I've begun studying:

1. I watched some videos from that purple '67 fastback ("512"). That car just seems like it's playing with everyone. I'll hope to see it in person. I want to get all up in its 3-link.

2. I had to watch some footage of Michael Eisenberg's (sorry if I butchered spelling, but hey, he gets yellow Konis, and mine are only red) most awesome black 1963 Falcon ever (same vintage as mine and Craig's). He's got 110 horsies on me, and takes people down--more importantly, that car is just awesome. I need a more reasonable rear end gear, but oh well. People are starving somewhere...

I've only been to Sonoma/Sears Point/Infineon to watch bikes (AMA Superbikes & Supermoto). I've never even been there for a car event, but I have an in-law who does the NASCAR thing there; we really only talk at X-Mas. I don't even really know what to call the place now, but I think Cortex has a shop there, so maybe we should just call it that...

Nah. He has had some much better ones when he was drinking that were later deleted. :lol:

Elitist.

Check out http://www.fairmont.com/sonoma/ too. You can find deals for there (much more likely for weekdays as you are considering). I think your wifey would love it.

As far as wineries, it is generally best to pick an area and then plan a mix of wineries in that cluster to hit. Some really killer places up north off the beaten path like Calistoga that have much less traffic (tourists and otherwise).

We can talk more after you make your flight arrangements. :D

If Schwarz doesn't come up make him work on your flares. :guns:

Payton ---


HOST HOTEL near track.....


Embassy Suites
101 McInnis Parkway
415-499-9222

Lots of good input already. I'm local (Napa) and know people :unibrow: so we can hook you up. Just depends what you want. So many great wineries and restaurants its hard to go wrong but everyone likes a little something different. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk about.

Quintessa is a beautiful winery - not to mention excellent stuff... You need to make an appointment there and they offer lunch tours etc. If you need help there - I'm a rather "good" customer... and can certainly make a call for you.


Pahlmeyer doesn't do tastings - great wine but no go on the visitors...


One of the most interesting buildings and stories... is Nickel and Nickel. Their wines are crazy complicated because they do single vineyard bottling and I think there's like 29 or so... So you can't just go by the BRAND... Some we like - some we think suck.


Kapcsandy is in Yountville.... they do some unfiltered stuff that needs to be handled a little differently than your average bottle of wine...


We like Duckhorn... but I've never been to their winery



If you feel like you really want to step up your game...


Araujo and Colgin Estate.... bring a wheelbarrow... but they're yummy and worth the price.


Caymus is another one that Gwen likes....


And probably the rarest hardest to get wine in our cellar is REVANA


We also have a lot of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars in the cellar... it's good drinkable wine that's "reasonable" given what Gwen likes... and they are always having sales with ONE PENNY shipping - which I like to take advantage of.


I don't drink... but used to (30 years in AA now)... and we have a small cellar with about 1600 bottles in it... Gwen and her friends like their wine! I don't know much but I have a good nose. I can go to a tasting and smell the stuff and tell her which one she's going to want to buy. The cellar is all about "inventory" so she's drinking '06's or '07's when the stores are selling '09's and '10's stomped yesterday. LOL

She cooks with wine - sometimes she even puts some in the food.

WINE! It's how classy people get wasted!


ALL OF THE ABOVE ARE NAPA VALLEY


Then if you want to have a little fun -- and try your hand at driving a twisty --- jump over the "Oakville Grade Rd" to see B.R. Cohn in the SONOMA Valley. Bruce Cohn is a hot rodder and a buddy and he is owner of the winery.... and also just happens to be the manager of the Doobie Brothers... lots of guitars and pics of stuff there besides just wine stuff.

So Greg, is there anything you do not know about? You may be the only person I know with an extensive wine knowledge that has been going to AA for 30.

My hopes of going are fading fast. Have an employee out the week after and my wife has scheduled a mountian trip the week before, should have gotten this on the calendar much, much quicker.

I will try and come out for the next big event.

I'm truly sorry you won't make this event! But it IS an annual event... and with a bit more planning - maybe a group of us can do the event and then bomb around the wine country together.


I know NOTHING about Suspension - Shocks - tires... I've never looked inside an automatic transmission...


:D



I really don't know anything about wine except what GWEN and her pals like to drink... and the names I listed there are what's in our wine cellar from that area. I've been to them - I do ALL of the buying... I've smelled them all and know which ones I'd like. Other than that - that's it as far as wine knowledge.

I like to buy wine and lay it up.... figure 300 plus bottles per year consumption -- 5 year lay up period -- so a guy needs some "inventory". We're not into buying "flights" - to me that's a giant waste of time - one bottle of one year? That's not enjoying wine - that's collecting for collecting sake... around my dump - the wine gets served until the last man hollers uncle... It's like cars - they're built to be driven - wine is bought to be drank. :disgusted: :D

I miss the days my wife use to drink wine out of a box...her taste is much more expensive now.

From the labels listed, I'm coming to your house for drinks if that is your everyday stuff. LOL

I am going to do better planning next time, I really want to come out to an event in CA. I will have to live vicariously through all that will be there.

May have to bring back the "text train"

not big on wine but these are the two we visit every now and then and so far everyone I have recommended has been very happy.


http://www.castellodiamorosa.com/



make sure you take the cable trolly to the top, and see the view: http://www.sterlingvineyards.com/home



look forward to seeing everybody there. keep a look for me, I'll be the only one pushing a stroller with an 18month old making car noises.