Serious about wine.

Driving into the valley from the south , it doesnt look all that differnt from whats behind you, no high dramatic valley walls , no rocky slopes or majestic peaks in the distance, not even rushing rivers an easy accessible lakes and ponds. IMO the magic is in its serenity,its translucent light spilling over the vineyards, the perfect rows of vines , heavy with dark blue grapes ,The large oaktrees dotting the fields , deer playing in the golden grasses. I can and will go on and on ! No skyscrappers here or even multi story buildings. If you like California wine , part of the magic is in driving by and stopping at the famous NAPA wineries. Mondavi, Beringer, Sutterhome(for the supermarket crowd), Stags Leap vineyards , Caymus, I can go for awhile. The biggest difference I found with the last time here is that the tastings are now scheduled and pretty expensive . In the eighties they were free and you walked in and tasted ( drunk ) as much as you wanted. As the wines in Napa have become world famous for their quality, they are also kind of limited in production. We tasted wines with a yearly production of 200-300 cases . Compared with a winery like suttterhome producing 1 milllliiiiooon cases or more . In the eighties the most expensive wine was under $100.00 seen by most in the industry as outrages . Guess what 40 years later we have a solid $800 dollar on release club, not to speak about aged wines of that caliber which fetch thousands of dollars for a bottle .

It’s what the fool wants to pay , or what the market can handle.

OK ,enough words , here are some images of the valley and it’s main draw.

In Napa's embrace, vineyards stretch wide,
Where passion for wine, with love does reside.
Rows of grapes heavy, with the promise of wine,
A valley of magic, where the sun's rays entwine.

No rushing rivers, no mountains grand,
Yet serenity and beauty in every strand.
Oaks stand tall, deer frolic and play,
In this timeless haven, where dreams find their way.

Napa's wine, once freely poured and enjoyed,
Now a treasure rare, with prices employed.
Yet amidst the changes, the heart still beats true,
For the love of wine, and Napa's enchanting view.