Italian Dinner in Paso Robles at Buona Tavola

As we headed home from a day of drinking, er we mean tasting in the Templeton Gap area we decided to stop for dinner. The first real restaurant we came to on the left as we came into Paso Robles was  Buona Tavola and we thought, why not! Great choice, and although we were early (15min before they opened) we were welcomed in and seated. As we perused the wine list we engaged the staff in a wine discussion and took their suggestion and had a nice Super Tuscan to go with dinner (excellent suggestion). While discussing the day of great wine finds an appetizer plate was ordered. A collection of three different types of Alle Pia Salumi and prosciutto with cheeses and dips oh my, it was fantastic, as were the artisan breads and the delicious olivata spread (way to easy to make a meal of).

Two orders of the prosciutto wrapped Fillet Mignon special, a salmon special and pumpkin tortellini were consumed. The food tasted excellent, was well presented and delivered in a timely manner. A Crema Di Vaniglia Della Buona Tavola desert with extra spoons, a Cappuccino and some Limoncello finished off a great meal.

Opening in 1992, Buona Tavola (meaning "good table") was serving fine Northern Italian food in San Luis Obispo and ten years later Antonio Varia opened the Paso Robles Restaurant. They also do cuisine for off site events, such as weddings, wine dinners and private parties.

We will be back to eat here again that’s for sure!

We  give Buona Tavola a hearty Recommend as one of the best restaurants in Paso Robles.

So head on in and order up some great tucker an tell em the blokes from downunder at WineWalkabout sent you!

Happy Dinning Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Taking flight at Uluru & Kata Tjuta, Australia

Its 3deg Celsius outside, the sun has yet to come up and I am on holiday, when the alarm goes off sounding like a couple of cat’s in heat. Like a trained ninja I leap out of bed to deal with the..... oh yeah that’s what that was, an alarm clock. Then slowly realize this is the big day, and I start getting ready for an amazing Adventure. What is the adventure at hand on this cold and clear morning in the center of Australia you ask? It’s a scenic flight to and around Uluru & Kata Tjuta  (formerly and or commonly known as Ayers Rock and the Olgas, might still be). If you ever have the chance to go there, don’t hesitate as nothing can prepare you for what you will see.

As I drive up to the airport in the morning glow I must admit to being a little unsettled by the 12yr old that is to pilot the aircraft. Ok, he was not 12, but he was very young. Or is that the perspective of one not as young anymore? You’re not getting any younger either! Turns out he was a fantastic pilot. He was well trained and quite seasoned with a great touch for flying the plane.

As we start to lift off, the sun is starting to peek over the horizon and it’s not long before the massive red sandstone monolith is coming into view, as we, and the sun gain altitude. Just as at sunset the rock shows many different characters and colours as the light changes. The colors in the morning are a little different than the sunset, so make sure to do them both. The sheer beauty of this view is amazing. Both Uluru & Kata Tjuta are spectacular places to see and experience either on foot or by aircraft. I would suggest that you do both!

The views from the plane were incredible and the perspective you get is just breathtaking.

WineWalkabout rates this a Must do.

Tell em we sent you!

 

Happy Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Justin Vineyards and Winery

What can one say about a Justin Vineyards & Winery Wine Society Gala that has probably not already been said? For about $20 one got to wander all over the facility including the caves and Isosceles room and taste all of Justin’s wines (and drink Fiji water).  We were also able to snack on a variety of cheeses at the various pouring stations.
If that was not enough there were three different food stations serving up lunch from pulled pork sandwiches to turkey wraps and caprese sandwiches.
Plus there was a band to help you digest all of that.  I think Kiwi ate and drank through his $20 in the first five minutes.  KIWI!!!  There was also a sister winery (Justin wine club discounts apply) pouring their wine. Landmark Wines were pouring their 2010 Overlook Chardonnay, Grand Detour Pinot Noir and Kivelstadt Syrah. Given the nature of the event perhaps not the best place to be serving your wine. IT probably sounded like a good idea at corporate headquarters.

Getting a good taste of an ISOSCELES Reserve is not an easy thing to get. Kiwi is especially stingy with his collection.  At this event we were served the 2009 prior to it being shipped to the Wine Society members who opted to receive the Isosceles Reserve (this requires being on a waiting list for some time). Not just a taste but a good sized taste.  OK a small glass of any and all of Justin’s wines. As it turns out we did not realize exactly how big the tastes were until we discovered that the glass we were given to taste with would hold over a 750 ml bottle of wine! Don’t ask exactly how this was discovered!  KOALA!!!

