I pick up these gourmet treats when we tour the local wineries, and today I’m giving away a box of some of my favorites. We love nearby Viansa (mentioned here) in Sonoma which specializes in Italian varietal and blends. Truffle honey and lemon vinaigrette plus chardonnay strawberry peach preserve are included in the box.

My most favorite balsamic vinegar on the planet comes from the famous girl & the fig, and it’s paired with the apricot fig chutney, delicious as a spread.  For your summer BBQ, also included are both a spicy zinfandel and herbed cabernet marinades. And yes, I’m parting with my baby cutting board (full deets here) which is the perfect size for presenting a mini wheel of brie or a favorite artisan cheese, and also this great 2011 Food & Wine guide to the wine scene ~ it will tip you off on all the best wines to buy plus offers some basic things to know about different grapes, blends, and varietals. 

Eligibility to win the Wine Country Gourmet gift box . . .

1) Leave one comment telling me your favorite gift to give this season. That’s it!

One winner, US only, chosen at random.  Giveaway ends Sunday December 18, 2011 at 8 p.m PST.  By entering this giveaway you agree to this site’s giveaway policy and Official Rules of Entry.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Congratulations to:  #409 BJ at Sweet Nothings!

Cong.

“Hey Kate, we’re coming to San Francisco and want to spend one of our vacation days in Wine Country, where do you recommend we go/sip/eat?”

Just one day?  Oh no!  Truly, you need several days to experience Northern Cali’s Wine Country, preferably two days spent in the Napa Valley touring Calistoga, St. Helena and Yountville, and two days in the different regions of Sonoma County, specifically Healdsburg and Sonoma.  A few days is really the way to vacation in the WC in order to truly absorb the flavors and the relaxed atmosphere around here.  It’s infectious.  You may find you never want to return home. 

However, if you’ve only got one day and you’re coming from (or living in) the City by the Bay, it’s true, you can still get the flavor of Wine Country in a single day.  Here is the very best route for all of you “I just have one day” visitors.  This day trip is 45 minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge and takes you on a tour of the Carneros region in Sonoma, known for its Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and sparking wines from grapes that grow in the volcanic soil and thrive amid the coastal breezes. 

This tour will give you a taste and feel for the region and still allow your designated driver to get back to your hotel in San Francisco by nightfall.  Let’s journey, shall we?  Who’s up for a day trip to Wine Country?  Yay, glad you all raised your hands. 

First, travel north on Highway 101 to Highway 37 to Highway 121 – it’s best to map it out before you come on MapQuest, your smart phone, or a GPS device.  

You’ll cross Marin County into Sonoma County and enter the Carneros Valley where you’ll see the grapevines rolling along the hills and start to get excited.  Relax, there are acres of those to come!  Your first stop is Viansa, an Italian inspired hilltop winery which specializes in both red and Italian varietals.  This villa offers a fabulous view, beautiful gardens, and a great marketplace of gourmet foods.  

Next, you’ll travel next door to Jacuzzi Family Vineyards.  The nicest thing about Jacuzzi, other than its sustainable practices, is the fact that although relatively new, the estate buildings seem as if they’ve existed for centuries.  There’s a courtyard, fountain, and vines crawling up the stone façade.  Sample their wines and the flavorful olive oils at The Olive Press.

A worthy stop along Highway 121 for both its idyllic gardens and charming farmhouse tasting room is Cline Cellars. You’ll walk among rose gardens and swaying willow trees nestled along the banks of several spring fed ponds surrounded by vineyards. This winery is definitely worth your stroll, plus they offer complimentary tastings. 

Along this Highway 121 route (also known as Arnold Drive) you’ll also see two of my favorite places, the first is Sonoma Country Antiques.  They have great finds in their shop, but much more out back, be sure to look around if time permits. 

On this route, you’ll also want to stop into CornerStone Gardens, home to many design shops and art galleries in an outdoor setting where you can stroll from shop to gallery and admire all of the garden installations and their unexpected forms designed by renowned artists.  There’s also a gourmet café here which makes a great stop for a quick lunch. 

One of the best places on the planet for architectural salvage is Artefact Design & Salvage, located within CornerStone Gardens.  Inside you’ll find swoon worthy finds from all across the world, curated by globe trotting owner Dave.  Nate would really love this place. 

