Savoring Sonoma

Sanoma is, by far, one of my favorite places to visit.  Scott and I first came in 2009 right after we got married (before the blog) and we fell in love then!

I’ve been back twice since with my mom and sisters and we’re back again for my baby sister’s batchelorette party.  I’ve got a pretty good routine now and we added to it so it’s even better.  I’m giving you a run down of our itinerary in case you ever decide to go!

Day 1 started off with a workout in the gym.  We were so bummed that it rained most of the entire day but we made the most of it!  We started off at Benziger Family Winery, one of our favorites because the grounds are just so gorgeous and the wines are pretty good too!  Yes, this is a brand you’ll find in the grocery store but their estate wines are limited to purchase from here and they are really great!  My favorite, Frank Johnson Saviongn Blanc.  Chill it just a little and enjoy ALL summer long!

I had day one planned out around a picnic lunch which couldn’t happen because of the torrential downpour going on.  So Plan B was to drop into Muscardini and eat our picnic lunch in their private tasting room!  SO thankful they let us do this!  SAVED US!  Compared to Benziger, Muscardini is SUPER small but their reds are great and they also offer some sparklings from their partner brand that are really fantastic.  I loved their Barbera and Sangiovese.  I may have joined their wine club!

After a light lunch and some great wine, our third stop was one that has sentimental value because Scott and I loved it and joined their wine club YEARS ago.  So going back was necessary.  Imagery Winery, is a child winery of Benziger and is right down the street.  Their wines consist of a lot of blends with big bold flavors that pair with just about everything.  Their staff is really nice and the vibe is great.  If you want a place to just buy a bottle and play some bocce, I highly recommend Imagery.

Wrapping Day 1, we had dinner reservations at Boon Fly Cafe.  Super small, cozy, rustic and modern, Chef Riveriera does an amazing job and bringing out the flavor it all their dishes!  If you go, you have to have the truffle fries.  You’ll be doing yourself a HUGE injustice if you don’t!

Day 2 started off a little rainy but quickly regained itself.  We made a quick jaunt back over to Napa to Silver Oak.  A winery that specializes in Cabernet, you can tell they have figured it out!  The Duncans own this winery and all I know is that if they want to adopt a daughter, I’ll raise my hand.  Their wines are a little pricier but well worth splurging on.  After a little tasting, a little laughing, we left Silver Oak wanting more, like now!  If you go ask for Natalie and tell them Moms Little Running Buddy sent you!!

After that we slipped into Napa proper for some lunch at Oxbow Market.  It felt a lot like the Ferry Building in San Francisco.  There were so many food options that everyone in our group got plenty to eat!  I think one of the things that has really amazed me this weekend has been the food.  Cali people, you have it made out here!  So delicious, fresh and I basically wanted to pack it all up and take it home!

Then we raced back over to Sonoma to hit up Gloria Ferrera (for the sparking wine), Cline and Jacuzzi.  I’ll be the first to tell you I love a good sparkling wine but I wasn’t so much impressed with Gloria Ferrera.  But it’s hard going from Cab to sparklings so I might not have been in the right frame of mind but their grounds were breathtaking.

From there we hoped over to Cline and Jacuzzi (family of wineries).  Both were super low key and chill.  Cline was one of those places you buy a bottle and settle in to enjoy the sun and surroundings.  We bought a bottle of Cashmere Black Magic, a combination of Petite Sirah, and Mourvedre.  It had a rich taste and deserved to be enjoyed slowly.  So while we did we meandered and I may have forgotten my barnyard animals.  🙂

After the bottle was gone, which didn’t take long with 7 girls, we headed over to Jacuzzi.  I’ll admit, by now, it’s less about the wine and more about just having fun.  This was our last winery and you could tell, we were all ready for dinner.  We tasted a little, bought a little, and explored a lot!  I’m blown away by the beauty of this area.  I MOST definitely want to come back and do more running.

The rain put a major damper on my Ironman training but I’ll get back on track!

We finished the trip with dinner at one of favorite casual spots in Sonoma, The Red Grape.  Super fresh food, I had the shrimp linguine and you could tell someone probably just got done cutting the noodles and plopping them in the water.  They were perfect!  Homemade noodles are without comparison.  By the time dinner was over, you could tell everyone was ready to retire for the night!  Sine I was the driver, I made them do a little house browsing.  I’m obsessed with California Architecture.  There is something so sophisticated and relaxed that I’ve been striving to duplicate.  Just check out these homes from the OC marathon route (I loved that race).

So then we headed back to The Lodge of Sonoma (a Marriott property) to pack up.  After some masterful packing, ensuring wine bottles were secure, and some sleep, we were off!  Giggling and laughing all the way home.  It’s trips like this that remind me how lucky I am.  Yes, a little property in Sonoma would be nice but if I can’t own it, visiting it is a close second.

Now it’s time to get back to reality, get back to training and planning for my baby sister’s special day!  Hope you had a good weekend!