Welcome To Napa Valley Wine Country!
This sign greets you as you drive into the heart of Napa Valley wine country, the subject of my “six shot Saturday” – a new idea that I will update whenever I have shots worthy of inclusion!
What prompted me to come up with this was this shot:
Yountville Vines At Sunrise!
This is what the vines look like in the early morning as the sun is rising over the mountains to the east of Yountville California…revealing miles and miles of grapes growing in Napa Valley – grapes like these:
These grapes, gorgeous to look at in July, are still growing – they will reach their “harvest” potential in early September…and they are everywhere in the valley…even behind this incredible tree I saw in Yountville:
I really loved the shadow that spread out in front of it – and those are miles of vines behind it. Yountville is one of the small towns in the Napa Valley that are surrounded by vineyards – and every morning you can walk alongside them and take as many pictures of the grapes as you camera will hold – FYI, behind the town’s sign that you see here are vines and a peek at Mount Yount:
There are literally hundreds of wine tasting rooms in the valley, and dozens of top notch restaurants as well. After a day of wine tasting, there is nothing more beautiful than a Napa Valley sunset like this one:
There you go – my “Six Shot Saturday” – highlighting some of the natural beauty of Northern California wine country.
I’ve shared a look at Yountville before – the home to one of the world’s greatest restaurants:
Chef Thomas Keller opened The French Laundry 25 years ago in Yountville, and it’s an incredible culinary experience…his iconic “Oysters and Pearls” is one of the greatest things I’ve ever eaten:
That is a delicate custard holding tiny poached Oysters, topped with caviar…I love this dish – and in fact, there is so much to love about Yountville, and I tried to capture it when I did a “Hitch Hike” here – you know, a hike through the vines followed by a classic Alfred Hitchcock thriller – you can click here to see it:
More “Six Shooter Saturdays” to come! Please leave a comment and tell me what you think!
Categories: Art, Exotic Travel, Memoirs, nature, Pop Culture, Restaurants, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir, Uncategorized, wine
These are all gorgeous pictures, John. I hope the grapes haven’t been adversely affected by the heat waves.
Robbie, thanks for the comment! The grapes have no issue with summer heat unless it lingers into the fall, when the grapes are closer to being picked…it’s a delicate balance between ripening, which the sun can speed up, with the internal sugar level, which must hit a certain number before picking in order for fermentation to be achieved…that’s why late heat waves or, worse yet, rain can wreck havoc because rain will be absorbed into the grape and ruin the sugar balance inside!
I didn’t know that. Thanks, John.
incredible shots and I think this series is a great idea and looking forward to seeing more. Such beautiful country side. Thank you.
Thanks so much for commenting!
These are beautiful photos – I particularly like that first one, it’s very inviting. I haven’t done much exploration when it comes to vineyards but I might have to as they look great for photography!
Wine country anywhere in the world is so naturally beautiful because the vines grow as individual works of edible art! Thanks for commenting!
On my bucket list is the California wine tour. I hope one day I will be eating and drinking in Napa Valley. That sunset picture is breathtaking!
Napa Valley is incredible for so many reasons….early spring and late fall are best, but I’ve been here over New Years many times and it’s fun then too!
One day…
What a lovely, peaceful landscape! Love the pictures!
Awesome photos! Apart from the Oysters & Pearls dish, that almost creeps me out to look at.
It’s delicious! Really is an incredible bite of food! And yes, wine country is literally overflowing with vineyards everywhere you turn! Thanks for commenting!
That’s an amazing sunset, John. You cannot beat the west for sunsets.
Obviously, wine country is the place for me! I have been to many vineyards in France, but would happily sample the Californian reds on their home ground, given the chance.
Best wishes, ,Pete.
Pete, it’s a beautiful place with wineries and vineyard literally everywhere you turn! And it’s an hour from the Pacific Ocean, where I am headed today to get another “Six Shot Saturday” done!