Sterling Winery, Culinary Institute and Jack London State Park – 9/22/2015

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The Best Wallet I have Ever Owned, highly recommend.

September 22, 2015 (Tuesday)

We had to be up and across the street at 8:30 AM.. Yuck. We were both sleeping so good and did not want to get up to go to the presentation but….we did (like I said yesterday, we’re weak). We enjoyed the breakfast (omelets, potatoes, fruit, muffins or croissants, coffee, juice). We also met “our guy” Hans. We ate our breakfast, sat through the presentation, then went with Hans to his private area. Hans was told up front we were there for the gift, we were here last month, etc., etc. He understood, answered our few questions, we talked and visited for awhile, then we got our gift and left. Quite painless and enjoyable this time. Don’t understand how they can keep doing this but….must work for them. Also, we found out something really nice about Worldmark Clear Lake. Seems they opened up their resort to the firefighters and the victims of the Valley Fire near Clear Lake. How nice is that?

We left the presentation, walked back across the street for a few minutes, then left. Today we took a beautiful drive to Calistoga, about a 25 mile drive but it takes about an hour due to the roads being so narrow and curvy.

I wanted to go out Mark West Springs Road, it is such pretty countryside.

The road curves, winds, climbs and drops. The overcast soon melted away.

There is even a transom that goes over the roadway.

Rugged hillsides with rugged fences to catch tumbling boulders.

Past the summit and dropping down into Calistoga.

The sugar builds and the bird netting goes around the plant.

We toured around the quaint little town of Calistoga and then headed out to Sterling Vineyards.

Michael had wanted to tour Sterling Vineyards as the last time he had been there it had been with his beloved Aunt Merle and Uncle Walter (from Tennessee, now both deceased). We got there and were pleased to see a “Before I Die” blackboard posted outside. Love those things. Michael and I had so many things we wanted to do before we died, so we decided we just couldn’t die because they didn’t have enough spots to put all we wanted to do. We got up to the window to get our tickets and Michael told me to be prepared. I was thinking $15.00. Michael had said when he was here the tickets were $8.00. Must have been a hundred years ago because the price was now $29.00 per ticket. To be fully disclosing, however, the price included the tram up to the winery, four pourings of different types of wine, and a complimentary wine glass each. We grumbled but got the tickets.

The tram ride up was beautiful and scary. It was an almost perfect day weather wise, not windy or too cold or too hot. We were greeted near the tram exit by some ladies who gave us our complimentary wine glasses and poured us some wine (and explained about the wine she was pouring).

I knew she was taking the picture, I could have sworn I had a big smile on my face. I was really trying to smile.

On the gondola, headed up, over a water feature.

These are so nice on hot days. As you walk by the mist cools you right down.

We walked and followed the signs for the tour, which took us to an area where we got to watch a bunch of employees hard at work. We were lucky in that this is their peak season and they are picking the grapes and processing them. Was very interesting to see how they crush the grapes and put them into and then took them out of the containers. We then went and saw the wine barrels in action. Along the way we got to taste three more varieties of wine.

One of these bells comes from London and was part of a church dating back to the 1700s. The church was bombed in WWII and the bell moved here in the 1960s. — One of these bells comes from London and was part of a church dating back to the 1700’s. The church was bombed in WWII and the bell moved here in the 1960’s.

Second sampling. Which led to a discussion of the movie Sideways and how it killed Merlot for several years.. — Second sampling. Which led to a discussion of the movie “Sideways” and how it killed Merlot for several years..

Overlooking the work area. Harvest is underway.

Ageing room, there can't be many oak trees left in France. — Ageing room, there can’t be many oak trees left in France.

We ended up at a lovely patio area that overlooked the valley. Stunningly beautiful. We sat there for a bit (to sober up for driving) and visited with a group from back East somewhere (Iowa I think).

Fourth and final tasting, Edie's favorite, the sweet dessert. — Fourth and final tasting, Edie’s favorite, the sweet dessert.

Napa Valley is roughly 1 to 4 miles wide and 30 miles long. It is a powerhouse of production.

The Valley gets over 4.5 million visitors a year, no wonder they charge for the tastings.

We took the tram back down and headed out. We wanted to hit a few other wineries and then have lunch in Calistoga. We also wanted to see the old Christian Brothers Winery (monastery) that is now the Culinary Institute of America.

I wanted to stop in at one of my old favorites, the former Christian Brothers winery. I knew it was a cooking school and was sad for it.

Okay, not just any cooking school. The Culinary Institute of America (CIA). We decided to have lunch here.

We changed our mind and wanted to have lunch there instead. Never seen so many chefs in my life. We went into the cafe and placed our order – we ordered a shaved brussel sprout, feta, chicken, and apple salad, along with a chicken sandwich. (We also got two wonderful desserts.) We split and they were wonderful. Never had a brussel sprout type salad but it was interesting and delicious. After we ate, we went into their kitchen store and enjoyed all the different and fun kitchen items.

Only the cafe was open, we promised ourselves to come back for dinner.

It is cavernous inside, with steel supports in many locations.

Lots of important chef types walking around.

This salad started out slow but really grew on me. It had a lot of shaved Brussel sprouts, candied pecans, chicken and a very light dressing. A+ I ate a little over half. — This salad started out slow but really grew on me. It had a lot of shaved brussel sprouts, candied pecans, chicken and a very light dressing. A+ I ate a little over half.

