Carneros Resort & Spa

A Top Down Drive to Napa... I always like an invite in my email. Not too cynical or busy to hit delete without opening. Now, I won't go to the opening of a car door, but anything that sounds fun, tasty and interesting.. hell, yeah.. I'll try and make it. So it was when I [...]

By | May 9th, 2021|Napa Eateries, Napa Stays, Play in Napa|Comments Off on Carneros Resort & Spa

Master Sommelier Pours Virtually

No Wine Snobbery With This Gal ... I've often considered that sommeliers are unfairly painted with the snobbery brush. Oh sure, you can get the odd, pompous twit. But in my experience it's really a thing of the past. Maybe I've been treated well because I'm media, combined with my oh so charming wit and [...]

By | March 14th, 2021|Napa Wineries, Play in Napa|Comments Off on Master Sommelier Pours Virtually

10 Year Anniversary of Truffle Delights

Earthly Delights to Pleasure the Senses .... The Insider recently caught up to Robert Chang, the Managing Director and Chief Truffle Officer of American Truffle Co, the prime mover behind the Napa Truffle Festival (Jan 17-20, 2020). Bubbling over with enthusiasm for all things truffle, wine, food and Napa, Chang was a great NSI interview. [...]

By | November 25th, 2019|David's Travels, Play in Napa|Comments Off on 10 Year Anniversary of Truffle Delights

Yountville Live 2019

Fun to Reconnect... Some times when you go to a classy event like the recent Yountville Live it pays to arrive in style. And I arrived in style in my good friend Amadu’s limo. If you want the best limo rates and professional service in Napa, give him a call at 707-812-5819.  Once inside the [...]

By | April 30th, 2019|Napa Eateries, Napa Wineries, Play in Napa|Comments Off on Yountville Live 2019

Mondavi, Cochon & BBQ

Good Weekend in Napa... There are some weekends in Napa where you don’t want to be anywhere else in the world. A recent one had a bunch of kicks with a Robert Mondavi dinner being the definite highlight. Mondavi’s chef Jeff Mosher provided excellent courses that matched perfectly with Mondavi’s wines, my favorite from the [...]

By | October 7th, 2018|Napa Wineries, Play in Napa|Comments Off on Mondavi, Cochon & BBQ

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

Napa Valley Aloft

Up, Up and Away... If you live in Napa Valley you’re inevitably going to see some hot air balloons passing over you in the sky.    The experience looked so inviting the Insider couldn't resist contacting Napa Valley Aloft and since the Insider had done a bungy jump, white water rafted, scuba dived, etc…he was totally [...]

By | September 21st, 2017|Play in Napa|Comments Off on Napa Valley Aloft

Rutherford Dust Society – Rutherford Chili Ball

Did You Say Chili ... Off to the Pestoni Estate Family Winery where it is hosting Rutherford Dust Society's the Return of the Original Rutherford Chili Ball - a fun, family friendly event that has firemen participating too. Wines by RDS members and local beers were available throughout the afternoon, complimented by a full BBQ [...]

By | August 12th, 2017|Napa Wineries, Play in Napa|Comments Off on Rutherford Dust Society – Rutherford Chili Ball

Day for the Queen Tennis Tournament

Did You Say Tennis at the Silverado... To the Day for the Queen Tennis Tournament at the Silverado Resort and Spa where I get to quiz their Director of Tennis, Katie Dellich, between sets of their round robin tournament where I was the lone guy amongst many women.  I hadn't played in a long while [...]

By | July 29th, 2017|Napa Stays, Play in Napa|Comments Off on Day for the Queen Tennis Tournament

Taste of Napa – Festival Napa Valley

Wine, Beer, Food, Music ... Had me some kicks at the Taste of Napa tasting this last Sat afternoon. Hot as hell. Hate wearing a hat, but donned a SF Giants ball cap to protect my bald spot. One of the joys of getting older, losing your hair. Ha Ha!!! There were some excellent wines [...]

By | July 17th, 2017|Napa Eateries, Napa Wineries, Play in Napa|Comments Off on Taste of Napa – Festival Napa Valley