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Here are shots of the same vineyard in Oakville that I’ve been featuring all this season. You can see the update from three weeks ago here.

From what I hear from my winemaker friends, almost everything this season is delayed–yet growth and development is steady.

I was told this is due to the late rains and the thus-far mostly mild weather.

Of course, everything can change in these next few days…or weeks…or months…

Towards Nickel & Nickel Winery

Grape Clusters Sixteen Weeks Post Bud Break

Toward Robert Mondavi Winery

The most interesting change since Update #4 is the grow of the grape clusters in the second photo below. The leaf canopy hasn’t seemed to have grown much, with the exception of filling out some.

So do you like that this year I’ve been featuring the same vineyard in each update?
Or would you like to see more on other vineyards?

Looking Towards Nickel & Nickel Winery

Grape Clusters Thirteen Weeks Post Bud Break

Looking Towards Robert Mondavi Winery

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Below you can see the amazing growth in the month’s time since Update #3.

In fact, the vines have grown so that you can longer even see Robert Mondavi Winery in the background of the last photo.

Looking Towards Nickel & Nickel Winery

Grape Clusters Ten Weeks Post-Bud Break

Looking Towards Robert Mondavi Winery

Last year, a friend of ours started this little thing called Cheers! St Helena.

He calls it a “Friendship Celebration” and a “Main Street Toast to Friends & Wine.” I can’t even imagine all the work he’s put into it, and all of the hoops he’s had to jump through.

See, our little wine country town is very, well, careful. And I am glad it is so.

And Cheers! St Helena, what with the 100+ fabulous wineries pouring their wine in all the wonderful establishments downtown, the live music, the street closures, the street performers, the face-painting, the sidewalk food vendors–and, of course, the Wine Train actually (gasp!) letting off passengers–is rather revolutionary. In a good way. In the best way.

Did I mention you get to walk around town sipping fabulous wines from premier Napa Valley wineries (out of another friend’s govino glasses no less)?

But more importantly you get to really, truly experience our town.

I’d never been in most of our shops and boutiques until Cheers! St Helena. And I most certainly didn’t spend much money in these shops; I always thought we were priced out. But, I’ve found that the prices aren’t really all that much more than elsewhere. Plus, it makes me happy to be spending money–even if it is more–locally and supporting our community.

By the way, Tom bought me the most beautiful locket at Daisy.

These shots were taken in the same vineyard as Update #2.

It’s amazing how much growth has occurred in three weeks time.

Nickel & Nickel Winery in Background

Grape Clusters Six Weeks Post-Bud Break

Robert Mondavi Winery in Background

Up to now, Casa Nuestra is our favorite kid-friendly winery.

So, that’s not an easy proclamation to make. There are a lot of wineries in the Napa Valley. A lot of wonderful wineries in the Napa Valley. And a lot of wonderful kid-friendly wineries in the Napa Valley.

But, Casa Nuestra stands out for us.

In the simplest terms, we like this winery because of their utter lack of pretension.

We’ve visited several times. And I’ve written about the experience here and here. Oh, and we joined their wine club (and that in and of itself says A LOT because most locals don’t join clubs, and we had to be on the waiting list for a while to even become members).

Who: Obviously, the wine tasting is for those 21+, but all ages can feel comfortable and have fun; we’ve visited with two 3 year-olds and a 1.5 year old

What: A laid back and unassuming time, tasting fantastic, unique, limited-production wines in a homey old farmhouse with a super-casual picnic area AND GOATS

Where: 3421 Silverado Trail North, just north of Saint Helena

When: Monday-Saturday, 10am-4:30pm, by appointment–call 707.963.5783

Why: To experience Napa as it was back in the 1970’s (when the winery was founded), taste awesome wines you can’t really find elsewhere and picnic in a beautiful setting–all while not fretting too much about the wee ones, or worrying about what other people think about you having wee ones with you

Tasting Room from Picnic Area

View from our Picnic Table

Ask Them for Goat Food