The event was well attended and with only minor exceptions did not feel crowded. You could have made this an all day event starting at 11 and going till 4. Once your tasting was done you could buy glasses of any Justin wine for $5 (except Isosceles Reserve). Again a great deal!

This is a fairdinkum value event and an opportunity to visit a great facility and taste some exclusive wines while being fed and entertained. Crikey it doesn’t get much better than that. All of the Justin wines were excellent in our view, especially the reds, and even though caving to the major corporate dollars of Fiji water, Justin still has managed to maintain its local operational feel.  Time will tell but for now a great place to go and enjoy good and excellent wine.

Tasting Regards,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

The Wine Glass

While rinsing out a used up Vegemite jar, it occurred to me that there was a time, when once all the wonderful Vegemite was gone, this vessel would now be considered a viable beverage container. Not just for milk or juice or cordial, but also for beer, bourbon or wine.
 We know, we can hear the global collective gasp of drinking ponce’s everywhere particularly the wine ponce. Maybe wine from this era gone by, was more easy going and did not need to be served in the 'just so' perfect type of specialty glassware for each and every type and style of wine. Maybe science has targeted the humble container for our drinking pleasure. Or maybe this is just a huge marketing ploy! One company makes over twelve different styles of glassware, for two hundred and fifty or so different styles of wines, brandies and cognacs!

Bloody Nora, we don’t know about you, but we feel that someone’s got a few roo’s loose in the upper paddock if they feel the need for ten percent of this many glasses. Fair dinkum, this has overkill written all over it. Now we at WineWalkabout have been accused of being glassware snobs ourselves, and in some ways we probably are. But to have even a single glass type for the six most common wines consumed could lead to some financial and storage issues. Think about it. Doing a vertical of three vintages with four people requires twelve glasses. We think a good versatile set of twelve is a minimum. But if you need that for say as few as a half dozen varietals you’re in trouble. Do the math, that’s six dozen glasses or seventy two for you more literal folks. That's a lot of stemware!

So more to the point of one’s ability to purchase and store this mass of glassware, is do they make a difference and do you really need them? We are strong believers that an appropriate glass makes for better wine enjoyment. But we start to get a bit sus of the every glass is fine tuned to every grape. With the possible, and we stress, possible exception of the super human detecting abilities of some well trained Master Sommeliers whereas the rest of us mortals would truly struggle to detect any real difference. The second part of that is even if there is a difference, do you need to have it? Is it better or is it just a bit different?

We’re guessing almost everyone’s parents or grandparents have some heavy cut crystal wine goblets. This all started to change in the late fifties when Mr. Riedel started to produce glasses that were thin-blown and unadorned. They reduced the design to its essence: Bowl, stem, base. They made stemware which was functional as well as beautiful, and made it according to the Bauhaus design principle: form follows function. This was the start of what has today become, we believe, a little bit more of a marketing exercise than a form and function one.

Now we do admit that the style and shape of a wine glass does affect the detection of aroma and taste, and that perhaps, for the serious drinker, some amount of balance is in order. We also think that generally for us average Blokes and Sheilas, two sets are probably more than enough, with perhaps a set for sparkling.

Choosing a wine glass has gotten to be more complicated than knowing which fork to use at a fancy dinner soiree. While there are many different kinds of glasses for many different kinds of wine; flutes for sparkling, small glasses for dessert wine, and that multitude that deliver specific wines best to specific taste buds and so on. The one thing that is for sure is everyone needs a good, solid, everyday glass to use for both reds and whites without thinking about it. You know, the kind of stemware you just reach for from the cupboard without a thought when you come home after a long day. That’s what we were looking for.

We are glass snobs to a point. We know it because we hate those six ounce thick rimed glass’s that show up on your table full to the brim. There are not too many things that are more likely to get us all sarcastic and snarky than to take a couple top notch special bottles to a restaurant for dinner and get a glass you may put juice in. All thick rimmed and orange shaped. Yes we will, and have, asked for new glassware! (ponces!) If you don't have any we wont be back...

