Leaving Jordan...so sad.

February 2nd...I have indulged in 3 bubble baths in less than 12 hours. I was up just before 6, and my breakfast was delivered to me in my suite at 7:15. Sadly, there is no firewood left, as I seem to have ignited a small forest last night. It is a bit rainy outside, so I stay in bed watching the news and reading the Wall Street Journal, which arrived with my coffee. Kim came in my room around 8:15, when I promptly announced that I was not leaving until they made me. She countered with moving our 10 am appointment, and I got out of bed.

Bubs and bubs

one of our beautiful suites!

We are being hosted (again) by Alexander Valley Vineyards, for a tour of the facility and lunch with the daughter of the owners. Our tour guide, Toni, was great, and we stopped thru caves in pouring rain. AVV uses something like 12 different barrels from all over (Appalachia, Ozarks, France, Hungary, etc..). Lunch was in the original home on the property, which was a one room abode, with walls covered in animals from a hunt on Kenya.

Melissa, watch out behind you!!!

I've seen many whale bones, but I think this is my first elephant tusk!

After lunch, we head south to the town of Napa, for a tour and tasting at Palmaz. We are greeted in the driving rain by Jessica, the Houstonian daughter-in-law of the wealthy Argentinian owners of Palmaz. The facility is 18 stories...all underground gravity flow production. After our tour, we head upstairs for a tasting with Jessica, overlooking the Valley and the rainstorm.

The crazy, rotating gravity setup, in a 10-story dome (bomb shelter-esque)

Fancy-ass computers!

We wave goodbye to Jessica, and head to Yountville, specifically Sean Larkin's condo, where we will be crashing for the next 2 nights. Sean is on the East coast and was kind enough to offer us his home during this time. We unload the little Avenger, say "Cheers" over a bottle of Jordan Chardonnay, and head into Yountville for a quick bite at Pacific Blues Cafe.

We found lots of Nantucket paraphernalia at Sean's and it felt like home