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

Lodging Spotlight: Brewery Gulch Inn (Mendocino)

Posted on June 14, 2020 by CraigTG

Brewery Gulch Inn

If you are planning your first getaway as the Stay at Home orders are lifting, we’d like to suggest Brewery Gulch Inn on the Mendocino Coast. This Arts & Crafts-style lodge is located on an ocean view blufftop, just one mile south of Mendocino Village. It also borders 48,000 acres of unoccupied meadows and redwoods of the Jackson Demonstration State Forest so the scenery is amazing. Within the Inn you’ll find cozy and well-appointed rooms, gracious hospitality and impressive culinary skills. Over the past few years their accolades have included being on the lists of “100 Best Hotels in the World” and “Top 10 Resort Hotels in California” by Travel & Leisure and “Top 50 Hotels in the World” in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.

L’Air de Mer Pinot Noir
at Phillips Hill Winery

Mendocino County is a delightful travel destination, and offers many options for regional exploration. About 45 minutes away from the Inn is Anderson Valley, home of Baxter Winery, Drew Family Wines, Lula Cellars, Phillips Hill Winery, Roederer Estate and more. Fort Bragg is about 20 minutes north of the Inn, with craft breweries, the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, the Skunk Train and Glass Beach. Or, on your way to Fort Bragg you can detour to Noyo Harbor, offering a fishing store, boat rentals, and several fresh seafood eateries.

Mendocino Village itself is less than 5 minutes away, with quaint shops, restored New England-style Victorians, excellent restaurants, and walking trails that offer incredible views of the Pacific Ocean.
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California Rosé Wines: The Ones You Should Try

Posted on April 11, 2020 by CraigTG

California Rosé Wines

It may not really feel like it yet, but it’s definitely Spring and that means it’s time for California Rosé wines. We have always been fond of excellent wines crafted from Pinot Noir grapes, including Rosés, but there are also a lot of great Rosés made from other varietals as well. If you are a Rosé fan, and would like to try some new wines, we thought we’d offer suggestions based on our recent personal favorites to help narrow the field. Keep reading, and we’ll tell you about some of our favorites so you can do some exploration and tasting for yourself.

This is actually a great time to be purchasing wines directly from the folks that make them. Some wineries have just released their new 2019 Rosé wines (Timbre, Trombetta). A few of the wineries that usually sell out of their popular Rosés quickly still have some in stock (Auteur, Robert Sinskey Vineyards). Other wineries, luckily, still have some Rosés available that have won accolades in ratings and wine competitions (Balletto, Pennyroyal Farm). And of course, this is a great time to be supporting small, family-owned businesses by purchasing their products.

Long Meadow Ranch 2018 Rosé of Pinot Noir

We have personally enjoyed a lot of excellent California Rosés recently and they come from all over the State. Our suggestions below include wines from Mendocino County, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Monterey County, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara County, and more. Please consider these wines (and wineries) as you plan your future brunches, dinners, or home-curated wine tasting experiences. Most of these wines appear to be available for sale on the wineries’ websites, and many currently have discounts on wines and/or shipping fees. For example, Graziano Family of Wines’ Rosé is on sale for $72 a case, Stephen Ross Wine Cellars is offering $1 shipping, and Long Meadow Ranch is offering free shipping.
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Wine Tasting From Home: Napa Pinot Noirs

Posted on April 8, 2020 by CraigTG

Napa Pinot Noirs from the Carneros AVA

If you’re looking for a virtual “wine tasting trip” recommendation, consider focusing on Napa Pinot Noir wines. That’s right, the ones from Napa! Cabernet Sauvignon grapes here may get more of the fame and accolades, but we’re just as fond of the wines crafted from Pinot Noir grapes grown here. After all, part of the Carneros AVA is in Napa Valley. Keep reading and we’ll tell you about some of our favorite Napa Pinot Noirs. All wineries, whether large or small, are in need of your support right now, especially the small family-owned establishments. So your patronage would be greatly appreciated.

