You’ll be able to’t go fallacious with a visit to Napa Valley. Each time I journey to California I really feel like I have been transported to Europe. The surroundings is so huge, the tradition is so uniquely its personal (as in comparison with the South the place I am from), and the meals and wine tradition is excellent. If you wish to drive via the beautiful mountains that encompass the valley and end your day with Michelin star-worthy meals, Napa Valley is the place to go. If, like me, you take pleasure in southern hospitality and the California “chill” issue, then it’s good to spend a day at Cakebread Cellars Winery.
Though I used to be born in Petaluma, a city 20 minutes west of Napa Valley, I am pretty new to “wine nation.” All I do know is that I like sauvignon blanc, a cool property with nice surroundings, gardens and walks. When it got here time to ebook our Napa Valley journey it was a no brainer that we needed to examine one out. Dwelling on the house turf of my favourite Sauvignon Blanc and a meals and wine pairing expertise.
As you pull as much as the Cakebread Cellar, you are greeted by a phenomenal reception room with hand-jointed wooden and floor-to-ceiling home windows. A glass of Miss Dolores Cakebread (the grande dame of Cakebread if you’ll) might be served a pour of Sauvignon Blanc whilst you have the possibility to have a look at black and white pictures taken by Mr. Cakebread in his earlier days. One such fascinating portrait is Ansel Adams (considered one of solely two on the planet) among the many assortment of journey and household images that completely paint the image of vibrancy and household care within the winery.
In the event you’re fortunate sufficient to have considered one of spring’s most lovely days, you will be given a tour of the immaculately stored gardens and property earlier than settling in for an thrilling wine and meals pairing. Their resident cooks supply all of the greens from Dolores’ backyard in the back of the property and put together a four-course tasting menu to take pleasure in alongside some reserve wines.
Our menu began with a smoked sturgeon pate with pickled fennel (a dream spice) and a 2019 Chardonnay Reserve alongside preserved lemon peel. We moved on to a curried provincial pumpkin and apple soup with crème fraîche paired with a 2015 Cuttings Wharf Chardonnay. Subsequent, a kale malfatti (like gnocchi) in a vegetable Bolognese with a 2019 Pinot Noir. And eventually, Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Pickled Mushrooms and Fermented Black Garlic paired with 2018 Suscol Springs Cabernet Sauvignon.
After ending our meal my husband and I debated which course was finest. He declared that the sturgeon was most excellent (the pickled fennel and sturgeon combo was spectacular) whereas I, usually a “fish” individual, could not get previous the black garlic and steak combo! A wholesome debate that instructions us to go Googling and ship each sturgeon pate and black garlic paste dwelling for future use.
The entire tour was actually the spotlight of the journey. The CakeBread Cellar facility was pretty. The meals pairings have been the most effective of our complete 5 days of consuming in Napa Valley. The folks have been charming, witty and stuffed with character, very like the wine you’d discover with Cakebread Cellar. In the event you’re one of many fortunate ones studying this earlier than planning a visit to Napa Valley, I can assure you will have an pleasing afternoon tasting and consuming like cakebread.
PS Snag a bottle of their 2021 Vin de Porche Rose should you like a dry, provincial model rosé, it is our new home favourite and we’re already restocking our orders for this summer time.