Don’t spend too long because you want to sample sparkling wines while you’re in the region.  You have two places to sip them close by, Gloria Ferrer which is the next stop after Jacuzzi, or you can drive in the direction of Napa along Highway 12/121 to visit Domaine Carneros, with a stunning French inspired chateau which sits atop a knoll surrounded by vineyards.  Both wineries have amazing views and great sparkling wine samplers. 

There are two other favorites wineries in the near vicinity, one of them is Gundlach Bundschu (pronounced Gun-Lock-Bun-Shoe).  They make great Cab Franc and Syrah, but also are known for unique varietals like Gewürztraminer and Tempranillo Rose. 

We also like Nicholson Ranch for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and the sweeping views of the valley.  Both are definitely worth your visit if you have the time, and only a short distance from the Sonoma Plaza, which is where you want to head by late afternoon.    

From Highway 12, take Broadway to the Sonoma Plaza and find a parking spot. 

There are amazing shops and galleries on all four sides of the Plaza, here are just some of the highlights: 

When you stroll around the Plaza in the afternoon and evening, visiting the shops and galleries, be sure to duck down some of the interesting alleys for even more to see. 

For home décor visit Summervine and H Frank to the north west, Harvest Home and Chateau Sonoma for great antiques on the southwest side, and The Corner Store for beautiful linens, bed, and bath.  Many of these home décor shops close at 5 or 5:30 p.m. so be sure to arrive at the Sonoma Plaza around 4 p.m. or earlier to allow time to browse.  

Two great places to taste wine on the Plaza are the Ledson Hotel and our most favorite place to sample boutique wines, the Sonoma Wine Shop.  We’re members of their wine club because they’re experts at what they do: they fine tune your palate through various tastings, and they will ship you wines based on your personal preference.  We like that.  You’ll like them too. 

End you busy day of sipping, sightseeing, and shopping at any one of these fine restaurants on the Plaza, mapped out above.  Here are our five favorites, and reservations are recommended:  Meritage Oyster Bar (seafood & cocktails); El Dorado Kitchen (gourmet seasonal Californian, outdoor seating); the girl & the fig (classic seasonal French); The Swiss Hotel (relaxed Italian/Californian, outdoor seating); and Della Santinas (traditional seasonal Italian fare). 

Cheers to you and a lovely day spent in unforgettable Sonoma, our favorite place to be.

Happy tasting and safe travels from your local tour guide!

xo,

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Last week, I made a quick trip to my favorite source for wine barrels.  I had a few projects in mind, one coming up later this week!  A short time ago, they were only $10 bucks, but apparently they’re in high demand abroad hence the price increase.  But still, at $20 dollars for a half barrel, that’s a good price considering the amount of hours that go into the making of one single barrel (see below), and the many uses for the staves (the strips of wood bent to form a barrel).    

Rustic and reclaimed wood is all the rage in home décor.  We’ve seen tree stumps show up as endtables and pallets reinvented in all sorts of ways in interior design over the past few years.  Wine barrels are getting their fair share of reuse too. 

When used as just the right accent in unexpected ways, wine barrels are a fantastic source of reusing real French or American oak.  I love the pairing of natural wood tones with casual furnishings, they always work well together.  I also love seeing products made from reclaimed wood placed in formal settings or in contemporary spaces ~ they have a way of keeping the space from feeling too predictable.  When juxtaposed against anything modern and glossy, reclaimed wood can take center stage.

New wine barrels have a shelf life of 3 to 6 years for aging wine, depending on which vintner you ask.  Most become planters, yet others get turned into some amazing accessories.  I was excited to see so many creative uses for a used wine barrel when I went looking around the web. 

VivaTerra sells several products made out of barrels, like this beautiful stave bread bowl ($95)

and this Lazy Susan ($129)

and this basket ($98)

I love all of these versions of end tables made from wine barrels!

Wine Enthusiast End Table

Restoration Hardware Side Table 

Whit McLeod Side Table

Monique Shay Coffee Table

I die over this chandy! I think this drum shade use of staves is so cool. 

How beautiful is this Wine Barrel Chandelier?  It’s priced $1,195 yet despite the hefty price tag, I absolutely love the look of this statement piece.

