Honeymoon Series - Day 5: Caves, Craters, and a "Tango"
Looking back at my journal from May 25th, 1998 (Scott didn’t write an entry for this day of our trip), we were officially in the honeymoon groove. We’d capped off the previous night with Sukiyaki and Katsudon at a loud Japanese spot; the food was average, but the ambiance made up for it. By the time Monday morning arrived, we were ready for more wine.
The Art of the Cave
We kicked off at Clos Pegase. It was a "temple to wine." We were floored by the beautiful art, the postmodern architecture, and the ancient statues tucked into every corner. But the highlight was the underground cave. We enjoyed the visit and the wine so much that we decided to join their wine club. We couldn't wait for those two bottles a month to start arriving at our doorstep.
A Quick Detour
After a lunch in Calistoga, we took a break from the wine to see the Old Faithful Geyser. It’s a classic Napa pitstop, watching nature blow off a little steam before we headed back to the serious business of tasting.
The Mountain Tour & The "Tango"
We popped into Chateau Montelena before taking the "mountain road tour" over Mt. St. Helena. Following our trusty guidebook, we wound our way up to Guenoc in the mountains.
There, we met Jose, who poured us a Pinot that I’ll never forget. My notes say it "danced in your mouth" and performed a "tango on your tongue." It was the undisputed wine of the day.
Porch Stories
We ended the night back at the house with "huge burritos" and a bottle of Raymond Reserve Chardonnay. We spent the evening on the porch with Bill and Tammy, a couple we met from Phoenix, who were celebrating their 1st anniversary.
Sharing a bottle and stories with them was the perfect reminder that the best part of any wine trip isn't just the bottle, it’s the people you meet while you’re drinking it.
Stay tuned for the next honeymoon post, which we’ll post soon. For the full honeymoon itinerary, check out this post.
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Cheers from the lake!
—Niki and Scott
