The Wine Country

The Wine Country is a region of Northern California in the United States known worldwide as a premium wine-growing region. Viticulture and wine-making have been practiced in the region since the mid-19th century. There are over 400 wineries in the area north of San Francisco, mostly located in the area's valleys, including Napa Valley in Napa County, and the Sonoma Valley, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Bennett Valley, and Russian River Valley in Sonoma County. Wine grapes are also grown at higher elevations, such as Atlas Peak and Mount Veeder AVAs.The region is defined not only in terms of viticulture, but also its ecology, geology, architecture, cuisine, and culture. The majority of the grape harvest, in terms of both area and value, derives from Sonoma County.Communities associated with the Wine Country include Kenwood, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Santa Rosa, Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga, Geyserville, Petaluma, Sebastopol, Guerneville, historic Fort Ross and Ukiah.

Our first stop at a winery was at Raymond's in St. Helena, where 5 Generations of the Behringer & Raymond Family have been involved with the business going back to the 19th Century. Like the wine itself, winery visits and wine tastings ( A Whole Lotta Fun) are a big business and recreational activity out in California

THE VIEW FROM RAY'S PLACE

The Rhine House At St. Helena

The Town Of St. Helena Is In The Heart Of Napa Valley

It's a Picture Perfect town and when I read the plaque out front, I just had to take some photos of their Roosevelt Era Post Office.

notice the locomotive, airplane & ship carvings

James A. Farley was one of my Grandpa Jack Spooner's closest friends. I remember big Jim calling our house in Mastic Beach in the 1960's (he was president of Coca Cola then) to talk with Gramps. He was the head of the DNC when FDR first got elected and Roosevelt appointed him to Postmaster General in the 1930's.

MUMMs THE WORD

This place was huge with patios, tasting rooms and art gallery

CHEERS

The View From Mumm's Backyard

Many Winerys Have Music Connections, Present Concerts & Sell CDs

Carlo's guitar was not for sale however

OUR NEXT STOP WAS THE BALDACCI FAMILY VINEYARD

Baldacci had some of Anne's favorite wines & they sponsor some events that hit close to home

SATURDAY WAS A PERFECT DAY & THE SCENERY AROUND CLOS DU BOIS WINERY WAS INSPIRING

While I was outside snapping away, I struck up a conversation with a guy named Phil, who looked to be of my vintage and it turned out was from my home state and when I heard his accent I asked him what borough..."The Bronx" Phil replied ... My reaction was to exclaim "Belmont Ave and Dion" Turns out he knew all the Belmonts from high school and more, So we started talking music both old and new...The Brill Building etc. Phil manages the building in NYC where ASCAP (my performing rights org) is headquarted. Small world ... after all

HEADING UP TO FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA'S PLACE

I would need a panaromic camera to capture the entire building

STOMP

The kids were lined up to get their chance to dance on the grapes

THE SHIP MODELS FROM SOPHIA COPPOLA'S FILM MARIE ANTOINETTE

As I said on the Gearhead Page That Features His Tucker Automobile, Coppola's Winery Was A Combination Theme Park For His Movie Memorabila ,with stuff from The Godfather Trilogy, Tucker, Apocolypse Now, Dracula and more, combined with a Mega Merchandising Emporiom for Coppola Family wines, food products, books , apparel ...

Or As They Say In Tinsel Town

BLOCKBUSTER BOFFO BOXOFFICE !

THE WINE COUNTRY CONTINUES HERE