After Edie was done I got half a pickle and half a sandwich, It was excellent, every thing was perfect, very delicious.

We each ate half of both. The fig dessert was Edie's favorite and the chocolate creation was mine. They were both melt in your mouth wonderful. — We each ate half of both. The fig dessert was Edie’s favorite and the chocolate creation was mine. They were both melt in your mouth wonderful.

I really liked the granite and stainless steel motif in the cafe.

Can't wait to see the restaurant next visit. — Can’t wait to see the restaurant next visit.

They have a very reasonably price gift shop in here. Edie bought a spatula she liked. — They have a very reasonably priced gift shop in here. Edie bought a spatula she liked.

The old Christian Brothers Winery is absolutely beautiful. Sad that the monks couldn’t keep it going after the 1989 earthquake. So glad, though, that the Culinary Institute of America was able to take it over and get it up and running again. Also, the Culinary Institute of America has “boot camps” for ordinary people to go and learn different cooking techniques. Might be fun to do one day. (Just looked at their brochure and it’s quite expensive – almost $2,000.00 for a class.)

I got to talking to a receptionist and found out that the winery was closed after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. There had been so much structural damage that it was condemed and the Christian Brothers could not afford to do the repairs. The CIA then came to the rescue and invested the millions to retrofit the entire structure with steel supports and pump in and fill all the cavities and cracks with mortar. — I got to talking to a receptionist and found out that the winery was closed after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. There had been so much structural damage that it was condemned and the Christian Brothers could not afford to do the repairs. The CIA then came to the rescue and invested the millions to retrofit the entire structure with steel supports and pump in and fill all the cavities and cracks with mortar.

They have a huge collection of corkscrews.

I decided I am glad the CIA took it over.

We left and drove around some more, stopping at Beringer Winery to do a tour. When we got to the visitor center and saw the tour was $30.00 a person, we decided not to do the tour, we were done. So expensive. At that point we didn’t grouse so much about the Sterling Vineyard tour as it at least included the tram ride up to the winery and a wine glass. Boy we’re getting old because we can remember when wine tasting was FREE!

Headed into Beringer Brothers. — Headed into Beringer Winery.

Beautiful grounds and a great old mansion.

30 years ago we went in here for free wine tasting.

Now you go to the tour center and they want $30 a head. Gosh, at Safeway we buy 6 or more and the White Zin is $4 a bottle. — Now you go to the tour center and they want $30 a head. Gosh, at Safeway we buy 6 or more and the white zin is $4 a bottle.

We decided enough for today and headed out.

We drove a really narrow and curvy road back towards Windsor, but stopped at Jack London State Park, near Glen Ellen. Michael wanted to show me Wolf House, the house where Jack London built but right before he was due to move in, it burned down.

We cut over on the Oakville grade road. Interesting things along the way. — We cut over on the Oakville Grade Road. Interesting things along the way.

The house was supposed to be fire resistant. Poor guy died a few years after the house burned down and he never rebuilt. The house was built in 1916 for around $50,000.00 (a lot of money in those days). It was something like 15,000 square feet and had nine fireplaces. It was about a a mile walk to the house and back, but we stopped at the museum first.

The house Charmian built after Jack's death. She lived out her days here and it is now the museum. — The house Charmian London built after Jack’s death. She lived out her days here and it is now the museum.

Dinning room for the widow and guests. — Dining room for the widow and guests.

Trail leading down to Wolf house. — Trail leading down to Wolf House.

Interesting mural on an out building on the way.

It was a 15,000 square foot mansion. Built to be fire resistant out of lava rocks and redwood logs with the bark left on.

16 rooms, 9 fireplaces and running hot water was quite the deal in 1913.

It was completed and burned to the ground a week before the London's were to move into the new home. — It was completed and burned to the ground a week before the London’s were to move into the new home.

You can see it would have been wonderful.

Pretty woman checking out the view. At the time of construction it had a commanding view of the valley of the moon, 102 years later, not so much.

Such a beautiful fireplace, that never had a fire and was lost to fire.

I wish I were touring it like Hearst Castle, intact.

He drank a lot, picked up up some tropical diseases and was on morphine and may have accidentally overdosed.

It is a little bit of a hike to get up to it.

Husbands and wife's ashes are beneath this rock, which came from Wolf House. — Husband and wife ashes are beneath this rock, which came from Wolf House.

Jack London bought the ranch from the Greenlaw family. Sadly, tow of their kids died very young and were buried here. — Jack London bought the ranch from the Greenlaw family. Sadly, two of their children died very young and were buried here.

A striking Madrone tree. — A striking madrone tree.

They are lovely paths down to the Wolf house and back up to the Museum and parking lot. — They are lovely paths down to the Wolf House and back up to the museum and parking lot.

The walk to Wolf House was lovely. After we left the Wolf House area, we went over to the other side of the park to explore. By this time it was getting late and the park was almost ready to close so we left.

We are not that far from Annadal. It was a nice drive home. — We are not that far from Annadel. It was a nice drive home.

We drove back to the resort and went into the hot tub. Nice. After that it was all about the NCIS premiere and going to bed early since we had to get up early this morning. That was our day. Hope yours was great!