We feel that a nice thin rimmed fourteen to eighteen ounce glass of perhaps a Bordeaux style would fit the bill (sorry vegemite jar). Then if you wish perhaps a set of something that is a bit more specific to the wines you drink most or for special occasions, or simply to impress those poncy wine friends you should have them.

So look, we have been tossing our opinion about when basically it’s whatever you’re comfortable and happy with that allows you to enjoy your wine. So enjoy that washed out vegemite jar or your $125, thirty seven ounce Burgundy Grand Cru glass and don’t worry about us opinionated glass ponces!

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

In pert duex, we will look at stem-less glass ware and other options. We will also look at the appropriate way to take care of glassware.

THE 2012 WHAR WOLF RESCUE AND BBQ

Kiwi and Koala had such a great time at Wolf Cellars with the amazing Whar Wolves that we could not help trying to help.

Kiwi & Koala


THE 2012 WHAR WOLF RESCUE AND BBQ WILL BE SAT SEPT 29 FROM  10 AM TO 4PM
AT 2445 ADOBE RD PASO ROBLES CA, ACROSS FROM " ZOO TO YOU" COMPOUND

FEATURES:  THE EVENT WILL ALSO BE THE KICK OFF OF THE 2013 WHAR WOLF PHOTO CONTEST (DETAIL AT FACEBOOK: WHAR WOLF RESCUE) BBQ BEGINS AT 11A, FOLLOWED BY LIVE AND SILENT AUCTION ALL DAY. DOOR PRIZE TO BE GIVEN AWAY. INTERACTION WITH THE WOLVES ALL DAY. ALL AGES WELCOME, BRING THE FAMILY, SORRY NO DOGS.  YUMMY FRESH BAKED GOODS WILL ALSO BE ON SALE THROUGHOUT THE EVENT. SURE TO BE AN EXCITING DAY OF FUR AND FUN, AND FUNDRAISING. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU. GREY WOLF WINE TO BE AUCTIONED AT EVENT ALONG WITH OTHER QUALTIY ITEMS SUCH AS A NUMBERED WOLF PLATE COLLECTION MATCHING CASE AND FULL SET, VARIOUS WOLF AND OUT DOOR ART, WOLF FOUNTAIN, AND MORE.

MORE INFO BY CALLING 805.610.6109 OR GENERAL INFO ON THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AT WWW.WHAR .ORG

MANY HOWLS,  HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

KRISTI KRUTSIGER
AND JOHN SHAW

Kiwi and Koalas WW

This week’s WW is a slightly fizzy little drop from Italy by Il Conte D'Alba and sold here in the USA by San Antonio Winery. It’s a Moscato D’Asti made in Piemonte.
Moscato d' Asti is made from the Moscato di Canelli grape from the Piedmont region of Italy. Fresh and delicate and a little bit sweet. It has good acidity and a light fizz that gives balance to that slight sweetness. Great as an aperitif or with light meals and has a nice refreshing taste with a clean finish. Now Koala is not much of a sweet wine kind of guy but this was very enjoyable and scores 6+ and ****. (under $10 bottle, brilliant, getting more) With summer in full swing this is a great drop to have on hand. Go on give it a go!

Happy Tasting Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Paso Robles Inn

The Paso Robles Inn has been a landmark and an icon of Paso Robles for well over a century. Located in probably the most ideal spot to stay in Paso Robles, it provides easy walking (5 min) access to wine tasting rooms and wine bars, eateries and ice-cream shops as well as some fantastic restaurants, boutique shops, and much more. Surrounded by over 220 wineries in the Paso Robles wine region, the Paso Robles Inn is the perfect place for launching a wine tasting Adventure, which just so happens to be why we were there. Oh and eating.

Koala even got the all the healing powers of the thermal waters with a private hot springs tub in a Deluxe Spa Room. Something much needed with the daily abuse poor Koala’s body (liver) takes.  These are the famous sulfur springs that put Paso on the map in the late 1800’s and one of the things the Inn is known for. You fill the hot tub with hot sulfur spring water and fill the air with the aroma of, yes that’s it, sulfur (rotten eggs). Thank goodness the Inn has some more pleasing aroma liquid to put in the water so not only your body but also your nose can relax and enjoy.

Check in was easy and the staff were friendly and efficient and came through later with some minor personal items that were left at home! The rooms have some variety from simple old style (but relatively new) decor in small comfortable rooms to the more palatial (OK maybe not “palatial” but large well appointed suites) and they even have some dog friendly rooms for those that can’t leave their four legged child Fifi at home.  The rooms are equipped with hair driers, irons, a small fridge, microwave and coffee maker.  All the comforts of home.  Well, at least your first apartment.

