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Holy Wine Country, Batman. . . The following trip report is for those who don't have a budget, are foodies (or just like good eats - I've been attacked here before on this board 
), are easy going, like good wine, and can stroll and stay a while...
I went to wine country for the first time with a gal pal from back in the day, but this trip is totally cool for couples or a group of couples too... Overnight trip. Wish I had more time.
Day 1: Checked in to THE VINTAGE INN in Yountville about 1 hour 45 minutes from Palo Alto and fell in love.
http://www.vintageinn.com/
We checked in at tea time, which had a wide assornment of goodies... I'll get to that in a minute. We drove around to our room which was beautiful, oversized and super clean. A fireplace with a firestarter log, a tv, a complimentary bottle of wine, a cappucino machine and a coffee machine, an oversized sunked in bath tub, A double sink with one of my fav amenties the magnifying lighted mirror and L'Occitane's famous skin
http://www.loccitane.com/29/1/2270/34000/A-True-Story.htm
products and shampoos. Outside on a patio were two chairs and a table. Our room while facing the highway, was guarded by oversized trees so all we saw were vineyards and mountains. A fridge is also in the room, but hidden, elegantly. A low sitting area near the windows with a ton of pillows makes for a great place to read a book.
Went back to the inn for tea time - that included wine, champagne, tea sandwiches, herb cream filled pastry puffs, scones, lemon curd, whipped cream, fruit, strawberries, chocalate ganche filled small bites, rasberry this, pies, passion fruit tarts, etc. etc... lovely
Ice tea and lemonade are available at all times.
The pool is the perfect size... A water feature lines the walk way between the Inn's rooms and leads to a water fountain of sorts. The property is lined with flours, olive trees, roses, windmill like art and more...
On the property, walking distance, is are some cute shops and a fabulous restaurant , BOTTEGA (more below) and store you must must visit, NAPA STYLE!
That night (Wednesday) we went to a local and every Wednesday night roofdeck pool party at a new green hotel called Bardessono.
http://www.bardessono.com/
It's a PPPP pretty people pool party and while it was filled with cute 20 somethings there were a good mix of 30, 40, and 50-60 year olds in attendance too. GO! 6:30-sunset. Talk about views (of the mountains in all direct and posh, this was fun and my photos refelct it! A DJ mixed some beats and the casual cool and summer dresses crowd mixed and mingled, while mostly locals we chatted it up and were welcome by all. The pool was lined by two rows of cabanas to get some shade, two drink stations and an outdoor grill serving tapas. I'd definately consider staying here, green, solar energy, modern, clean lines, woods and very modular/Wright like in many ways...
The next day we awoke and went over to the gourmet buffett included in the room tariff at THE VINTAGE INN. Along with a made to order egg station I had fun. Make your own mimosas, bacon, salsa, the usual stuff, potatoes, an omlette, quiches and much more... amazing, oversized and impressive... I am not doing this buffet justice!
Then we had appointments at the Spa also on the VINTAGE INN PROPERTY acorss the green at THE VILLAGIO SPA
http://www.villagio.com/villagio/spa/index.html
Two double bronze with mini flower doors opened to a beautiful, serene atomosphere... A 100 minute wellness massage by MARIO (recommended) in the spa's loft was indescribable... No shortcuts here, he was massaging me from head to toe, every quadrant, for the full 100 minutes... the steam shower and experiential 7 head shower was exceptional - not into spa servies, no problem, you can still use these outstanding and quiet facilities as a guest of THE VILLAGE INN since it is on the same property. The shampoo, sugar scrub and conditioner are all made from lemon and Eucalyptus grown on the property and is fabulous! Try it then stop by the spa store and bring it home.
For lunch we had a 12:30 PM reservation at a gem of a restaurant called BOTTEGA. We spent 4 hours for lunch my friends, and we had no idea of the time, this should give you an idea of the amazing experience we had..
