Napa Valley

3rd September

Apart from a hosted dinner, we had a free day to do what we wished.  Some went outlet mall shopping, others to Fishermans Wharf or shopping around Union Square.

We were invited to a band try-out at Spotify that afternoon.  They are based on Market Street, in the Tenderloin area.  After a couple drinks on the rooftop, we left, the music was too loud, although we appreciated the invite to hang out with the young folks there.

Jo hosted the dinner that night at the Town Hall restaurant.  The food was American and very good.  The menus had our names printed on it.

After that we ended up in the The View Lounge at the Marriot.  More beverages were consumed, but I left a bit earlier at half past midnight.

4th September

Today we took a 1.30 hour drive to Napa Valley for some wine tasting at Raymond wine and V.Sattui vineyards.  

The Raymond tasting was interesting and the quantities generous, they offered us wine in the various raw stages of fermentation.   

And I learned that you can talk about Carbenet Sauvignon for hours (or listen for hours depending on your POV).

The venue in both places were very scenic and the weather was sunny.  We were also very happy at V. Sattui where lunch was served to a famished bus load of slighty morning drunk people.

We wasted a bit of time at St. Helena township when most of us wanted a nanny nap at our hotel.    Still I found a Nazi VW beetle with a radial engine to shoot. 

Accomodation that night was at the expansive golf, tennis and croquet resort Meadowood, St Helena. The resort is spread over 250 acres.

The gala dinner was at the Castello di Amorosa.  A vineyard with a 141,000 sq feet castle which took 15 years to plan and another 15 years to build. It was opened in 2007.

We were warmly welcomed by these distinguished-looking gentlemen.  

And the management team recognised the Achievers on stage.

There was a fire-eating and juggling performance.  

The dashing Italian man from the cruise was again spotted in the crowd, this time with an alluring lady in a red dress.  So alluring, she made everything around her colourless.

Dinner was in the basement where some of the Government team sat together.  

The high standards so far were again maintained - good food, wine, company and venue.

The after-party was at the Cantina in St. Helena.  Wisdom prevailed in my case, and we retired back to our chalet, to give the various internal organs some recovery time.