Two Guys From Napa | with Wine Country Travel Advice for Napa Valley and Other Regions

From Burgers to Surf & Turf: Napa Valley Restaurant Week

Posted on January 13, 2019 by CraigTG

Grilled Pork Chop at ALBA

You should know (if you hadn’t heard yet) that Napa Valley Restaurant Week is just one week away. Between January 20 and 27, over 50 Napa Valley restaurants are offering multi-course prix-fixe menus for lunch (at $20 or less per person) or dinner (at $36 or $46 per person). Lunch options include Sashimi, Fish Tacos, Mushroom and Fontina Bruschetta, Pastrami Sandwich or a Cheeseburger. Dinner options include Ceviche Tostada, Seared Diver Scallops, Braised Short Ribs, “Surf & Turf”, or a Cheeseburger. This is a great opportunity to explore the diversity of Napa Valley’s “Terroir to Table” Dining options, at a discount, from Napa to Calistoga.

Garlic Focaccia Bread at Bosko’s

In fact, this may actually be the perfect week to immerse yourself in Calistoga’s dining scene. You’ll find specials to try and navigate between All Seasons Bistro (lunch), Bosko’s Trattoria (lunch), Cafe Sarafornia (lunch), Calistoga Inn (lunch and dinner), Checkers (lunch and dinner), Evangeline (dinner), Hydro Grill (dinner), Lovina (lunch and dinner) and Sol Bar (dinner). Menu choices include Spaghetti and Meatballs at Bosko’s, Warm Duck Confit and Kale Salad at Lovina and Crispy Petrale Sole Fish Tacos at Sol Bar. At Calistoga Inn, lunch options include Duck Mole Tacos, dinner options include Skuna Bay Roasted Salmon, and it’s a good time to ask for the latest scoop on their March 5 Fat Tuesday Celebration.

If you’re in downtown Napa at lunchtime during Napa Valley Restaurant Week, at Napa General Store you can add either a Cup of Soup or a special Dessert to your choice of lunch entrée all for $20. These entrées include Chinese Chicken Salad, Rueben Sandwich and a Smoked Salmon Flatbread. At Napa Noodles, you can choose from Items #1 – #16 on the menu, grab a Fountain Drink and then add any Salad or Starter for that price. Between numbers 1 and 16 you’ll find options such as Tokyo Ramen, Pho Ga, Tom Yum Soup, Adobo Pancit and a Kalbi Short Rib Plate. Or, at Ca’ Momi, you can start with a Mixed Green Salad, select either a Wood Oven or Fried Calzone, and then end your meal with Tiramisu for $20.

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New Year, New Wines: the 2019 Winter WINEland

Posted on January 7, 2019 by CraigTG

2019 Winter Wineland Postcard If your New Year Resolutions include more travel, more exploration, and discovering new wines, you can start down that path with Winter WINEland in just a few weeks. This wonderful Sonoma County wine event, from the Wine Road organization, invites you to visit wineries throughout the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys on January 19 and 20. Between 11 am and 4 pm each day, you and your friends can explore new varietals, try limited production wines and perhaps meet the actual winemakers.

This is the 27^th Winter WINEland and participants this year include Acorn Winery, Balletto Vineyards, Davis Family Vineyards, Geyser Peak Winery, Hawley Winery, Lancaster Estate, Longboard Vineyards, Martorana Family Winery, Ridge Lytton Springs, Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, Taft Street Winery, Trentadue Winery, West Wines, White Oak Vineyards and Winery and Zialena Winery.

Zialena Winery

Advance ticket prices are just $45 per person for both days or $35 for Sunday January 20 only (plus tax and a small service charge). Designated Driver tickets are $5 for either one or both days. To purchase advance tickets and/or to see the complete list of participating wineries, please go here. If you miss the advance purchase window, prices during the weekend itself will increase, or the event may sell out, so purchasing those tickets soon would be a good idea.

The 2019 Winter WINEland offers over 100 premium Sonoma County wineries to choose from and each of the participating wineries will highlight a particular vintage, varietal, or vertical tasting during the event. The bad news is now you have to choose which ones to visit (but if you keep reading we’ll try to help with that).
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Napa Happy Hour: Celebrate Harvest Your Way

Posted on October 29, 2018 by CraigTG

Screwdriver at Alba

Celebrate the 2018 grape harvest by exploring Napa Happy Hour options, whether or not you actually worked this year’s harvest. Maybe you don’t feel like cooking, or you just want to go out and have fun with friends. Regardless of the reason, the city of Napa actually has about 40 places to go for Happy Hour so there’s bound to be a place with drink and/or food specials you’ll be excited about. During the summer, we posted an article about 21 downtown Napa Happy Hour destinations. Now, we’re here to talk about the many other choices within the city limits.