Here it is taking center stage in a dining room.  Oh.Em.Gee.  Love.

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Then there is the Wine Barrel Planet Chandelier, at $1,969, it’s pricey, but just as stunning. 

At this point I’m thinking, does anyone know a welder?  This would certainly be an advanced DIY project to pull off a knock off, but it could be done with some advanced welding, parts from an old chandy and some wiring skills.  That’s me, thinking out loud!  

Or if you happen to have $2,595 plus tax just lying around, you could buy this version of a Wine Barrel 6 Arm Chandelier from Restoration Hardware. 

I have to admit, every time I browse my local RH, I’m like “Sheesh, that is one incredible light fixture, would love that in my house!”   Then reality sets in and I realize I have to both eat and pay my mortgage every month.

Here are two examples of the same wine barrel chandelier used in very elegant spaces:

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Of course, the barrel itself makes a perfectly natural end table outdoors.  I spied this one on last year’s visit to Arista Winery. 

The art of barrel making is called cooperage, and a professional earns the title of Cooper.  To give you an idea of the amount of man hours that go into the making of each individual barrel, take a look at this informative video from our friends in the UK.   

Incredible right?  What’s interesting is that each year a barrel is used to age wine, it gives that particular wine a different flavor profile as the wine penetrates the wood.  Eventually the flavors are exhausted, and the barrels are reused for other purposes.  Recycling at its best! 

While we’re on the topic of wine, is anyone interested in a monthly post recommending favorite wines for the season?  Not just wines from California, but from all regions?  Maybe some hints on food pairings too?  I know this is a DIY blog, so I’m testing the waters here, but the hub and I do a lot of tasting.  So tell me, who’s up for something like that?  Lemme know. 

Did you know there is at least one winery in all 50 States?  Do you have a great source for used wine barrels in your state?  If so, please share!  I have a link for a source online, and I will share it with you when I show you my latest DIY project.

You can only guess what I used to make it.

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It was one of those weekends where instead of driving, we all walk the mile and a half to our downtown shops, and I can’t help but appreciate along the way the charm of so many of our neighborhood’s homes.

It was the weekend of our city’s spring festival, where everyone in town traditionally gathers on the downtown streets to watch the annual parade.

It was one of those weekends where we travel with our guests to a nearby tourist stop {Point Reyes} to window shop and savor local specialties.

It was one of those weekends I look forward to every year, where I browse the annual Antique Fair, filled with vendors from all over the Bay Area selling their wares.

It was that weekend when one of my favorite perennials is finally blooming, and I can’t help but bring early clippings indoors to display in my new Antique Faire find, a trophy like silver vase that (despite a good polish) is still a bit tarnished, but aren’t we all?

It was one of those warm spring evenings where we dine alfresco for the first time all year on a simple menu of wild mushroom pizza, asparagus, and local chardonnay. 

Where we sit and enjoy the fact that the garden and grapevines are blooming again.  And somehow the long dreary winter is forgiven and forgotten.

It was one of those weekends that we all need to experience now and then, the ones spent ignoring the daily chores, and instead focused solely on relaxation.  The kind of weekend where it just doesn’t matter that there is laundry piling up because it’s much more important to step outside and appreciate the blossoms. 

Have you had one of those kinds of weekends lately?

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It’s the high season in Wine Country right now.  The leaves are turning, the festivals have begun, the tasting rooms are filled with tourists.   September through November is the most colorful season to visit this bountiful region.  If you’re ever in our area, here are a few worthwhile places to spend an enjoyable afternoon.

Korbel Champagne Cellars is home to some of the finest (and quite affordable) sparkling wines.   ‘Toast Life!’  is the motto here  ~ I certainly subscribe to that.   They have some helpful tips on their site giving all the details for choosing, storing, and entertaining with champagne.

A visit to their winery is a worthwhile trip.  The brick building that greets you is so very pretty with its classic brick facade and ivy covered walls.

No doubt you’ve seen these labels in local grocery stores, we often opt for this vintage.  I like the ‘Brut’ but the hub prefers the ‘Extra Dry’.   Quite frankly, it doesn’t matter to me, just hand me a glass!

Korbel offers cave and garden tours, which we skipped that day because we had many stops.  The gardens are really beautiful, and there are several historic buildings on this property.

