Wine tasting is an under estimated sport

My wife told me and I do agree after the latest days in California, wine tasting is an under estimated sport. Wonder how I will value it when I am finished with these 3 weeks at 5 different wine areas.

Today we had plans, but due to we was early we wanted to have a look at the local scenery. From Solvang we hit the coast road one as well 246 down to the beach. Amazing to see the difference in nature, agricultural work and the beach for surfers, way back we intended to hit two wineries we did not find. So other was chosen.

In the area we know what we will see and what we just take as it comes and today it turned up with a bit of both.

Melville Vineyard was the first we ended up with, not planed but great wine, so was Foley, both along road 246, not so easy to find, but when we got there, you will have our recommendation tomorrow for what we tasted.

Than we chased the Mosby, and it was “HARD” to find, but when we got there we loved it, great wine and great restroom.

It one of the hidden treasures of the valley, that we will have shipped wine is for sure, and what we brought with us home was the local grappa. One of their wines is named of our special city in Tuscany, Lucca, so could we resist this place?

No, we could not. It was a simple nice home with a tasting room to our like. I am sure my friend Paolo will now Bill, and I am sure I will tell Bill where to go and if he do not know my favorite dinner place in Lucca I will show him. All that know me knows Gli Orti Via Elisa (www.ristorantegliorti.it) is the place and to stay at Hotel Ilaria (www.hotelilaria.com).

That we at the tasting room also found a picture on the wall the same as we have in our living room in Stavanger made in unique, and so did their restroom.

It was hard to take pictures but the place is worth visiting just for the restroom.

Finished our out of town adventure we went back to the Greenhouse to have lunch with delouses Danish bread and Herring

before we turned our so up and going nose to the Mandolina tasting room. Reason was that they focused on Italian wine and as well made wine from the Malvasi grapes. We ended up with buying 12 bottles.

A split of Malvasi, Sagniovese, Rosé, and a blend. Picking up at Saturday when we head for the next stop. We became a member of their wine club, so what we was told than was that we could do wine tasting at their sister company, Lucas & Levellen for free, and sure we did.

Needed to be a bit care full, we needed to get back to the hotel for dinner, but we had great conversation with people around, some from Corona next to Temecula and some from San Antonio.

What great fun it was, so I will say again, wine tasting is an under estimated sport.