http://gallery.bardolia.com/main.php http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+024.jpg.html 17142 We learned a lot about Kayla on this trip... like - think twice before boarding a plane with Kayla when she is a "lap baby." She was happy for some of the trip - as you see here. Maya, on the other hand, has already asked when we can go back to http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+025.jpg.html 17146 The SMI gave us a complimentary bottle of red table wine, and TK also gifted us with some snacks, treats, and Gloria Ferrer Sparkling. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+026.jpg.html 17149 We were definitely taken care of! http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+039.jpg.html 17152 We had a suite at the SMI and Maya loved her pull out couch. I personally think that she loved the fact that someone else made her bed every day! Ha... http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+041.jpg.html 17155 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+042.jpg.html 17158 Maya is hiding :) http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+044.jpg.html 17161 Complete with a fountain! http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+028.jpg.html 17164 Jason drove us (in record time) to Healdsburg on Monday. We went to Martinelli, and then to downtown Healdsburg. Some of us went crazy at the "old school" candy shoppe and then we picked up our boxed lunches from Oakville Grocery. We ended our d http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+029.jpg.html 17167 Olsea and Sasha in front of Martinelli http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+030.jpg.html 17170 Judy did our tasting here. The wines are quite high in alcohol but overall very tasty and well balanced. The flavors are enhanced by the alcohol rather than being drowned in it. My favorite was the Guisseppe and Luisa Zin. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+032.jpg.html 17173 Gabriela, Kerry, Tania, Sasha, Olsea, and Nita http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+033.jpg.html 17176 We tried some great wines here - I especially loved all of their Pinots. This is a great organic winery! http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+034.jpg.html 17179 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+035.jpg.html 17182 Picture perfect! http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+036.jpg.html 17185 Oakville Grocery did such a great job catering our lunches. The only thing that I would probably do next time is SHARE! The portions are huge. But their cookies are a MUST!! We tried all of the flavors and I think the favorite was a the ginger cookie - yu http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+045.jpg.html 17191 We jump to the next day - Tuesday. After the managers' meeting (and our spa treatments) we met Larry, our shuttle bus driver, and he drove us to Gargiulo as our first stop. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+046.jpg.html 17194 Gargiulo is flanked by some very high end vineyards and wineries. Eric was leading our tasting and tour today. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+047.jpg.html 17197 Manish, Scott, Chris, and Kerry http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+048.jpg.html 17200 The entire facility is only 6-7 months new. When Manish and I crashed... I mean visited a few years ago, this was not built yet. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+049.jpg.html 17203 Eric is setting up for our tasting. We are eager! http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+050.jpg.html 17206 Trying the rose of sangiovese http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+051.jpg.html 17209 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+052.jpg.html 17212 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+053.jpg.html 17215 April Gargiulo wasn't able to join us that day but we toasted to her anyway! http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+054.jpg.html 17218 Wondering when the cheese will be making its entrance... http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+055.jpg.html 17221 Also wondering how much more Eric will be pouring before we can eat something! We actually had to stop at Oakville grocery after our Gargiulo tasting to fuel up on some cheese and snacks! http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+056.jpg.html 17224 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+057.jpg.html 17227 You know that I always have to take pictures of silly things like this! http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+058.jpg.html 17230 They do very limited production at Gargiulo - making their wines very special http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+059.jpg.html 17233 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+060.jpg.html 17236 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+061.jpg.html 17239 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+062.jpg.html 17242 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+063.jpg.html 17245 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+064.jpg.html 17248 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/p1010064.jpg.html 17254 Larry followed the way to Palmaz. Jessica and Christian greeted us and led us up the hill to the cave and impressive facility. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/p1010086.jpg.html 17260 We had one of our first tastings at Palmaz right here on their patio... beautiful! http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/p1010087.jpg.html 17263 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+066.jpg.html 17278 These are beautiful "wood" tiles made from Algorobo wood - these are not your typicla hardwood floors. They are individual wooden tiles (quite thick) brought here from Argentina, and actually grouted between to hold together. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+067.jpg.html 17281 Fuond on the grounds when they first restored the old Henry Hagen property. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+068.jpg.html 17284 Which eventually might be a wine dinner room http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+069.jpg.html 17287 Built on Mt George in Napa, this cave has a depth equivalent to an 18 story building. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+070.jpg.html 17290 They believe in gentle treatment ine the wine making process. The cave structure allows for the true gravity-flow wine making, thus omitting the need for harsh agitation and excess manipulation. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+073.jpg.html 17296 Christian said that he and Florencia are often the ones "chossing" which grapes stay in after this point. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+074.jpg.html 17299 The grapes drop down into tanks after sorting to the mezzanine fermentation dome http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+075.jpg.html 17302 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+077.jpg.html 17305 Sorting, crushing, and the first fermentation will occur on these levels http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+078.jpg.html 17308 When fermentation is complete, the tanks are rotated and the grapes and juice flow into the press http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+079.jpg.html 17311 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+081.jpg.html 17314 These tanks rotate on a belt of sorts http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+082.jpg.html 17317 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+083.jpg.html 17320 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+085.jpg.html 17323 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+086.jpg.html 17326 After fermentation in the 2nd level tanks, the wine flows to the barrelsa nd aging occurs. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+087.jpg.html 17329 We were able to try a barrel sample of their 2006 Cab and many other wines that they offered to us with dinner. Great selection of cheeses too! http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+088.jpg.html 17332 The red color in between is purely decorative - however, Christian was telling us that during the barreling process, wine often spills onto the barrel making for unsightly "splotches." INstead of leaving them that way, they take the cap (after f http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+090.jpg.html 17338 There was an arch. So I stood underneath... Simple as that. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+091.jpg.html 17341 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+092.jpg.html 17344 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+093.jpg.html 17347 After our tour and tasting, we were escorted by Christian and Jessica to the Palmaz Estate. There we were greeted by Amalia who generously offered us her gorgeous patio area for some sparkling wine and hors d'oeuvres. Yes - we felt pretty special. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+095.jpg.html 17350 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+003.jpg.html 17272 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+004.jpg.html 17275 Gaby and Gabriela are so photogenic! And don't they look more like sisters than daughter/mother!? http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+098.jpg.html 17356 We can't wait to visit Moldova - Vadim, Olsea, Vlad, and Sasha told us so much about their country! - we will visit soon! http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+002.jpg.html 17269 Well, at least in wine country they do! :) http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+001.jpg.html 17266 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+006.jpg.html 17359 Amalia is such an amazing hostess - we are eating dinner in their gorgeous wine cellar. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+007.jpg.html 17362 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+008.jpg.html 17365 Manish talking shop with Amalia http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+009.jpg.html 17368 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+011.jpg.html 17371 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/SFJuly07+099.jpg.html 17374 Dr Palmaz built this beautiful table and the benches as a gift to Amalia. http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/menu.jpg.html 17377 A menu was placed at each setting http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/menu2.jpg.html 17380 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/menu3.jpg.html 17383 http://gallery.bardolia.com/v/bardolia/trips/TKoffsite/menu4.jpg.html 17386 Fresh Ingredients! She searched several places for the perfect peaches for this tart and let's not even talk about how long the reduction sauce took to complete! Great Meal!