pretty by the bay

Reason #1218 I love living in San Francisco: Proximity to wine country. Zip across the Golden Gate Bridge and you’ll find yourself in a completely different world, a place that is simultaneously upscale and rustic, fancy and familiar. In many ways, Sonoma and Napa remind me of North Carolina – but with a better beverage selection!

The best part of any wine country trip is discovering new wineries that are destined to become old favorites. I found two such wineries this weekend, when I headed to Sonoma for a special tour and tasting arranged for a group of fellow food bloggers/wine enthusiasts. First stop: Matanzas Creek, which won my heart with their velvety ’07 Bennett Valley Pinot Noir and ’06 Bennett Valley Merlot. I’m by no means a wine expert, but I gravitate toward those that are smooth, affordable and delicious enough to drink with a meal or on their own. Both of these fit the bill!

Our group also had the pleasure of sampling a wine normally reserved for Wine Club members – the ’07 Journey Chardonnay. It was delicious on its own, but phenomenal when paired with the Humboldt Fog goat cheese provided by our host. (Susan Y., I thought of you!)

Matanzas Creek is dangerously close to my house…it took less than an hour to drive there from San Francisco. I will definitely be back to enjoy their great wines and their lavender garden, which would be stunning (and fragrant) on a beautiful summer day!

Next stop: Arrowood. Wine with a view? Yes please!

My duties as designated driver forced me to sip a bit less at Arrowood, but I loved the atmosphere. We enjoyed our tasting on their outdoor patio, and there is nothing more peaceful than sipping wine on a beautiful Northern California day. The syrah was definitely my favorite.

My blogspirations, left to right: Jenna, Tina, Meghann and Kath. So fun to hang out with fellow foodies (even if most of them were born in the 80s…where the 30+ food bloggers at?!).

As much as I love wine, I can’t drink it on an empty stomach. We headed to the town of Sonoma for an early dinner at the girl & the fig. We started with marinated olives and an array of appetizers, the highlight of which was crispy pork belly with caramelized apple. When I arrive at heaven’s pearly gates, I hope to be welcomed with a tray of crispy pork belly. It is THAT good.

(Thanks to Adam for the fabulous pork belly photo…my camera could not do it justice!)

The restaurant’s tag line is “country food with a French passion,” so I wanted my entree to be wholeheartedly French. I selected the quiche and after the first bite, I’m pretty sure I announced that I wanted to make love to the plate. This was unlike any quiche I’ve ever had. The filling was almost mousselike – creamy and smooth. It was really special and I’m glad I ordered it.

To make the most of our time in Sonoma, we headed to a second restaurant for dessert. El Dorado Kitchen is located across the street from the girl & the fig, and the desserts were nothing short of amazing. (Thanks once again to Adam for capturing these two pics with his fancy schmancy camera!)  Hands down, my favorite dessert was the Chocolate S’mores Tart with vanilla ice cream…but I also snagged a bite of pumpkin pie.

This day trip was a perfect way to unwind after a hectic month of work travel and special events. Thanks to my fellow bloggers for inviting me along for the ride! I’ll be back in wine country next month for my – gasp! – tenth wedding anniversary…certainly an occasion worth raising a glass for!