Napa Valley
On our only free day, we picked Napa Valley as our destination. This was an unlikely choice (neither of us is a wine aficionado, and we both like natural than cultivated landscape), but we had been to many places around the Bay Area (such as Monterey, Point Reyes, Big Sur etc.), and this was a very windy day so we wanted to avoid the coast. Thus, Napa Valley became our destination by process of elimination.
(Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)
We first went through the town of Napa. Although windy, this was a crisp autumn day, and a stroll in town was nice enough without the peak season crowd.
Our walk led us across the Napa River and railroad where the Napa Valley Wine Train was parked.
At the Oxbow Public Market we browsed local products.
Then began our winery tour along the main thoroughfare of Napa, Highway 29. Our first stop was to be at Robert Mondavi Winery. I've drank their wines before, now I finally saw the building in their trademark.
Our second stop was at V. Sattui Winery. This is a very popular place, largely because of its deli shop and picnic ground. We in fact bought our lunch here and had a picnic, and we were to stop once more on the way back to buy our only bottle of wine.
The most spectacular establishment is the faux-Italian castle at Castello di Amorasa. Being at a high vantage point at the northern end of the valley, it also offers good views of Napa Valley itself, and the white buildings of Sterling Vineyards across the valley.
Hall Wines was the last winery we stopped at. This new comer to the Napa Valley is very modern in style, in sharp contrast with almost every other wineries, it is also decorated with modern artworks inside and out. I quite like it for its uniqueness.
Bull
Mural
Napa River
Napa Valley Wine Train
Distillery
The Olive Press
Robert Mondavi
Fountain
V. Sattui Winery
Sattui Wines
Sattui Wines
Sattui Wines
Castello di amorasa
Castello di Amorasa
Napa Valley
Sterling Vineyards
Hall Wines
Artwork of index cards at Hall Wines
Statue at Hall Wines
Rabbit artwork at Hall Wines