My laptop is calling it quits so more on this tomorrow. Hint - we're talking the home of a FOOD NETWORK TV PERSONALITY, and the light and delightful tastes of Northern Italy in the setting of vineyards and mountains... I'll give you highlights as I'm writing an official article about the experience being published soon, but oh my, wow....
GO!
The restaurant is BOTTEGA - http://www.botteganapavalley.com/
After all of this we had time for 1 winery, we headed north on 29 and visited Alpha Omega and what a treat indeed. We wound up seeing two folks we met at the Roofdeck party - one who worked at this winery and another who was tourning with friends.... We even were given a taste of a new wine from the barrel a deep red, peppery and chocolate red that is sure to be an award winner -- I bought some futures!
OK, more manana.... Yountville, California if you like the good life but are easy going - GO! If you're a prick or price conscious - don't go! And remember there is no whining in wine country! 
Amanda amanda
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Trip Report - Wine Country, Yountville, California, Napa Valley
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Napa Style has a website and you can order products online (or order their beautiful catalog). When you sign up you have the option to get their emails notifying you of sales, and Michael's occasional cooking classes at upscale food stores (ie Draegers). Sometimes they have some really good sales.
I meant to add, GREAT report. You've inspired me to plan a trip. Thanks, Amanda.
Thanks for the tip Grassshopper on the Michael occasional cooking lasses, that would be wonderful! If you need company while you are there let me know... I could always use another excuse for a visit!
I spelled flowers, flours - I make myself giggle. I think phonetically...
Maybe, or you might still be thinking about that food....Nice, so far...hoping there is more where that came from.
I love, love, love the scones at the Vintage Inn.
Going to wine country in September and staying in Yountville at the Bardessono. You're making me even more excited about it than I already am! Can't wait to hear more!
Oh sorry for the delay folks.... almost there... Bardessono is wonderful!
Ah, this was published today in THE PALO ALTO DAILY NEWS... thought I'd share here per request as well.... ENJOY:
I DIED AND WENT TO ITALY: THE TALE OF A 4-HOUR LUNCH AT FOOD NETWORK HOST MICHAEL CHIARELLO’S BOTTEGA
Okay, I didn’t actually die, but, my friends, I must share with you the most impressive to my taste buds, pleasing to my eyes, yet relaxing and rejuvenating food experience I’ve had in all my years. “How many years?” you ask? A lady never tells. Onward!
I had the good pleasure of visiting a new restaurant called BOTTEGA last week, and all I can say is make a reservation now—grab your family or friends and go! The creation Food Network personality CHEF MICHAEL CHIARELLO, Bottega is located just a stone’s throw away from the Bay Area in Yountville, north Napa Valley.
Bottega, which means "an artist's workshop or studio" in Italian, has been open for only a few months but truly is Chiarello’s personal food studio. It’s here that Michael mingles with guests over authentic Italian recipes and wine from his family’s local vineyard.
As we dined, General Manager Joël Hoachuck described the fresh, local ingredients and the preparation techniques used to create Bottega’s cuisine with the enthusiasm and grace of a poet. We sat in the intimate, yet open, outdoor covered patio, one of the three dining areas at Bottega. As we dined, the sound of a distant water feature and light jazz from across the green and floral square filled the air. As a cool breeze hit our faces, I thought to myself, “Italy — We’re in Italy! I’m sure of it!”
In this edition of ABSOLUTELY, I have included photos and write-ups of the wonderful décor, ambience and dishes made for us by Bottega’s talented (and very cute) Chef de Cuisine, Nick Ritchie. Botegga is so good, I’m going again this weekend, so let me know if you ‘d like to join me!
