Napa Valley

Sept 30 - Oct 7, 2014   Weather - sunny and a Heat Wave.  82, 85, 90, 92, 93, 88, 86  - dry and about 15 degrees above normal in Napa.  Phew what a way to spend our last week on our Wild West trip.  Hard to believe 3 months have gone by. 

vineyards as far as you can see along hwy 29 and silverado trail

We jiggy jogged to get to one of a few of the places to camp in the Napa Valley Expo - The RV park.   Perfect park with an excellent downtown location.  Tip:  RV people coming from the northern coast we suggest taking hwy 101 South, to catch hwy 37 west  then head north up hwy 29 to Silverado trail.      Lola (our GPS) wanted to go cross country through the vineyards but we thought it best to take an extra 10 miles and stay on the 4 lane highways.  September is Napa`s biggest tourism month so the smaller roads are busy with everyone going to and from a winery.  

Billy parked behind the Olives

Which by the way is a stress load in itself..... how do you decide which ones to visit when there are over 700 wineries in the area!!!!   Ha Ha we thought there was a lot in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia.   Hardly.
If you want to do the wine tasting there are several different  limos, buses, shuttles, the wine train and private tours. The price is from $100 to $200 per person with perhaps 4 to 5 wineries - it takes all day and you arrive back in your RV park safe and sound.  Excellent value.  We are not really big wine drinkers but more interested in the architecture and landscaping of the wineries. 

driving up to the Castello di amorosa

So we decided to do 1 winery that Trip Advisor recommends as a must.   Castello di Amorosa , translated to The Castle of Love Winery.   It is a 13th century style Tuscany Castle with Winery built in St. Helena. 

inside the Castello courtyard

 You may have seen it if you watch the Bachelor on TV or Adam Sandlers movie Unfiltered.  The owner brought much of the building supplies and tradesmen to Napa to build this 121,000 square foot - 107 rooms. 

Barrel cellars below the castle (2 acres)

The tour of the castle and wine tasting was only $35 per person and a great day and for us still too much wine!!!  When we got back to the park Billy opted for an ice cold beer:)

The Great Hall features Frescoes painted on all walls