One of the sights you can see a lot of in Northern California are redwood tree groves.  Often, this region is dubbed the ‘Redwood Empire’.  Korbel has its own cluster of historic trees, they are so beautiful.

Arista Winery is another great stop if you love Pinot Noir.  They specialize in it!

Gorgeous valley vineyard views, even from the parking lot.

The grounds are really lovely here.  Plenty of oak barrels and botanical gardens surrounded by oak trees.  So much beauty around every bend in the winding gravel path.   I prefer a winding path to a straight one, don’t you?

With so many gathering spots for friends to relax, it’s difficult to decide where to sit and sip.  Should it be here?

Or here?

I think these people had the right idea.  Enchanting !

After Arista, we popped into the new Ferrari-Carano tasting room on the Healdsburg Square, different from the Ferrari-Carano winery which I mentioned here.

I loved the tin ceiling covered with its layers of patina, and the light fixtures made out of wine jugs.  I could do without the faux leaf garland, I think it distracts from the stunning series of jug fixtures that stretches over the bar.  Do you agree?

Beautiful hutches for display placed up against a natural brick wall (love those) in the perfect shade of gray green.

Oooh, such pretty ceramics.  Loving these rich vibrant colors.

Here’s a fancy trick our server taught us.  With a bordeaux glass, it’s better to decant (or aerate) your taste by spinning your glass rather than swirling.  Seemed a bit of a novelty to me, but I think this will be my newest party trick.  *wink*   Notice the recycled glass speckled countertops in warm shades of green, amber, and brown.

We dined at a restaurant I’ve been wanting to try for years, Bistro Ralph, on the famous Healdsburg square.  Very quaint, very chic.  Delicious food!

I swear, I had the best bread I’ve ever had here!  No exaggeration.  They bake these little buns in the restaurant, then add a hint of sea salt, fennel, and olive oil.  Sooooo good, proving that often simple ingredients are the best!   There is no saying ‘No’ to carbs with bread this good, it’s simply impossible.

I especially loved the white brick wall (yes, I’m fickle, I love both natural and white brick) and these charming river rock vases.   CG makes mental note: learn how to carve a vase out of a rock.

After dinner, we stopped into Boisset: Taste of Terroir, where Sonoma meets Burgundy.  This is an absolutely gorgeous tasting room on the northeast corner of the Healdsburg Square.  Did you know that ‘Terroir’ is a French term defined as ‘the set of local conditions in which a particular wine or family of wines is produced, including soil-type, weather conditions, topography and wine-making savoir-faire’?  

So interesting, I didn’t know that until this past weekend.  Cheers to always learning something new!

The charcoal walls of Boisset paired with the glitzy crystal chandelier and cool marble tabletop are a welcome departure from the warm tones so often used in the typical French or Tuscan inspired tasting rooms.  Not that I don’t love that style too, but this tasting room has a modern New York vibe.  Very chic and glamorous.

They even had Philippe Starck Ghost Chairs with custom platinum satin seat cushions.   Heart!

A six hour break from the munchkins and sparkling pink bubbly for my birthday.  This girl couldn’t ask for a better present !

Oh, and speaking of favorite things, how gorgeous is this feminine and French inspired basement turned wine cellar from a recent issue of Country Living?

Who needs to visit a tasting room with a cellar this pretty?

I’ve got a super cute Halloween party idea coming up next, inspired by Martha.  Haunted beverage labels for both kids and grown ups created with free fonts and free software.  I’ll show you just how easy it is to make your very own, plus I have lots of free printable labels for you too!   Poisonous potions and spooky ciders, mooo ha ha ha.  They’re frighteningly fun, that’s coming next!

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Today, I’d like to giveaway a few of those decadent treats to one of you.  It’s been a great month for this blog, so it’s time to pass it along to you in gratitude for continuing to read my musings.  This weekend, I’m delighted to be giving away the following wine country related goodies to one reader!

Lemon infused olive oil from The Olive Press and my favorite fig balsamic vinegar from the famous ‘the girl & the fig’ restaurant. 

This locally made fig and orange blossom candle (smells divine), and Dijon mustard.

A bundle of fresh picked all natural French lavender from my garden.