To simulate a wine tasting trip from home just order a few wines, put together a charcuterie board, and voila! Most of the wines are still available for purchase on the wineries’ websites, and several of them are offering discounts on shipping charges. If you want, you can probably find the tech sheets for the wines online (or ask for copies when you place your order) to learn more about the vineyards, the harvesting, the aging, and/or what to expect the wine to smell and taste like. Just don’t forget to stay hydrated during your “trip.”

ZD 50th Anniversary Reserve Cuvée

If you’d like to start the fun with a Sparkling Wine, the ZD Wines 50^th Anniversary Reserve Cuvée is made of 59% Napa Pinot Noir (and 41% Chardonnay) from ZD’s estate vineyard in Carneros. If you are a fan of Rosés, Bouchaine Vineyards and Robert Sinskey Vineyards both recently released their 2019 Vin Gris of Pinot Noir wines. We’ve had the pleasure of tasting all three of those, and highly recommend them all. And yes, the Robert Sinskey Vineyards Vin Gris is the wine that Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, keeps raving about.
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Napa Valley Restaurants (Upvalley) Need Your Patronage Too

Posted on March 28, 2020 by CraigTG

Fried Chicken from Ad Hoc

This would be a good time to patronize the Napa Valley restaurants that are still open, and support the local community. You’ll find plenty of choices in Calistoga, St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, and Yountville still offering takeout, curbside pickup, and/or delivery. Some establishments have closed due to the shelter-in-place rules, but many are trying to stay open and continue to provide pay (and employment) for their hard-working employees.

So, if you’ve been craving the Coffee Cake at Bella Bakery, a Carnitas Burrito from La Luna, the Fried Chicken at Ad Hoc, a Rack of Ribs from Buster’s, a Shake from Gott’s, the French Dip from Rutherford Grill, the Filet Mignon at PRESS, or a Brownie from Bouchon, you can still get those! Or, several restaurants are offering Family Meals (to save you a bunch of time and effort) and Tra Vigne Pizzeria even has a Pizza Making Kit (to keep the kids busy).

Cheeseburger from Gott’s

Please see below for a partial list of Napa Valley restaurants (north of Napa itself) that are serving customers, so please consider giving them your business. Be smart, stay healthy and please be extra courteous to the people you interact with (from a safe distance, of course). The situation is ever evolving, so be sure to check out the restaurants’ websites and social media accounts to get the latest (and frequently to place your orders).

(you can also go here for a listing for restaurants that are still open in the city of Napa)
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Let’s Give Napa Restaurants Some Business: Take Out, Dine In

Posted on March 26, 2020 by CraigTG

“Shitake Hits the Fan” at Hop Creek Pub

If you’re tired of cooking at home, and looking for a way to support the local community, maybe it’s time to patronize Napa restaurants and food purveyors in the city. Some have closed down due to the shelter-in-place rules, but many are trying to stay open for business and continue to provide pay (and employment) for their hard-working employees.

Depending on the Napa restaurant, you can find to-go orders, curbside pickup, and/or home delivery options. Some places are also offering wine, beer, and premade cocktails to go as well. Others are offering discounts on prices, free delivery, or donating part of their gift card sales directly towards their staff.

Greek Salad at Tarla

So, if you’ve been craving a Maple Bar from Buttercream Bakery, the Duck Fat Fries at Compline, the Greek Salad from Tarla, the Shitake Flatbread from Hop Creek Pub, a Rack of Ribs from Bounty Hunter, the Korean Fried Chicken Sando from Dutch Door, one of the Cheeseburgers from Gott’s, the Mongolian Pork Chop from Mustards, or an Apple Pie from Sweetie Pies, you can still get those!