To quote the Inn “A full-service destination, the Inn features an outdoor heated pool and spa, spa services, complimentary Wi-Fi, a premier Steakhouse, our historic Cattlemen’s Lounge, and a 1940s diner-style Coffee Shop”. They also have facilities for weddings and events, with a beautifully restored Grand Ballroom as well as several other meeting rooms and an executive boardroom (whatever that is).

Koala wandered the grounds on the first morning and really enjoyed the beautiful setting with Koi ponds and grass areas with big beautiful oak trees and various assorted other trees and gardens while sipping on his tea. A very very nice place to wander.  Kiwi’s room was adjacent to the pool(s) and made a nice spot to sit with a cup of coffee in the mornings.

 

As is usual for a Kiwi and Koala Adventure things never go as planned and some rooms needed to be vacated and extra rooms need to be accounted for on the second day.  The staff at the Inn were very accommodating and  helped our fuzzy heads to solve our dilemma in a matter of minutes.  Well done!

Historical Photo

The group ate breakfast both mornings at the Inn’s 1940s diner-style Coffee Shop” in preparation for our adventures and all meals were well priced and enjoyed by all.
Not many places can give you the location, the comforts, the conveniences and such an incredible sense of history and place as the Paso Robles Inn.

All in all a great place to stay in Paso Robles but make sure to book early as there are many events in the area and the Inn books out. Kiwi and Koala give it a Recommend!

Tell em Kiwi and Koala sent you!

 

Happy staying,

Cheers,

Kiwi & Koala

 

 

Creekside B&B in Paso Robles

There are a number of reasons the Creekside B&B of Lynne and Dave Teckman was a wonderful first class experience. Fantastic room service, like breakfast delivered to our room, personalized tasting of their wines, complimentary bottle of wine (choice of red or white Rhone blend). Their well appointed and comfortable rooms with a gas log fireplace, well equipped kitchenette, full-sized coffee maker, quality coffee beans, coffee grinder, bottled water, plenty of wine-oriented reading material in room.

The room was super cozy, had everything we needed and very comfortable. The place is secluded, yet centralized to a significant number of Paso Robles wine country locations. The delivered to the room breakfast was very generous and we were well fed for a day of wine tasting. Lynne and Dave Teckman were gracious, welcoming, and non-intrusive. We look forward to returning for a longer stay so as to truly relax in this great getaway spot. A definite recommend! With only two rooms you will need to book early.

Tell em Kiwi and Koala sent you!

Happy staying and tasting Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Pithy Little Wine Company Paso Robles

Not your average tasting room and not you’re average tasting. The Pithy Little Wine Company. This cute little storefront just off the main square in downtown Paso was just the ticket for entertaining our ‘a little tired of wine tasting’ company and, us! Who would ever get tired of wine tasting you ask. We know, and we didn’t want them pithed off! So as we wandered around the park in Paso Robles on a non wine tasting jaunt and were making our way around the block, the sign for The Pithy Little Wine Company came into view. We could not just walk by this inviting establishment. The girls were excited for some tasting and quickly selected the popcorn pairing. Popcorn pairing with wine you ask? No remember they were “a little tired of wine tasting”. No, popcorn and soda.  Yes you read that correctly, soda. The significant others really enjoyed the experience and Kiwi and Koala banked good brownie points. While the girls were enjoying their soda and popcorn tasting experience Kiwi and Koala managed to sneak in some more wine tasting. Koala loved this label and name “Elephant in the Room” a blend of 15% Grenache, 65% Syrah and 20% Viognier a solid 6 and *** on the official scale and also purchased a bottle for himself. Good stuff.

The Pithy Little Wine Co. Is also a good place to source custom labels for weddings and other events as well as eating and drinking accessories and accoutrements . Quite impressive stuff here so check it out and tell em Kiwi and Koala sent you!

Happy Travel Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Kiwi and Koalas WW

The wine that came to the top this last week for the WW is a Chianti from Frescobaldi. Their 2007 Riserva Nipozzano Chianti Rufina is a nicely balanced easy drinking wine. Deep purple red color with a bit of a floral nose but with nice dark berry and fruit and a little rasberry. Nice soft finish with a hint of spice and a touch of vanilla coming through. Koala recons a 7 and ****. A great wine for a variety of meat dishes and red sauce pastas. Selected as this last week’s WW because it was just so enjoyable to drink but at around $25 still a reasonable price.