This luxury bar of olive oil soap scented with lemongrass and rosemary (delish!)

This cute pair of dipping bowls . . .

. . . and finally this book about choosing wines from around the world. 

One reader will be sent all of these goodies (and more lavender): 

Eligibility ?  Simply leave a comment in the form of a question, one you think I can answer. 

Have a specific DIY related question?  Got a decorating dilemma?  Curious about some aspect of remodeling or home improvement?   Are you on the hunt for some fabulous fall accessories, or do you want the skinny on a good paintbrush?  I’ll do my very best to answer the winner’s question in a follow up post.  

That’s all, just ask me a question to be entered to win !

One entry per person please.  Giveaway ends Monday August 16th at 8 p.m PST.  Winner chosen by Random.org.  

Good luck friends, and thanks so much to all of you for stopping by to visit.

Have a fantastic weekend !

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I’m catching up on some summer reads I’ve been waiting to dive into.

We’re watching our syrah grapes ripen in the sun.

We’re building tents out of canvas tarps in the backyard. 

We’re taking long naps under the ceiling fan during the hottest days.

We’re picking our share of blackberries.

We’re begrudgingly back to school shopping.

And I’m making grown up sorbet ~ a healthier alternative to my ice cream fixation. 

Blackberry Cabernet Sorbet

2 cups water

1.5 cups sugar

24 oz. blackberries

2 tbsp lemon juice

2-3 tbsp cabernet

(or any dry red wine like merlot or syrah)

Bring water to simmer in small saucepan, then stir in sugar until dissolved to make syrup, refrigerate to cool.  Meanwhile, rinse and puree blackberries, then pour through mesh strainer to remove seeds.  Add blackberry puree, lemon juice and wine to syrup, blend together.  Process mixture in ice cream maker per manufacturer’s instructions.  Freeze processed soft sorbet at least an hour before serving. 

Wishing you long leisurely days spent relaxing in the summer sun, enjoying what’s left of the season before the beauty of fall is upon us.  

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Usually I make my way to downtown Sonoma for a stroll and a day in the park.  Whenever I take a drive, I always bring my camera !  Here’s a few of my favorite photos of a country drive to Sonoma.

Ultimate destination: downtown Sonoma. 

Here is this lovely town photographed in springtime !

Worth the drive, every time ! 

For some other backyard tours, take a visit to some of these places too. 

Tour a local Lavender Bee Farm

Visit Kenwood and Chateau St. Jean

Spend the weekend in Napa

Sip sparkling wine in the Carneros Region

Tour a Castle Tasting Room in Napa

Visit Yountville and Thomas Keller’s Bouchon

See my most Favorite Escape where I take all my visiting friends and family. 

Enjoy these little tours, while I dive back into some DIY -  I’m in the middle of a makeover of my boy’s room plus some other projects too.   And if anyone is contemplating a visit to Wine Country, be sure to email me for some insider tips on places to go to make your vacation memorable.

Thanks so much for reading friends ! 

We happen to be lucky enough to live about thirty minutes from the Northern California coastline, so after a big weekend of gardening and home improvement, we decided to take a Sunday afternoon out at the coast to fly some kites and stop at our favorite seafood restaurant for the best clam chowder in the county.   

Bodega is fantastic in spring and fall, but incredibly foggy and cold in the summer, a lot like the weather in San Francisco.  So we head out the the coast as much as we can in April, May, September and October. 

I just love trails through sand dunes and coastal grasses. 

Inhale.  Breathe deeply.  Smell the salty air.  Life is good. 

There’s a reason I set my alarm clock to the ‘ocean’ setting – I know of no other sound as soothing as the lull of ocean waves hitting the beach.   Instant stress relief !

The very best beach for kite flying is Doran Beach State Park in Bodega Bay.   My kids are in their second year of their kite flying, but they are not alone.  Doran Beach is the famous meeting place for the Kite Club for all lovers of high flying colors. 

Last year, we picked up our kites from the famous Candy & Kites along Highway One, just north of Doran Beach.  We like to pick up our salt water taffy here too. 

Our munchkins have been in training ever since. 

Study your opponent, grasshopper.  

Avoid obvious traps and tangles.

Anticipate their every move.

When the moment arises, strike.

Victory will be yours.