Please see below for a partial list of Napa restaurants that are still open, so please consider giving them your business. Be smart, stay healthy and please be extra courteous to the people you interact with (from a safe distance, of course). The situation is ever evolving, so be sure to check out the restaurants’ websites and social media accounts to get the latest (and frequently to place your orders).

(you can also go here for a list of restaurants between Yountville and Calistoga)
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Winery Spotlight: Ackerman Family Vineyards

Posted on February 2, 2020 by CraigTG

Ackerman Family Vineyards

In downtown Napa, Ackerman Family Vineyards produces outstanding wines and offers a variety of engaging tasting experiences in downtown Napa for visitors to select from. An exciting twist here is that many of these experiences include the opportunity to tour and visit the Ackerman Heritage House, a beautifully and meticulously restored 1888 Queen Anne Victorian home. Guests can feel like they’ve traveled back in time to Napa’s historic Victorian Era as they enjoy wine tasting in a stately home with elegant furnishings and a luxurious and comfortable ambiance. The winery was founded by Bob and Lauren Ackerman and their first commercial release was in 2007, when Ackerman Family Vineyards released a 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Ackerman Family Vineyards – The Story

Stonehaven Vineyard, the winery’s 16-acre estate, is located at the southeastern end of Napa Valley in the Coombsville AVA. Ackerman Family Vineyards predominantly grows Cabernet Sauvignon on the 11 planted acres on the estate, but they also grow small blocks of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The Ackermans only use a portion of the grapes they grow, and sell the rest of the fruit to other wineries and winemakers. Coombsville has gained recognition for the quality of its slow-ripening Bordeaux varietals, which benefit from the AVA’s cooler climate and well-drained soils which are a mix of river rock and mineral-rich volcanic ash.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Ackerman Family Vineyards has the distinct honor of being Coombsville’s first certified organic vineyard, receiving its certification in 2009 from the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). From the very beginning, Bob and Lauren took a very purposeful approach to their farming. They were inspired by legendary Napa Valley names and set out to pursue meaningful winemaking and produce sophisticated wines which are approachable, food friendly, and have their roots in tradition, just like the wines which they most identify with. Although the first commercial release was not until 2007, the Ackermans have made wine since 1995. This allowed them time to learn about their vineyard, and gain a keen understanding of the fruit grown there, so they could produce the wines which are most reflective of the property and their personal tastes.
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2019 Napa Valley Film Festival: Dim the Lights

Posted on November 10, 2019 by CraigTG

Uptown Theatre, a 2019 Napa Valley Film Festival venue We’re just a few days away from the 2019 Napa Valley Film Festival and if you need a break right now you should seriously consider attending. There are still passes and tickets available for purchase, and part of what makes a film festival special is the live participation of writers, directors, actors and producers in Q&A sessions following practically every screening. Part of what makes the Napa Valley Film Festival special is the combination of excellent films with visiting celebrities, fun parties, and the Valley’s outstanding wine and food.

The 2019 Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) runs between Wednesday and Sunday, November 13-17, and there are all sorts of ticket and/or pass options to accommodate your personal schedule. Many things are the same at this year’s Festival (Special Opening and Closing Night Films, Wine Tasting Intermissions, Celebrity Tributes, the annual Gala, the Friday Night Bash). But, there are also some changes this year: Culinary Demonstrations in the Monogram Demonstration Kitchen, “Masterclass” guided tastings of Scotch Whiskies, and some free film screenings in the morning.

The Napa Valley Film Festival will be offering free entry to all morning screenings at the Lincoln Theater this year. Showings include My Beautiful Stutter (a documentary about 5 kids who stutter, capturing their transformation after they enter a groundbreaking program), It All Begins with a Song: The Story of the Nashville Songwriter (a celebration of one of music’s most important yet underrated forces), and Standing Up, Falling Down (a comedy starring Billy Crystal and Ben Schwartz about an unlikely friendship). You can reserve tickets at the Festival’s website, on the “Tickets” page under the “Community Screenings” section.
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