The vines are getting pretty close to going completely dormant this time of year, as many have lost most of their leaves and those that remain are brown and yellow.  Nonetheless, this changing of the seasons doesn’t diminish the beauty of the valley on this crisp weekend in early December as I find myself making a quick weekend jaunt to the land of wine, specifically to attend a class about preparing vines for next year’s bounty.

But, that, my friends, is just where the story begins.  Having just flown from the east coast the night before, I find myself wide awake at 5 am Saturday morning and thinking about some brekky.  Knowing I’ll be walking some vineyards most of the morning, I’ll want to eat something fairly substantial, if not also to help soak up the impending imbibing of gameday beer and, of course, wine that most certainly lies ahead.  With the sun soon just barely rising on the horizon I reach for Twitter to see who might be awake in the area and offer some recommendations of decent restaurants nearby.  Right away I am greeted with two responses naming Gillwood’s Cafe in St. Helena from @TrevR (not even a mile north of my motel) as well as Auberge de Soleil from @pmabray.  Paul, what were you doing up so early?  Having brought mainly casual pruning attire, it didn’t seem Auberge de Soleilwas going to work out, so Gillwood’s it was and it was perfect.  Nice little joint right on mainstreet St. Helena, where the locals were getting their day started.  The service was excellent and the coffee hot and fast.  Finally, I settled into some biscuits, gravy, eggs and hashbrowns that warmed my soul.

After some vineyard walking, pruning and meeting some great people learning about wine, I headed to Paul’s to watch the SEC championship game that really disappointed as my Gators went down to the better team that day.  Paul and his wife were gracious to invite me over to their house on a weekend day realizing I was flying solo in town for the day and for that I am gracious.  Finn was a treasure, with his dad’s social skills, not shy a bit.  Additionally, I got to meet Clay Wallin, also a Vintank partner, not once but twice!  Not to be realized until after he showed up at Paul’s, but he and I shared a chat in the checkout line at Trader Joe’s about Papaya of all things, being both south Florida boys.

The evening ended, or should I say started (?), after an awesome meal at the new Cantinetta Piero Italian restaurant in Yountville, with another set of tweets as some “old” friends made from way back in the summer at the Wine Blogger’s Conference invited me up to Calistoga for a tractor parade and them some late night wine.  Many thanks to Andrew (@winesoiree), Jill (@jilldever) and Marshall (@mcoffy) for hanging out and sharing some great wines and great stories.  There was much rejoicing in “storming the castle!”

It was a great ending to a full and wonderful day in Napa Valley and I owe it to recent and new sociable friends for being open, friendly and helpful.  That’s what it’s all about.