Gold Hill Vineyard & Countryside

Easter weekend was the perfect excuse to jet out of town and head to the countryside to visit family and spend the day exploring the quaint and charming Gold Hill located in Coloma at Marshall's Gold Discovery Park. We spent the day wine tasting and leisurely driving through the beautiful and lush green farmland. 

The best part of the day marked an impromptu stop at a goat farm as we drove back from Gold Hill Vineyard & Brewery - favorite wine tasting stop! I've always been a firm believer of enjoying the little things in life and documenting each moment spontaneously. That said, the sight and sound of these adorable baby goats brought such happiness and delight to all. Bahhhh.

I'm excited to share that I'll be traveling to Thailand this week for the first time! I'm beyond thrilled to visit the 'Land of Smiles' where exotic foods, fascinating culture, vibrant traditions, pristine beaches, elephants, ancient temples and an endless array of adventures await us. See you soon Thailand! 

An Afternoon at Artesa

After a long weekend attending my first 2 days of EMBA class, my family and I celebrated Sunday afternoon with brunch and a bit of wine tasting at one of my favorite wineries, known for its stunning panoramic views. Artesa sits high in the hilltop of the Carneros region in the Napa Valley and beckons both locals and visitors to experience their unique fusion of architecture, art and wine.

Sitting on their outdoor patio and sipping their Pinot Noir was undeniably one of the most relaxing afternoons I’ve had in awhile.

An Afternoon at Domaine Chandon

Living in the Napa Valley definitely has its perks. If you are a foodie & wino, this is an obvious destination to live or to visit. People assume that I drink wine for breakfast, lunch and dinner but, thankfully, that is not true{no vino lush over here!}. When family and friends visit, that’s actually the time to go wine tasting and, when we go, a must stop is Domaine Chandon for some of their delicious bubbly.

I have to say that Domaine Chandon has some of the most elegant and beautiful grounds in the valley with their lush forest setting, beautiful ponds, and giant trees that surround the property. Domain Chandon also houses étoile, the only fine dining restaurant within a winery in Napa Valley, and one of my favorites. I spent two summers in college working at étoile as a hostess so this restaurant holds a special place in my heart.

{Max Studio Dress, Steve Madden Boots, Forever 21 Blazer, Barneys New York Belt, Vintage Bag, Anthropologie Necklace & Ring}.

An Afternoon at Mumm Napa

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[typography font="Homemade Apple" size="22" size_format="px"]There comes a time in every woman's life when the only thing that helps is a glass of bubbles... -Bette Davis[/typography]

I never need a reason to pop open some bubbles. Life is always about celebrating, so a relaxing afternoon at one of my favorite spots for sparkling wine sounded like the perfect Sunday afternoon.

I’ve been going to Mumm since I was a little girl. My parents would always make a stop with visiting friends because the bubbles are delicious and the view is stunning {I would be snacking on crackers & reading Goosebumps}. Fast forward 20 years and this is still one of my favorite places to end an afternoon of wine tasting. I love the atmosphere of this place. It has an incredible outdoor seating area with an even more incredible view. If you go at different times of the year, you can watch the seasonal changes of the vineyards while sipping on some of the best bubbly ever {one of my favorites is the Cuvée M!}.

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{Vintage Leather Jacket, Crossroads Thrifted Dress, Necklace via Versa Jewelry, Zara Suede Boots, Theory Aviators & Miyamo Bag}

P.s. Not to miss - their complimentary fine arts photography gallery, featuring a respectable collection of original early Ansel Adams photography and showcasing an exhibit titled "Meet the Makers - Portraits of Local Food Artisans.”Beautiful work! Ole!

[typography font="Homemade Apple" size="23" size_format="px"]I hope you have a wonderfully relaxing and rejuvenating weekend! x[/typography]

Paso Robles in a Nutshell

I hope everyone had a happy and productive weekend!

Memorial Day weekend has come and gone but I wanted to share some highlights of our adventures! Together with a group of friends we decided to take a road trip down south on a mission to explore the breathtaking landscape of Paso Robles wine country. We spent 2 ½ days there and successfully managed to visit over eight wineries and one brewery. We also spent some much needed time relaxing, eating, drinking and vegging out in a cozy cottage set in the gently rolling hills of Peachy Canyon {thanks Drew!}. Considering we had a full house {and only one bathroom to share}, our daily routine was quite simple - get up early, make a huge breakfast and then hit the road for a day of wine tasting.

Some of my favorite wineries included Tablas Creek, Halter Ranch and Chronic Cellars. Each winery had its own allure, unique ambiance and stunning portfolio of wines. Our first stop set the benchmark for the rest of the trip. Halter Ranch Winery has so much history and charm, I felt like I was stepping back in time walking through the historic barns and stunning Victorian-era farmhouse. This was my type of experience, plus their wines were all surprisingly good {especially their Côtes de Paso- Grenache based blend).

Tablas Creek Winery was a priority on our list and we had the opportunity to check out their newly remodeled tasting room. Their wines stole the show and two of my favorites were the Côtes de Tablas red and white Rhone blends. Chronic Cellars was another favorite, with its funky bright and colorful décor and easy drinking, approachable wines. I’m a sucker for anything inspired by Dia de Los Muertos images {that’s on their label) and loved that their tasting room was hip and interactive with a pool table and horseshoe field outside.

For those of you who have never visited Paso Robles, I highly recommend a visit. It's rustic, quaint and just driving through the back roads exploring the scenic beauty is worth the trip! Ole!

{Historic barn at Halter Ranch Winery}

{So many wineries to choose from!}

{Halter Ranch tasting room}

{Justin Vineyards reception area & adorable vineyard dog, Buddy}

{Keeping it classy with my favorite pair of Aviator shades from Theory}

{Fun in the sun with my BF Adam at L'Aventure Winery}

{Beer tasting at Firestone Walker Brewery}

{Breakfast of champions: eggs with chorizo, bacon & watermelon slices}

{Chronic Cellars tasting room. Pool table + wine tasting = fun!}