts This Week

Well, here we go again. The start of the F1 season is upon us with the Australian Grand Prix this weekend in Melbourne. Last year I was able to attend and have a lot of great memories.

Wine Country Get-Away

Chateau St Jean

This week we did a mid-week get-away to the Napa and Sonoma wine country.  Our son lives in Napa and it was a great opportunity to see him and enjoy the experience so special to this area. I also belong to a few wine clubs and I was able to pick up my wine in person.

We went with our good friends Sue and Mark who we like to travel with.

For the wineries we started at Chateau St Jean @chateaustjean in Sonoma County to pick up wine and do a little tasting. The winery has a large tasting room and gift shop where you can taste inside or if the weather is nice sit outside. The grounds are beautiful and has the feel like you are in Europe. They also have a nice picnic area. There is also a tasting room in the mansion that is more intimate. We tasted there and sat by the fireplace while we enjoyed their wine and a tray of cheese. Mid-week you should be able to taste in the mansion but on weekends the main tasting room may be your only choice as the crowds are larger.

Domaine Carneros

Domaine Carneros @domainecarneros which is on highway 12 between Napa and Sonoma. The winery is on a small hill and looks like a French Chateau. There we picked up my sparkling wine and also did a tasting. The grounds there are also beautiful. When the weather permits sit outside on the deck.

Tasting Room 24

Sue and Mark are big Packer fans so we also went to Tasting Room 24 @tastingroom24 which is owned by Charles Woodson who played for the Packers. This is a tasting room in Napa that also has sparkling wine and beer. The winery specializes in Cabernet. The tasting room is in an industrial area in southern Napa but off the main highway. The tasting room also has football gear related to his playing days from college to pro.

I want to highlight two places we dined at. First, for dinner we ate at Bistro Jeanty @bistrojeanty in Yountville. I have been there before and love this place. They serve not only the best tomato soup but the best soup I have ever had. I would go there just for the soup but the rest of the menu is awesome. Go hungry as you will get a lot of food. This is one of my favorite restaurants in the area.

Boon Fly Cafe

For breakfast we ate at the Boon Fly Cafe @boonfly. It is located on Highway 12 just west of Napa as you are heading toward Sonoma. The cafe is small so you may have to wait but it is worth it. I had the Eggs Benedict with a touch of jalapeno in the hollandaise sauce.  It's not hot but just enough to add a special taste to the sauce. They also have chicken and waffles and make their own donuts. For breakfast you can't go wrong. There is also a bar and we had Bloody Mary's with a strip of bacon in the drink.

Meritage

Overnight we stayed at the Meritage Resort and Spa @meritage. It is a large resort with many restaurants, bars, wine tasting rooms and even a bowling alley. They also have a very nice pool area. This is more than a hotel and if you are staying for a longer time this may be the place to stay. Across the street is a building with tasting rooms from different wineries.

The CIA at Copia, Napa

A fork made from forks

While visiting Napa we went for drinks at the @ciacopia Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa. Here they have a restaurant, bar, store and they offer cooking classes. This time we went to the store and then the bar for some food and a few drinks. I want to look into the cooking classes as they look like fun.

It is located off of 1st street in downtown Napa. 

Napa Valley - Auburge Du Soleil

We went to Napa at the end of January to visit our son who recently moved there. He arrange wine tastings at a few wineries and on Sunday he made reservations at Auburge Du Soleil for breakfast. The spa resort is off of the Silverado Trail and up in the hills overlooking the valley. There are rooms to rent in a very peaceful environment and if you want to have a very relaxing getaway this is the place to stay. It's on the pricey side so maybe not for everyone. 

For breakfast we sat on the deck with an incredible view. The weather was perfect and sitting outside was very comfortable for this time of year. The restaurant is a Michelin Star Restaurant so you know the food is awesome. 

Even if you can't stay there the restaurant is reasonable and a great place to enjoy the Napa Valley.

From Napa take the Silverado Trail and drive 17 miles for about 25 minutes. The turn is on the right and a slight drive up the hill. 

It's Time for a Trip Up to the Foothill Wine Country

With all the fires in Northern California the air quality is from unhealthy to hazardous. Outdoor events are being canceled in the Sacramento and San Francisco Bay Area, schools are closed and people are being urged to stay indoors.

Just a short drive from Sacramento in the foothills to the east is the beautiful foothill wine country. Whether it is up 80 to the Placer County wineries or up 50 and 49 to the Eldorado and Amador County Wineries you will be above the smoke with good air quality and bright clear skies.

Some wineries have events going on at this time so if you are looking for a place to get out of the smoke and bad air take the short drive up the hill. Don't forget to pack a lunch and have a picnic. The area is beautiful.

Note: If wine is not your thing there is also Apple Hill, arts and crafts, historic towns and this weekend is the Mountain Mandarin Orange Festival in Placer County.

Word of warning when renting a car in Europe

When renting a car in another country, in most cases, the company you think you are renting from is just in name only. In fact, the place you are renting from is a franchise and you do not have the same protection you would have in the US. 

On a recent trip to Italy due to the size of our group I needed to rent 2 cars. I rented a car in my name from Hertz and one in my sons name from Avis. For both cars I purchased insurance ahead of time. Both cars were rented at the Linate airport. My experience with Hertz was pleasant. At the counter they took the insurance I had purchased but explained since it wasn't through Hertz I would have to file the claim through the insurance I purchased. When my son went to pick up the car from Avis it was another story. The person at the counter was rude and refused to accept the insurance I had purchased. To get the car my son ended up having to purchase insurance through Avis. The insurance ended up being more expensive than the car itself. I tried to correct this but they wouldn't budge. 

Later I was able to get a refund from Orbitz for the outside insurance. I also filed a complaint with Avis customer service but they told me I was out of luck since he had signed the contract. In fact, Avis was of no help as the rental company in Milan was a franchise. 

I learned my lesson. Please do more research when renting a car in another country. 

F1 Announces Vietnam Grand Prix

Today F1 announced that the Vietnam Grand Prix will be added to the schedule in 2020. It confirms Formula One's commitment to the Asia region. That means I now have a new destination to plan for.