Bottega is located in V Marketplace, 6525 Washington Street, Yountville, Calif. and serves lunch and dinner seven days a week excluding Monday lunch. Did you make a reservation yet? When you do, tell them Bessie (that’s me) from THE DAILY NEWS sent you, won’t you?
www.botteganapavalley.com 707-945-1050
WEDNESDAY JULY 1 BLURBS
HEY, SAM I AM…
Do you like green eggs and ham? Sam would like them if he tried Michael Chiarello’s “Dr. Suess special” called “green-egg and ham” - an appetizer twist on the Dr. Suess classic. This colorful dish Michael makes very simple and includes a soft boiled egg that is dipped in panko bread crumbs and quickly flash fried. The egg is served over olive oil poached Delta asparagus (green) an a simple gorgonzola cream is sprinkled with prosciutto bits (ham), delicious. This is a Bottego restaurant antipasti dish.
www.botteganapavalley.com
Photo: Green_Eggs_Ham emailed 6/29/09
ON THE DÉCOR
Botegga is set in a 140-year-old restored building that was at one time one of the first wineries the restaurant boasts oversized arched doorways and windows that date back to the 1800’s. Bottega’s two outdoor fireplaces, olive, chocolate and deep red color palette mixed with distressed leathers, brick exposed walls, local stone and original hardwood floors give it a timeless feel.
Photo: Botegga_1 emailed 6/29/09
G’NOT YOUR NORMAL GNOCCI
Like little light fluffy clouds that enter your mouth to form a dream, Botegga’s Ricotta Gnocchi is many things but the word heavy is not one of them. This light flour based twist on a classic is flavorful. The pasta dish is finished in a sauté pan where it is pan flashed very hot with tomatoes, parmigian and a touch of fresh basil and ground pepper. G’not your normal gnocci indeed!
Photo: Gnocci emailed 6/29/09
ON THE SURROUNDINGS
Bottega is a relaxing dining experience combines the beauty of Napa’s vineyards, with indoor or outdoor dining surrounded by the view of the mountains, vineyards and gardens that has a distinctively old-world European feel with an eclectic mix of the restaurant’s décor that makes it modern, inviting and now.
Photo: Botegga_Outdoor_Photo emailed 6/29/09
DID SOMEONE SAY THINLY SLICED?
Ah, they did. This special “secondi” at Bottega was a thinly sliced piece of boneless pork served Milanese style along with risotto. The risotto had a distinct taste of saffron and parmigiana and complimented the thin slice of Italian delight perfectly. The restaurant shops local and in season ingridients and creates daily specials to keep the menu fresh for local and visiting patrons like yourself who find themselves visiting again and again.
Photo: Milanese Emailed 6/29/09
CROUTONS AND SEAFOOD, OH MY
This is a photo of a bowl of Adriatic Seafood Brodetto served in a hand-crafted stone bowl made just for Bottega. An oversized local baked crouton touched with olive-oil (olive-oil is a theme found in most of Michael Chiarello’s dishes at Bottega) is topped with monkfish, mussels, rock cod, fresh and local Monterery calamari, forno-confit tomato broth that has the perfect consistency along with a light taste of saffron and paprika.
Photo: Bowl_Seafood_Soup
LET THEM EAT CAKE
Who needs cake when you are served up white French chocolate panna cotta at Michael Chiarello’s Bottega? Exactly. Here we see pictured a soft and dreamy panna cotta topped with rhubarb shaved and prepared two ways, rhubarb fritti and rhubarb pappardelle. We enjoyed a glass of sweet dessert wine from Italy called Birbet. Birbet is a ruby-red almost garnet colored wine that is soft and smooth. Bottega’s General Mangaer, Joel, shared with us that Birbet is grown on the hills to the left of the Tanaro River in Italy. The perfect finish to a perfect meal.
Photo: Rhubarb_Cake emailed 6/29/09
Photos from our 4 hour lunch. http://picasaweb.google.com/amandadawn777/BottegaByAmandaBesemerTravelExperienceWriter#
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Amanda/Bessie; all i can say is you sure know how to have fun, and write about it! I'm heading to Napa myself Oct 4 and I now have to change everything and follow in your footsteps! Well, not everything, just most of it, and we have 5 nights! Had trouble finding any, yet alone not too pricey (below $400), accomodations but we're staying at Cottage Grove Inn in Calistoga for a change of pace-close to the mud! Thx for a great report!
We've got reservations for Bottega tomorrow for lunch. I'm taking my sister for her birthday. Very excited.