Drake's Dry Stout at Napa Happy Hour at Hop Creek Pub

Drake’s Dry Stout at Hop Creek

Ready for a beer? You’ll find both draft and bottled beers for just $4 at Il Posto Trattoria and NapaSport. More interested in wine? Then you should check out The Q which has all glasses and bottles of wine at 50% off during Happy Hour. You’ll find well drinks for just $4.50 each at Hop Creek and $5 each at Alba. Premium Call Drinks are $6 at Fumé Bistro if you start with Jack Daniel’s, Tito’s or Hendricks, or $7 each at Trancas Steakhouse if your preference is Belvedere, Tanqueray, Crown Royal, Seagrams VO or Canadian Club.

Mimosas are $5 at The Grill at Silverado, House Margaritas are $5 at Frida’s Mexican Grill and Caipirinhas are $7 at Galpão Gaucho. Or, maybe your schedule works out well for the Progressive Margarita at Compadres: $3 per glass and $15 per pitcher from 3-4 pm, $4 per glass and $20 per pitcher from 4-5 pm, and $5 per glass and $25 per pitcher from 5-6 pm.

Garlic Fries at Napa Happy Hour at Trancas Steakhouse

Garlic Fries at Trancas Steakhouse

For appetizers, at Napa Happy Hour restaurants you’ll find classic Happy Hour offerings on the menus: Nachos, Fried Calamari, Chicken Wings, Guacamole, Garlic Fries, Meatball Sliders and Pizzas. But, since this is Napa, you’ll also find dishes such as Grilled Shishito Peppers, Bacon Macaroni and Cheese, Patatas Bravas with Lemon Aioli, Spicy Mussels, and a Mushroom, Goat Cheese and Caramelized Onion Flatbread.
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2018 Napa Valley Film Festival: There’s a Drive-In!

Posted on October 18, 2018 by CraigTG

The official program guide for the 2018 Napa Valley Film Festival was recently released and if you’re a fan of film festivals you should seriously consider attending. What makes a film festival special is the live participation of writers, directors, actors and producers in Q&A sessions following practically every screening. If you enjoy excellent films, great wine, and outstanding food, then you will find ways to enjoy all three of them at the Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) between November 7-11, 2018.

Many things are the same this time (Special Opening and Closing night films, Celebrity Tributes, Award Ceremonies, the annual Gala and the Friday Night Bash). But, there are also some changes this year for the 2018 Napa Valley Film Festival: a new festival hub site for Napa, a new location for the Friday Night Bash, SommSelect wine tastings during the Gala, and new screening venues including a Drive-In! Keep reading and we’ll try to convince you to grab that credit card and start ordering right now.

2018 Napa Valley Film Festival: Reasons to Attend

Reason #1 to attend the NVFF: The movies, starring past and future Oscar Winners! The 2018 Napa Valley Film Festival will include showings of The Front Runner, a narrative recounting of the rise and fall of Senator Gary Hart (starring Hugh Jackman, Vera Farmiga and JK Simmons), Vox Lux, a story of personal and professional challenges faced by a pop superstar as she grows from teenager to mother (starring Natalie Portman, Jude Law and Willem Dafoe), and Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind, a documentary exploring the career and personality of Robin Williams (featuring interviews with Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, Pam Dawber, and Robin’s son Zak Williams).
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Come to the Cameo: Special SOMM 3 Screenings Start Soon

Posted on October 7, 2018 by CraigTG

Special SOMM 3 Screenings, coming to the Cameo

Beginning Friday, October 19, the Cameo Cinema in St. Helena has exclusive theatrical pre-release rights for special SOMM 3 screenings. This is the highly anticipated third of a series of documentary films about sommeliers and the wine business. After each showing, you’ll be able to participate in a Q&A session with the film’s Producer and Director, possibly accompanied by a sommelier featured in one of the SOMM movies. Certain showings will also feature wines from producers such as the Boisset Collection, Chappellet or Pine Ridge Vineyards.

It’s highly recommended to buy online tickets in advance before the showings sell out. You’ll have your choice of up to three shows daily, at 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm and 7:45 pm, from October 19 through October 25. Ticket prices are $20 each and that includes a wine reception before the showing. Producer & Director Jason Wise will attend each screening, speaking briefly to the audience before the film starts and then conducting a Q&A session afterwards.

