Wine Snobs

A few weekends ago while Michael was in town we headed up to Napa. Taki, Nikos and I met up with Adrian and Jen, Mitz, Tony and Kaia. First we went to Tony's winery, Nickel & Nickel in Oakville, where he is the enologist.

Welcome to Nickel & Nickel!

The gang before the tour begins

Tony shows off his lab (which I first called a workshop until Taki reminded me that he wasn't Santa)

Nikos chills in his stroller while we get lessons in wine from Tony. Clearly from his raised eyebrow you can tell he is a little skeptical about Tony's explanations.

Soil samples from the local area

Fermenters in the cellar

Tony taps a barrel (is this the right lingo?) to give us a taste of wine that is not mature yet.

Notice Niko's steely gaze on my wine glass, works like a hypnotist's pocketwatch.

A view of the solar panels that help power the winery.

After our private tour at Nickel & Nickel we drove up the mountain to Kuleto, where Tony's girl Kaia is the hospitality manager.

Our fabulous lunch spot that Kaia selected for us

Not sure what this is but it sure is charming

View of the valley

Infinity pool at Kuleto

Mitz and Taki enjoy some wine poolside

Family picture

Taki, Michael, Tony and Adrian enjoy the day


Nikos, still chillin in his stroller

Mitz strikes a pose


Nikos sucks on his first wine cork


Size comparison (note: this is not a regular-sized bottle of wine)

So as not to disappoint my audience, I took a picture of Nikos in something that he has no business sitting in - hey, at least it isn't a pumpkin.

And I had to include this one that Mitz took from the night before - don't you love his Bambino onesie!