Happy Tasting Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Shale Oak Winery Paso Robles

Let’s talk green. No, not the flavor or the color, but the practice. Shale Oak Winery is making a massive effort to be as green as possible, not only in their vineyard and winemaking practice but also with their tasting room facility. Actually sustainable is really the appropriate description. Using recycled materials and tons of natural light with gravity ventilation and huge water capture capacity they have been very successful. With modern, 60’s modern (think “The Jetsons”) and Euro chic style blended together this place is immediately interesting and engaging. With a number of outside areas for relaxing or picnicking while enjoying some Shale Oak wine this is a very nice facility. Oh yeah about the wine. Go get some! Seriously some lovely wines made here.

We were distracted on our way into the tasting room by the amazingly comfortable wine barrel furniture just outside the entrance and kind of got stuck there for a bit just enjoying the setting and the comfort.

One of the tasting room staff came out and offered to pour for us right there! We were tempted, but so as not to put them out we went in (and as a side note so they did not have deal with us out front scaring off potential customers). The friendly knowledgeable staff took great care of us and were very accommodating as we sometimes can be a bit like herding a pack of cats just wandering around from one thing to another checking it all out. They did a great job keeping us on track. The most impressive method Jennifer employed was to smash a glass on the floor to get our attention. It worked! Everyone back to your stations! The tasting consisted of a couple of nice crisp whites and a handful of reds with a great PH balanced beverage to cleanse the palate between tastes.

Kiwi and Koala broke the one bottle rule (again is the chorus from the other room)! Koala’s pick was the 2009 KŪ. A sumptuous blend of Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Verdot with a head spinning 15.9% alcohol. The other purchase was a limited release 2008 Cabernet which just so happened is what Kiwi purchased two of (Kiwi also purchased an eco-friendly cork purse, but that’s another story).

Both wines were approachable with nice fruit with a medium to full bodied mouth feel and a nice balance and warm long finish. The labeling on the bottles is clean and stylish with a classy look. Blah blah blah. Look don’t just take our opinion, round up a couple of friends and go have a visit and check out this unique and interesting tasting room and try some of their great wine. Maybe plan to take a picnic lunch to enjoy while taking in the facility and enjoying your new favorite Shale Oak Wine.  Join their club, Kiwi did!  Shh, don’t tell the Shelia.  But that’s where the purse comes in.

Tell em Kiwi and Koala sent you!

Happy tasting,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Red Soles in Paso Robles

This is the story of a couple that farmed vineyards and who were bitten by the wonder of what they could do with their own fruit. Working for other was great, but they wanted to try it on their own.  The first vintage was such a small beginning that they had no crush equipment and used the romantically traditional method of their own four feet. No they don’t each have four feet, two each. That process lead to the name of their label as they observed their red stained feet. 
It was an epiphany to call it Red Soles Winery. That first small crush of Petite Sirah and Zinfandel grapes was later to become their premier vintage, their 2004 Kick-Off.

As Kiwi, Koala and guest taster Frog (and their significant others) all wandered into the tasting room they all commented on how comfortable it felt. The size is small by some standards but could easily handle twelve tasting with two serving. The tasting room has a nice layout with a fire place and a couple of sitting chairs for the designated drivers to kick their heels back and compare notes on their drinkers. They also have a nice selection of souvenirs should one feel the need.With a good selection of wine’s the tasting started. It was unanimous that there was not a poor one in the lineup. All the wine was well received and purchases were made. Kiwi purchased a 2009 Syrah and a 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Koala purchased the 2010 Kick-Off. This is a representation of the first release, hence the name Kick-Off. A story too good to ignore. Koala loves a good story.

A Blend of 50% Estate Zinfandel, 25% Estate Petite Sirah and 25% Old Vine Petite Sirah, a solid 6 and ***. Frog also purchased. All wines were great now out of the bottle, but could also be cellared for several years (if you can stand the wait!).  All in all a great tasting experience with a knowledgeable and friendly attendant and a selection of good wines that would make any tasting group happy.

