Blue cheese sauce, pancetta, shishito pepper, potato, parmesan. Happy hour $9
Carpe Diem Wine Bar, Napa CA
Mmm, this flatbread was delicious! I’m not totally sold on the addition of the shishito peppers though – they didn’t quite fit to me. The blue cheese sauce was yummy though and the other toppings worked well together.
Inkberry cabernet sauvignon. Happy hour $6
Prosciutto, salame, brillat savarin and other cheeses, grilled bread, candied walnuts, cornichons, fruit compote and mustard. Happy hour $10
Carpe Diem Wine Bar, Napa CA
This wasn’t the fanciest charcuterie board I’ve ever had, but it was certainly delicious. And at ten bucks, it was a fantastic value. I loved the brillat savarin (one of my favorite cheeses) and the grilled bread and other accompaniments were yummy.
Pol Clement brut. Happy hour $6
Tomatillo-pineapple puree, mango salsa, jicama and lime buttermilk. $28
Saltrock Southwest Kitchen, Sedona AZ
This swordfish was dry and overcooked, and overpriced at twenty-eight bucks. This lame dish matched their lame service. Good to know that they’re at least consistent.
Wines.
Succulent chopped Maine lobster tossed with aioli, tarragon and a hint of lime, served in Belgian endive leaves. $14
Rene at Tlaquepaque, Sedona AZ
This tasted good, but I wish that there was more lobster. It tasted more like filler and the lobster was chopped so finely. I wish it was kept chunkier so I could tell it was actually lobster.
4-item Build Your Own Flight. $16
With spicy corn relish, pineapple criolla and fresh made chips. $13
Mariposa, Sedona AZ
The menu description was misleading. “Guacamole trio” sounds like it’s supposed to be three kinds of guacamole, am I right? Anyway, this was till very tasty, but I wish that the tortilla chips weren’t so greasy.
Rose de malbec, 2014 Crios, Argentina. $8
2013 Chardonnay.
Napa Valley Tasting $20
Andretti Winery, Napa CA
I wasn’t really impressed by all the wine here, and the grounds were small and felt a bit cheesy.
2013 Sauvignon Blanc.
2012 Merlot.
Andretti Winery vineyard.
2013 Napa Valley Chardonnay. Reserve flight $25
Cosentino Winery, Yountville CA
The wine here was fun and varied. Although the outside wine tasting area was pleasant enough, it was still next to the main highway so it wasn’t the optimal location.
2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Franc.
2011 Cabernet Sauvignon – Barrel Select.
2012 Field Blend – Barrel Select.
Cosentino Winery.
Snake River Farm 16 oz veal chop served with spinach, marble potato and natural jus. $34
Farina, San Francisco CA
This was ok. Salty and gristly, but ok. I don’t like this place.
Conzorzio Vini Tipici de San Marino, Brugneto 2010. $14
Bow Wow tasting option.
Barrel Oak Winery, Delaplane VA
This was a very laid back and fun winery. There were lots of people just lounging and picnicking on the grounds. Although I wasn’t overly impressed by their wines, I did appreciate that they had a good variety of wines that were distinct in flavor profiles. And the guy who poured for us was super friendly.
Autumn foliage, Delaplane VA.
Tasting fee $7
Bluemont Vineyard, Bluemont VA
I don’t want to come off as a California wine snob, but I was not impressed by the wines in the northern Virginia region. Some of them were drinkable, but overall it lacked the complexity and depth that I’ve had from California wines.
Bluemont Vineyard.
Strawberries and blueberries. $5.95
KC Cafe, Washington DC
After a full day of sightseeing and walking everywhere, we decided to grab a quick snack at the Kennedy Center before catching the sunset from the rooftop. This fruit tart was pretty good and paired well with wine for a nice, relaxing break.
Red and white wines. Each $9
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
This winery grounds were ok, and the wines themselves were ok. Actually the wines weren’t up to the same standards as those in Sonoma and Napa. I actually skipped a few of the wines in the tasting because I got bored.
Sunset Hills Vineyard, Purcellville VA
Bluemont Vineyard, Bluemont VA.
Vittle Monster 