Winery Rounds

I'll admit it. I don't know diddly about wines. Sure, I know how you are supposed to hold the glass and what gives the wine its flavor, but other than that...just call me a blank slate. I either like it when I taste it or I don't. Over seven years ago, I was dining at Napa Rose and tried a Cabernet by Silver Oak Winery. It was love at first sip. I can't recall another wine that tasted so good to me...so smooth...each and every time (just had a glass last night as a matter of fact!).

On my recent trip to the Russian River Valley, it was great to be able to visit the Winery. We immediately headed towards the tasting room, located in a huge (but fairly unimaginative) building.



I did my best to make this place look interesting, but it had all the charm of a tract home.



The fountain sounded good on this particularly scorching day, but didn't do much to cool me off.



The interior was nice enough, but had the bland appearance of something done on an HGTV decorating show.



But let's be real; I wasn't there for the architecture or the design; it was about tasting (and buying) the wine, and in that arena, Silver Oak didn't disappoint. Still, after a few tastes, I decided to branch away from the group and shoot a few photos in the vineyards. My camera was needing some attention!

This statue was near the entrance:



It was nothing really remarkable to me, until I wandered around to the side. I sure did love the expressive eyes on the rabbit!



If you've ever seen a bottle of Silver Oak wine, you'll recognize the structure in the background of this photo:



A shot of the grapes themselves:



By this time, the heat had gotten to me. I was sweating all over my camera. I knew exactly how Lucy felt.



See more Wine Country photos on my Sonoma web page.

Trip to Guerneville

The trip that took me to Bodega Bay and Santa Rosa was centered around Guerneville. If you've never heard of it, you're not alone. Located in the Russian River Valley, Guerneville has been a favorite vacation spot for San Franciscans since the 19th century. This historic bridge from 1922 is a scenic way for pedestrians to enter the quaint downtown.



If you require a lot of activity, top notch restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife, Guerneville is not the city for you. For those seeking a little rest and relaxation in a natural setting, then you might have found your personal Utopia.



The Creekside Inn is a great location, only blocks from the Main Street and less than three miles from the Redwoods.



To avoid previous flooding, the "cabins" are on concrete pillars.



A central courtyard comes complete with barbecue facilities, making this an ideal village for families and reunions.



I loved passing this tree-canopied creek next to the Inn. You rarely see this many trees together in Southern California.



There are a number of old-fashioned little churches in town:





If you miss the call of the big city, there's even some old-fashioned glowing neon:



I had a very relaxing time here, especially during my time in the Redwoods (stay tuned for tomorrow's post!), but can't really recommend any of the restaurants in town. I would probably choose a return visit to Cambria before I thought about a second trip here.

See more Guerneville photos on my Guerneville web page.