They are conveniently located on the beautiful Westside of Paso Robles, just 3 miles from Hwy 101, on Oakdale Road, and just several hundred yards from Hwy 46 West. Open Daily from 11-5pm.

Red Soles is closed on all major holidays and Super Bowl Sunday.

So stop on by and tell em Kiwi and Koala sent you. Oh and Frog to!

Happy Travel Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Dining Nirvana Magill Estate

Everyone should visit Penfolds Magill Estate if for nothing else it’s amazing sense of wine history. Ok, they have some really good wine to taste as well.

We had a great premium tasting experience there with some exceptional wines. We took a tour of the historic Grange Cottage and the production facilities. Learned that the Magill Estate Vineyard was established in 1844 by Dr Christopher Rawson and Mary Penfold, just eight years after the foundation of the city of Adelaide itself. It was originally known as the Grange Vineyard, named after their new homestead. After such a great experience we could not resist the temptation to go all the way in and booked our dinner for that evening at the Magill Estate Restaurant.


From the moment we were warmly welcomed at the door, to the friendly farewell, it was a wonderful night. The degustation menu had three choices. There was a five, seven and nine course dinner selection, with or without wine pairings of good wine or great wines. We went with the seven course choice with the super premium wine pairings. Each dish was unique; some with textures/flavors/appearances that did not match our normal perception of the titled ingredients but, made us believers once tasted. One of the great pleasures of drinking wine is matching it with equally mouth-watering food, and the wine pairings were simply perfect.

What a wonderful experience with fantastic food made even more amazing by fantastically paired wines. The 2002 Grange was spectacular. Visit’s to the table from the chefs, knowledgeable sommelier, and service that equally matched the food & wine. Oh, and the view at night of the Adelaide area is just gorgeous. A great special night out that is sure to be remembered for all the right reasons. Looking forward to going back after the remodel to enjoy again, just to be sure it was not a magical dream.

For tasting at the cellar door they are open 7 days a week from 10.00am – 5.00pm, Closed Christmas Day and New Years Day.

This is not an inexpensive meal, but the quality of the experience, the food and the wine made it worth the price.

We call this a MUST GO (at least once) experience.

Tell em we sent you and settle in and embrace the magic!

Happy Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Just heard the remodel is nearing completion. They are scheduled to open Wednesday the 28th of August. Reservations will be accepted as of Monday the 29th of July. 

Napa’s Bistro Don Giovanni

Due to a combination of events Koala found himself on the road to Napa on a Sunday evening. Since he was there it was an opportunity for an Adventure. First thing on the agenda was some food. Koala does not miss many meals! There are a ton of choices in Napa but those choices start to dwindle with an eating time of around 9pm. As luck would have it Bistro Don Giovanni was a choice. So its 9pm on a Sunday evening and the place is still jumping. If Koala had to guess they were probably at about 80% full. The place has a lively atmosphere without being too loud. A couple minute wait while the table was prepped and we were seated in a comfortable booth. The waiter was on the spot taking drink requests and giving us the nightly specials. Orders ranged from artisan pizza’s to Koala’s choice of the Pork Chop nicely paired with a local Napa Merlot. All the food was good and very much enjoyed and the experience was very good. Koala would give a recommend and not hesitate to return.

To happy tasting and eating!

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Napa’s 1313Main

What is that a street address? Well, yes and no. So imagine you are in the town of Napa, and it’s nearly 11pm on a Sunday night and you have a hankerin for a good glass of wine or two. Not just any old swill, but some good wine. Where are you going to go? So yes it is a street address but it is also the name of a great wine bar in Napa at 1313 Main St, called 1313Main.

Open till midnight most nights this upscale contemporary Euro feeling sophisticated and friendly wine bar and lounge, feature’s over 1,300 rotating labels of fine wines offered by the taste, glass, flight or bottle, and can be complemented by a selection of artisanal small plates, for those that are a little peckish. They also have an impressive range of craft beers for the one in the group, and there always is, who doesn't drink wine. Koala snuck in and enjoyed a recommended flight of local Napa Cabernet Sauvignons and took a look around. This is a classy yet friendly place with a variety of comfortable seating options and areas to suit anyone. They have a number of different events that occur during any given week to entertain and present new offerings. Looking forward to visiting again at a more reasonable hour and enjoying a little more of what this impressive place has to offer and taking Kiwi along if he promises to behave. Not bloody likely (behaving that is)!

To happy tasting!

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala