POST CARD FROM NAPA

May 2004

     Spring time in the Napa Valley is awe-inspiring.  Flowers are everywhere.  Roses are sometimes planted at the end of the rows of grapes, and their colors are illuminated against the backdrop of lush green grape leaves.  Today was slightly humid and overcast in the morning, but not cold.  The scent of flowers hung in the air, similar to a cool day in the tropics.  It was a good day to be in Napa.

     Working at Laird Family Estate Winery, a winemaking home to several boutique wine brands including the Lairds, gives me a rare chance to become acquainted with many wine makers. Within the past few days I have talked to and tasted wine with Mia Klein, Peter Franus, and Paul Hobbs.   That is not to mention Michael Chiarello.  Maybe you have heard of him.  He was chef at Tra Vigne Restaurant  up in St. Helena during the early years, putting it on the culinary map.  Tra Vigne was a must stop back in the early 1990's, and it is still very nice. 

     Michael has since become a TV celebrity chef, with his show Napa Style.  He has begun making his own brand of wine at Laird.  To celebrate his new releases, Michael hosted a party at the winery.  It was held on a gorgeous Saturday.  Michael was cooking, drawing wine from barrels for people to sample, autographing cookbooks, sampling wine himself, and directing the taping for his show!   Attendees were invited through Michael's mailing list.  The food was marvelous, perfect cuisine for the outdoor gathering.  Grilled sausages, designer mustards, oils and sauces, salads, marvelous artisan breads, you get the picture. 

     My favorite wine of the day was the Chiarello Gianna 2002 Zinfandel Napa Valley.  Be careful, the alcohol content is 15.5%.  But the fruit stands up to it, making it remarkably balanced.  It was divine with the sausage.  Michael's wines are available on line or in several retail wine shops.  The name Gianna is for Michael's daughter.  He also has an "Eileen" Cabernet Sauvignon, named for his charming wife. 

The people at the party were all big fans of Michael Chiarello, and it was a festive, colorful, aromatic party. 

     Speaking of nice outdoor eating and drinking, my sister from Washington was visiting last week.  She enjoys good food and wine, and I hosted her and my brother for a lunch on my deck.  It was beautiful. 

     I am lucky to live among vineyards, large old pine and walnut trees, and many types of flowers.  The lunch was near the pool.  We had sandwiches on large soft rolls.  I had purchased some great deli sliced honey ham, roast turkey, pastrami, and some swiss and cheddar cheeses.  The deli had some scrumptous salads, and I chose a potato salad with bacon and blue cheese, and a pasta salad with artichoke hearts.  For dessert I made strawberry shortcake.  The sweet whipped cream with the fresh berries was an unbelievable combination.

     My sister Patricia loves most all red wines, and she absolutely fell in love with the Laird Dyer Ranch Syrah 2001.  I told her it scored 91 points in the Wine Spectator, and she said it should have been higher. She took some home with her.  It as been a nice couple of weeks here in Napa.  Come visit soon.