For those affected by the violent tornado, in Oklahoma City/Moore

For those who suffered so much, and especially for the children and their parents, I've picked out some photos for you.

Here they are, with no captions, because words are inadequate.

The story of Opus One

This is the illustrated story of a single, exceptional vineyard, which I thought that I'd share with my faithful viewers. It's the story of Opus One, and the history behind one of the really great wines of Napa Valley.

The story starts with on Baron Philipe de Rothschild, and one Robert Mondavi, how they met, how they worked together to produce one truly marvelous wine.

It seems that Baron Philipe met up with Robert Mondavi, as he was in this country, touring the up and coming wine region of California, called Napa Valley, which was nothing like it is now. It was a rural, mainly undeveloped area. Now, Robert Mondavi had a vineyard down the road from what has become Opus One, which produced wines that were quite good, but nothing like what were produced by the Mouton vineyards of Mr. Rothschild. Now, the Baron was already a legend in France, both as a winemaker and as a man of the world. Anyway Baron Philipe invited the younger Robert Mondavi to visit him in France, at his own estate.

Well, Robert went on, and discovered what it was that Baron Philipe had in mind - namely a joint venture, in which the wines of his own France, in the Bordeaux region, would be grown in Napa, with its favorable climatic conditions, and its own complex soils, and they would produce just a single wine yearly which they would call Opus One (though it was some time before that name would be adopted, and even longer before it would become synonymous with the superlative wine it was to become).

My wife and I took a tour of Opus One vineyard, and the wine-making process, and were thoroughly impressed.

Here are some of the pictures from our tour..

Well, let me tell you that they still produce only one vintage per year, and they sell it around the world, at something of a premium price (as you may imagine).

These represent the entire 2012 vintage, in one huge storage area.

Do you think four bottles is enough?

Wine Country - Part One

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As we left the Napa River Inn, we set out to visit wine country on our own, with no particular agenda. We thought that we would just drive on up to the northern edge of Sonoma county, then just head south, and along the way, stop whenever we wanted to, wherever we wanted to, but we knew we had to be back to the Opus One Vineyard  by 2:30 (more on that visit next post). In any event, the first photo is from the side of the road and typifies the scenery in Napa/Sonoma. The second photo is from one of our favorite vineyards (DeLorimier) which we have watched grow into something of a major producer, from its humble beginnings. Photos 3 - 6 are from the Ferarri-Carano Vineyards, near Healdsburg, and is definitely worth the visit. Photo number 5, in particular, reminds me of some of the late Monet paintings from Giverny.

Our real vacation - wine country, day 1

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When we set out for the real vacation portion of our trip, the afternoon was just magnificent (see photo number 1). We took our newly rented auto across the Golden Gate Bridge toward Napa. Where we stayed (photo number 2) was the Napa River Inn, a fabulous B&B, where the breakfast was incredible room service. Anyway, we arrived early enough that we did some sightseeing along the Napa River, and downtown (photos 3 - 6). We ate dinner at an absolutely fabulous restaurant where the wine, the dinner and the dessert, as well as the company, were just spectacular, and we returned to our beds very contented, very full, and very happy. This was really the beginning.

San Francisco, or what I was able to see of it.

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This is another of those horrible slide shows that we all lived through, with uncle Earnest and his slide projector. Well, maybe not that bad. But on our recent trip to California, I was really only able to scratch out a few good photographic opportunities, the first few days, and mainly when we went down to the wharf for dinner. The weather was just perfect, and by and large the wildlife was cooperative (see the second and third pictures). We really did enjoy San Francisco, but what we saw the rest of the trip really made it for us!

Where have I been?

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Where have I been lately? Well, before my wife and I took off for the West Coast, I was exceedingly busy. So, it came as a great relief to leave for California, but for a few hours it looked kind of doubtful that we would even get to leave, as our plane sat on the tarmac at the Oklahoma City Airport, for about two hours, as they deiced our plane, and then deiced again - over and over again. When we finally took off - it was with enormous relief. Then we got into San Francisco, and we stayed at the "Grand Hyatt" hotel, not so aptly named, which had little to recommend it aside from their little bistro restaurant. But it was a pleasant walk to the American College of Physicians annual scientific sessions. The sessions were quite good, but at the end of them, I was more than ready to leave for our vacation segment of the trip - to wine country - Napa and Sonoma. More on that in later posts, but for now, just enjoy these representative photos.

Happy Easter!

Just a wish for all of you to have a most happy Easter, as I get back to work.