Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi - January 2010

My friend Paul Houston and I met up with our mutual friend Paul Heckman in Sacramento and decided to visit the wineries in the area. Sacramento is in wine country and we visited wineries in Sonoma, Napa and Lodi counties. While we visited some of our favorite established wineries we also made it a point to visit some of the boutique wineries in the region and came away with some wines that were simply some of the best we've ever had. Not many photos to show, however, because of the rain the came and went as we went about our visits.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
Sonoma Valley. It had rained early in the morning and the sun was just beginning to creep through.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
These hills reminded me of Ireland especially with the rock wall.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
Paul and Paul doing a bit of wine tasting at the Viansa Winery.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
Part of the Viansa Winery vinyards.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
The backyard of the Viansa Winery. The sculpture of the two ducks makes it look as if the ducks are headed for a landing in the wetlands in the background.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
The outside sitting area at the rear of the Viansa Winery.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
Inside the Viansa Winery.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
The grounds of the Viansa Winery. The statute of the boar is an exact duplicate of the one found in the flea market in Florence, Italy.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
The Viansa Winery.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
The central square in the city of Sonoma where we went to have lunch.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
Paul picked up the bill for lunch. I took a photo of this event to show proof to our friend Sam. No doubt Sam will argue that it was manipulated in Photoshop.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
The Gundlach Bundschu lake.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
Two geese on the Gundlach Bundschu lake.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
Looking towards the Sebastiani Theater. We ate at a bistro located in the red building at the leftmost portion of this photo.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
I found the moss growing on the trees truly beautiful. I wonder if it has a negative effect on the tree?
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
This tree has seen many a year.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
The grounds at Gundlach Bundschu Winery.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
The entrance to the cave where the Gundlach Bundschu Winery stores its wine.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
The Gundlach Bundschu Winery entrance.
Sonoma, Napa, and Lodi
The Bartholomew Park Winery has a section dedicated to providing a history of wine making in California.