OK, so the little guy had some help but the critter is barely four so he needs it.

You can’t leave the beach without a good old fashioned game of wave chasing.

I love the native flowering iceplant that cover the dunes, in both purple and yellow varieties. 

Doran Beach also offers camping and RV Parking.  One of these days we’ll have to find a friend with an RV and take a mini vacation out here. 

In fact, I think when my last kid goes to college, I’m going to sell everything, buy an RV, and we will just drive around from state to state parking our RV, then annoyingly intruding on others peacefully parked by shouting “Permission to come aboard !” 

Sound good ?  :-)

Hungry, we headed to The Tides Wharf – our go to place for seafood.

We start with a little dungeness crab and prawn appetizer. 

This place has ze best  seafood. 

Oh, la, la, mussels in white wine, garlic, and plenty o’ butter with parsley. 

Soak up the heavenly broth with sourdough, divine ! 

The Tides Wharf is our favorite stop for the best clam chowder in the county.  No, in the state.  Yep, I said it.  We’ve tasted clam chowder up and down the state, and in the Big City, but no one can beat this perfect blend of potato, celery, and clam nestled in the most buttery goodness of a chowder.  It’s simply the best.  

There are some evenings when we have driven all the way to the coast just for a ‘To Go’ order of this clam chowder. 

So we splurged and got our fix with a seafood smorgasbord.  Paired with some fresh sourdough and sauvignon blanc, it was a mini vacation in our own backyard.  Worth the splurge, worth the trip.  We left Bodega very fat and happy. 

Stay tuned, later today I’ve got a little project where silver leaf meets a cheapo lamp.  For those of you in the die hard Dark Bronze Lamp Club, you may wish to avert your eyes in this next post since I’ve redone one of your brethren in this very shimmery finish.   Coming next . . .

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Barrel Tasting Weekend is an annual tradition where visitors are offered a pour straight from the barrel before the wine is bottled.  Many times the winemaker is on scene to educate and answer questions.   Everyone is so friendly and social, smiling from ear to ear.  But I’m thinking that has a lot to do with the scenery and free flowing wine.  :-)

The drive out to visit all these wineries never disappoints, spring through fall.

I don’t know if there is anything more charming than a white farmhouse with a wrap around porch.  I made Mr CG stop just so I could take a picture of this ‘dream’ house.  I think if I lived here, I’d just never leave.  *Sigh*.

We stopped first at Lambert Bridge Winery in Dry Creek Valley.  Call me crazy, but I really want a truck just like this to call my own – not to haul barrels, but all that furniture from thrift stores !

I made friends with the resident pooches. 

Such sweet faces !

Then I spotted this original candelabra – an old vine dipped in silver.  Mega cool. 

I love how so many wineries have dogs and cats, sometimes chickens and roosters, wandering the property.  There’s something about these critters that feels so welcoming !  I made this feline friend at Rafanelli Winery.

We visited one of my top five favorite wineries, Ferrari-Carano. 

I adore this formal French inspired facade. 

There is an upstairs tasting room where I spied this beautiful pottery.  I love the urn, and those candlesticks ?  Be mine please. 

Also another grapevine branch candelabra, this time a blanched version.  Such a cool centerpiece ! 

Downstairs is the super chic modern tasting room Enoteca, nothing like the light and bright upstairs tasting room.   

Rich wood tones and glamorous black barstools with gold detail. 

Arched ceilings, troweled walls, and glossy black paneling and chandeliers. 

Once you escape the tasting rooms, you must walk the grounds – they’re enchanting.  Ferrari-Carano is famous not only for their wines, but their gardens as well.  

Today the tulips put on quite a show !

The daffodils had their own exhibition. 

Not to be outdone by the magnolia blossoms.

In welcome contrast to the formality of Ferrari-Carano, we ended our afternoon at the locals’ favorite watering hole, the Dry Creek General Store where you can buy sandwiches, sample cheeses, and hang out along the covered porch. 

No city slickers here – only loud country music and good times !   

Well that’s not entirely true. . . 

Any place that serves wine and cheese along with beer and chips is our kind of place. 

James Joyce once said, “What is better than to sit at the end of a day and drink wine with friends?”

To tell you the truth, I’m not really sure.  :-)