america's wine country

Good morning! Thank you for your wonderful insight yesterday. I was going to form some sort of response this afternoon but then I realized this is my real weekend day in two weeks, and it's been over a month since our last Plates from Around the World post. Don't recall what those even are? I don't blame you :) they are a part of a series that is run on Saturdays and describe a contributor's incredible travel experiences with food. Today I'd like to welcome a wine lover with a thirst for travel (yep, my kind of girl). Meghan, take it away...

I have been incredibly blessed over the years to have many opportunities to travel both in the US and abroad and in the past year to start sharing those travels in my blog, Travel Eat Love. My husband is from Ireland, so many of our trips are based around visiting family there, and I definitely look forward to visiting Europe a few times a year.

However, my recent travel obsession is Northern California, and because it is a food and wine loverís dream come true, knew I had to focus on our trips to Napa and Sonoma for Plates from Around the World. I made my first wine country visit in September of 2009, and this past summer I returned for the 4^th time in about 10 months. Love it much? Yes. :)

There is so much to say about Napa and Sonoma that I could probably write a book or two just based on the little time I have spent there. So I thought that rather than get too into detail about one particular place, I would share an overview of some delicious moments.

A trip to Napa and Sonoma is a dream come true for a food and wine lover.

Whether you are sipping bubbly and looking out over the valley at Gloria Ferrer. . .

Or eating pillowy perfect gnocchi at Chef Michael Chiarelloís Bottega. . .

Or tasting wine at Castello di amorosa, a wine country castle. . .

 

Or eating a multi-course lunch at the Culinary Institute of America Greystone. . .

Eating chocolate bouchon AT Bouchon, the Yountville bistro of the famed Chef Thomas Keller. . .

Befriending a happy-go-lucky wine country puppy at Zichichi, my favorite spot for a good Zinfandel. . .

Or eating a birthday dinner at Scopa in Healdsburg. . .

A foodie is bound to find something he or she loves in Northern California. There are probably more wineries and restaurants than I could visit in a year, much less a long weekend, so for now, it looks like I will be returning often!

Thanks so much Danielle, for letting me share my love of the food and wine of California with your lovely readers. Have a great summer, everyone, and whether at home or traveling somewhere amazing, enjoy great food!


Alright, change of plans. I am headed to Northern California for the weekend... who's coming with? Meghan, please be our tour guide :) Oh how I wish. Anyway, if you'd like to participate, please email a description of your favorite place & it's foodie memory along with photos to aroundtheworld340@gmail.com. Thank you, and á bientôt.