Dinner Under the Stars

Chef Likes Different Combos... Since Robert Mondavi Winery has got an upcoming Winemaker’s dinner at their estate (Aug 25, sorry gang, it’s already sold-out however some seats are still available for chef Jeff Mosher's Autumn Fête dinner on Sept 22) the Insider thought it would be cool to get the man who has been with [...]

By | August 7th, 2018|Napa Wineries|Comments Off on Dinner Under the Stars

Chateau Ste Michelle

Choice Makes Tasting Fun... I love tasting rooms. Everything from the different architecture, the views of the estates, the convivial staff to the sipping and tasting. But if there’s one drawback, it’s the lack of diversity at most tasting rooms. It’s not the wineries fault, most only make a few varietals and one can’t expect them to showcase other [...]

By | June 3rd, 2018|David's Travels, Napa Wineries|Comments Off on Chateau Ste Michelle

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

Drinks flow at Caesars ... Some times when the Insider is on the road, it’s fun to get an outsider sommelier to do the NSI Quiz to get their perspective on the industry. Recently while in Las Vegas for Uncorked I got to sit down with Phil Park, the Director of Wine for all of Caesars restaurants, a big, demanding job, but one Park was [...]

By | May 21st, 2018|Napa Wineries|Comments Off on Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

Yountville Live Returns

Rain Didn't Dampen Yountville Live ... Had a soggy but fun time at Yountville Live’s 2018 edition. At the opening night reception under the main tent it poured as we lined up and kept raining for an hour or so while the crowd sampled the excellent cocktails and wines that were on offer for the guests. Gotta love [...]

By | April 16th, 2018|Napa Eateries, Napa Stays, Napa Wineries, Play in Napa|Comments Off on Yountville Live Returns

Vancouver Wine Festival & Victoria Beer Festival

 Great Views at Vancouver Wine Fest ...   My liver took a pounding but had a lot of fun.  Victoria’s 5th annual craft beer festival kicked off at the Victoria Public Market. Vancouver Island Brewery had a raspberry export stout that was delicious. Normally I try to avoid beers with fruit titles in them as they [...]

By | April 8th, 2018|David's Travels, Napa Wineries, Sonoma Wineries|Comments Off on Vancouver Wine Festival & Victoria Beer Festival

Seattle Wine and Food Experience

Great Food and Wine... Had some great food and drinks and viewed interesting exhibits as the Seattle Wine and Food Experience celebrated 10 years down at Pier 66 at Seattle’s Bell International Hall. Most of the wine sampling was concentrated on the ground floor with over 30 Washington State wineries and a dozen each or so [...]

By | March 6th, 2018|David's Travels, Napa Wineries, Sonoma Wineries|Comments Off on Seattle Wine and Food Experience

Napa Survives

Napa Welcomes You... The Insider is all about promoting Napa and Sonoma. In the wake of the wildfires, it’s imperative to let people know, even though the fires were devastating, most of Napa and Sonoma counties weren’t affected by the fires thanks to the awesome First Responders's actions. So the Insider set out to do a day tour of each area to [...]

By | November 13th, 2017|Napa Wineries|Comments Off on Napa Survives

Check Please

Leslie Was Delightful... To the T-Vine Winery we go where Leslie Sbrocco, host of PBS’ Check Please, is hosting a tasting of Calistoga Wineries finest. A Petaluma resident, don’t know if this should go under Napa or Sonoma, ha ha, doesn’t matter… But it was fun to get the ebullient TV host to do the [...]

By | September 12th, 2017|Napa Wineries, Sonoma Wineries|Comments Off on Check Please

Priest Ranch Wines

Fine wine, BBQ and Country Rock... To the Priest Ranch Wines tasting room we go to on Yountville’s main drag on Washington St.  They collaborated with Tips-Tri-Tip trolley. If you like barbeque you can’t go wrong with the Tri-Trip Sando sandwich of a ½ lb of tri-tip, coleslaw, with chipotle sauce on a toasted roll.  And for entertainment, Miracle Mule kept [...]

By | September 9th, 2017|Napa Wineries|Comments Off on Priest Ranch Wines