Passion, Romance and Adventures in Wine Country.  Today I share with you the fairy-tale story of a couple’s perfect anniversary weekend in Napa.  I’ve known Arsineh & Brian for a short time but have been inspired by their passion for life and sense of adventure.  Brian Lee is the dog trainer from “Way of the Dog”.  He’s the OC’s dog whisperer, turning troubled dogs into man’s best friend.  Arsineh Lee is a whirl wind of personality.  Amazing, Brilliant, Ambitious and feels like family.  I invite you to read this charming story of the wine country rookies.

My husband Brian Lee and I decided to go to Napa for our 2nd wedding anniversary.  It was our first time visiting and after hours of internet searches we found the perfect getaway – Meadowood, a beautiful lodge nestled into the forested hillside.  In addition to the scenery and relaxation, we were really interested in getting educated about wine.  We hired Gilles de Chambure, the Director of Wine Education, to show us how wine is made and educate us about the tastes, aroma and body of the different types of wine.  The entire process from growing the grapes to pouring the wine was fascinating.

The day ended with us stumbling back to the cottage and resting before heading to dinner at The Restaurant at Meadowood.  Since it was our anniversary, we decided to splurge and order the menu that paired a wine with each course.  The food was exquisite and every glass of wine was paired to perfection.  We soon realized that pairing wine with every course in a seven-course meal is quite brave.  We laughed, enjoyed every bite and sip, and by the 6th course we looked at each other and said “Wow, can you imagine living this lifestyle every day?  The amazing scenery, the amazing food, and of course, the amazing wine!”

The next day was 4th of July.  We purchased tickets for a BBQ at the historic Louis M. Martini Winery.  After a lovely afternoon of appetizers, wine and dinner – we were presented with a private fireworks show that was synchronized with music.  It was the best fireworks show either of us had seen.

Not only did we leave Napa with amazing memories and complete relaxation, we left with a new appreciation for wine that will stay with us forever.  We feel like Napa welcomed us to a new lifestyle – the type you read about in magazines and think you will never understand.  At first we had our concerns about knowing nothing about wine.  We feared people would be annoyed at our “rookie” status, but we experienced the opposite.  Napa took us in. The people were warm, welcoming and excited to educate us.  Our 2nd anniversary was romantic and everything we could have wanted. We look forward to spending many more vacations in Wine Country.