Sommeliers expected to co-host the 5:00 and 7:45 pm screenings with him are Jay James (MS, Guild of Sommeliers) on 10/19 and 10/20; DLynn Proctor (Fantesca) on October 20 and 22; Brian McClintic (MS, Viticole Wine Club) on October 21, 22 and 25; Raj Parr (MS, Domaine de la Cote) on October 22 and Matt Stamp (MS and Guild of Sommeliers) on October 25. Wine Educator and Consultant Karen MacNeil will co-moderate with Jason on Saturday (10/20) and Sunday (10/21) at 5:00 pm.
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Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting: Not Your Typical Tuesday in The City

Posted on October 2, 2018 by CraigTG

Instead of waiting for “Hump Day” you can celebrate “Thank God It’s Tuesday” next week when the 2018 Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting comes to San Francisco on Tuesday, October 9. This annual event showcases Wine & Spirits’ favorite 100 wineries from the last year along with local chefs and artisanal purveyors serving small bites to complement the wines. We have always enjoyed our experiences at this celebration of premium winemaking which has been held in San Francisco since its inception. It should be sunny next Tuesday, so if you want to spend the afternoon in The City, this would be a lovely way to end your day.

Oysters, to be served at 2018 Wine & Spirits Top 100 This year, the 15^th annual Top 100 Tasting takes place between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm at City View at METREON (135 4^th Street, San Francisco) and if you move quickly you can still buy tickets for yourself and/or friends (including a chance to enter the event an hour earlier). Come start your evening by comparing Champagnes from wineries such as Bruno Paillard, J. Lassalle and Louis Roederer, pairing them with Oysters from Island Creek Oysters. After you’ve sampled your selections of white wines and red wines, you can then wrap your evening with sips such as Madeira from Blandy’s or Port from Kopke.

The 2018 Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting reflects international excellence with wineries representing fourteen countries including Catena Zapata (Argentina), Yalumba (Australia), Stift Göttweig (Austria), Cave Spring Cellars (Canada), Concha y Toro (Chile), Bouchard Père & Fils (France), Fritz Haag (Germany), Estate Argyros (Greece), Marchesi Antinori (Italy), Felton Road (New Zealand), Soalheiro (Portugal), Kabaj (Slovenia) and R. López de Heredia (Spain).

Bergström Wines

There will also be plenty of wineries from the US, including Bergström Wines (Newberg, OR), Col Solare Winery (Benton City, WA), Cristom Vineyards (Salem, OR), DeLille Cellars (Woodinville, WA), Evening Land Vineyards (Dundee, OR), Gramercy Cellars (Walla Walla, WA), Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard (Dundee, NY), King Estate Winery (Eugene, OR), Lingua Franca (Salem, OR) and Ovum Wines (Newberg, OR). And yes, there will be quite a number of California wineries participating in the event as well.
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2018 Wine & Food Affair: 20th Anniversary, No China Required

Posted on September 13, 2018 by CraigTG

Food and wine pairing from Sonoma-Cutrer, 2018 Wine & Food Affair participant

Sourdough and Gruyere Panini with Heirloom Tomato Soup

Grab your phone and friends because it’s time to plan a Sonoma County trip for the 2018 Wine & Food Affair on November 3^rd and 4^th. That weekend, around 90 wineries will be waiting for Foodies, Cooks, and Wine Lovers (or people who are all three) to come taste their wines, with each location preparing a special dish to sample along with the perfect wine. This is the 20th anniversary for the event, so you know it’s a good one. This is a perfect opportunity to revisit the excellent wineries in the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys, but the event does sell out each year so please plan quickly.

SIMI Cabernet Franc and Meatballs Puttanesca

Part of the fun of Wine & Food Affair is whenever you find a combination you like, you can buy the wine right there (possibly at a discount) and then go home and recreate the experience because the event’s website will have the recipe for each winery’s dish. Last year, our favorite food and white wine pairing was the Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards “The Cutrer” Chardonnay matched with a Sourdough and Gruyere Panini with Heirloom Tomato Soup. Our preferred red wine combination was the SIMI Winery “Block 4” Cabernet Franc with a Meatball Puttanesca. But, the Rodney Strong Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon pairing with Angus Beef Brisket was a very close contender.

West Wines Tuscan Cuvée

Our favorite wines poured during last year’s event included Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Dolcetto, Grenache, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. So, you’re bound to find quality wines no matter which varietal(s) you prefer. We were also instantly enamored with the mR Rhone White Blend (Marsanne, Roussanne) at Trattore Farms, the Boar’s Camp Cuvée (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) from Sanglier Cellars, the Tuscan Cuvée (Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese) from West Wines, and two Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends from G & C Lurton Vineyards: the Acaibo and the Amaino.
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