Up until recently I was a #caviarvirgin but I fixed that. White sturgeon caviar from @californiacaviar, crème frâiche from @bellwetherfarms atop a petite French blini, paired with @frankfamilyvineyards bubbles👌🏻 
One last day of indulgence before our Peloton arrives tomorrow 🚴🏼♀️ We loved the Chef Experience at @brianardenwinery which features five wine paired courses elegantly presented with colorful sauces, edible flowers, herbs and a dash of one of my new favorite ingredients, Douglas Fir salt which tastes like a Christmas tree. Both Chef Spencer and Owner Brian Harlan popped by to chat in between courses and wished Jack a happy birthday. The wine was also delicious - food friendly and fun - including a Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Zinfandel Blend, and 100% Cabernet Franc. 
The recent rains have been welcome and needed in Napa Valley. Rainbow season is finally here 🌈 
Granite peaks, deep valleys, ancient sequoias, and a winding river to tie it all together, Yosemite you captured my heart. 
Fall: California edition 🧡 For four generations @talleyvineyards has farmed on the San Luis Obispo Coast. Today they are famous for their cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir + they are one of the nation’s premier growers of vegetables, including marigolds which are harvested for their seeds every Fall. 
Come for the wine. Stay for the 58,800 technicolor solar-powered lights #FieldOfLight 
If 2020 was a “normal” year, I would be on my honeymoon right now in the Mediterranean. Since this year has proven to be anyhing but predictable, Jack and I took an unexpected trip to the Central California Coast on our #wouldbeweddingday to celebrate anyways. While it’s no honeymoon in Italy, Pismo Beach is not too shabby either. 9/26/20 - you will always be a dream ❤️ 
Back to these valley views I know and love. Blue skies and sunshine have greeted Napa once again, which is something to truly celebrate. And after eleven days away (between our brief road trip to Pismo Beach and the fire evacuation) I am happy to report that Jack, the kitties and I are now safe at home. Thank you to friends and family near and far for checking in and keeping Napa in your thoughts during these challenging times. Our community is hurting, but we will get through this together. If you are looking for ways to support fire relief efforts, check out @napavalleycf who is helping residents affected by the #GlassFire. The BEST way to support our local wineries is to buy Napa Valley wines and raise a glass with us #NapaStrong 
Tired eyes and no makeup, but under this mask I’m wearing the biggest smile. Harvest 2020 had an unwelcome beginning in much of Northern California, but the air quality improves each day and our wine community carries on. I’m proud to be a part of this resilient industry #napastrong 
Update from Napa: We were thrust into fire season earlier this week when a series of unseasonal lightning storms rolled through Northern California, igniting dozens of blazes. Now, wildfires are adding another huge hurdle to an already incredibly challenging year. The LNU Complex Fire in the remote eastern hills of Napa County continues to move away from the valley floor (where I live), which is currently not in immediate danger. The smoke, for the most part, has been manageable, not like it was in 2017. Part of it seems to be wind direction in our favor, and that the smoke is high up. As for the grapes, only time will tell. Many wineries have started harvesting white varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay as well as grapes for sparkling wine production. We’re still a few weeks out for the later ripening red grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon (pictured here), but it appears time is on our side as harvest arrived about 2 weeks earlier than usual, thanks to the mild winter we had. With each passing fire season, my heart breaks a little more for this beautiful place I call home. I’m so grateful to the firefighters and first responders, who are working around the clock to keep us safe and thanks also to all of you for sending well wishes during the past week. We’re bracing ourselves the next few nights as more dry lightning is forecasted for NorCal, who remains in a red flag warning. Stay safe everyone! #napastrong