For the first time ever, I used connections I have. My good friend Sierra has wine junky parents that are super inviting and welcoming to complete strangers, which B and I learned very fast. I was asking Sierra for some winery advice because B and I wanted to do some wine tastings. IT IS SO EXPENSIVE IT IS STUPID. BUT I LOVE WINE. SO IT IS NOT STUPID. MONEY IS STUPID. That is my rant for the day.
Sierra instantly FaceTimed her mom, (Nicole), asking where B and I should go wine tasting. Nicole said Napa was overrated and B and I should come stay with her family for a night and let her and her husband (Mike) take us to a couple wineries in Healdsburg. Mike and Nicole are members at all of these wineries, which means free wine tastings. FREE wine. FREE WINE. Second rant of the day down.
We accepted this offer instantly; B and I are two broke college kids who had no idea how we were going to pay for this trip anyways. Plus free fancy booze, oh yeah, baby.
We drove out to Martinez, California. By the way, the freeways in northern California are gorgeously green, absolutely beautiful scenery. The Stratton household was one for the books, absolutely gorgeous with a wrap around porch, giant outdoor fireplace, and not to mention the farm that is the majority of their family. 3 dogs, 2 cats, 70 birds, 14/15 chickens, everywhere we turned there was something new to pet, IT WAS AMAZING! Rant three, everyone.
We drove up to Mike walking outside in his bright orange Boise State shirt shaking it at us saying mi casa es su casa if you go to Boise State. With a few hugs and handshakes we met the family and had a glass of wine already in our hands. This was no boxed wine friends, I was on my butt chatting away after one glass… and I had 3. Nicole slaved away over this meal I cannot pronounce while we got to know the family who began to see more and more where Sierra came from (PS Sierra, I am in love with your family). We went to bed full and tipsy with a wake up time of 8:30 for breakfast.
Homemade breakfast beats nothing.
Mike, Nicole, their daughter Katie, and her boyfriend Steven all hopped in the car with Brayden and I as we headed out to the wine country. Look out for our next film, Fast and Furious Mike Stratton addition. If you have car accident PTSD and don’t want to develop an aneurysm, I recommend never riding with him. Even he knew I was anxious because I was silent. Being quiet just ain’t Dew. Not to mention a fat ass spider was on the ceiling of the car that I found before we hopped on the road and I couldn’t relax after that.
Winery #1 was a hit and I couldn’t get a glass fast enough to calm my driving nerves. That’s where I was introduced to the idea of “dumping the wine.” I don’t agree so lets just start there, they pour some wine, you sniff, you swirl, you don’t know why you are doing this but everyone else is, and you sip, and if you’re Dewey you do the taste in 2 big sips because wine, oh sweet baby Jesus wine, is so freaking good. You don’t pour it out. You don’t believe in the waste of such delicious goodness.
#1 was beautiful; the vineyard was everything I imagined. The sun was on our side at this point, shining down on all the wine glory. I was calmed of my PTSD and was reminded of the kindness and generosity of the Stratton family while sipping on some of the smoothest red I have ever had the delight of enjoying.
Winery #2 was in downtown Healdsburg and not on the actual vineyard but their little shop. They host their tastings with a little slice of some sort of cheese and topping on the cheese to go with each wine you taste. I was in heaven, CHEESE! Throw the heart emoji eyes on my face and there is rant number 4. One of the toppings was so good B and I walked out of there with a jar of $20 salt. The Stratton’s showed us some kindness and generosity once again and bought us a bottle of red to take home. My heart at this point was overwhelmed by the wine and by the love they were pouring over us. Katie and I were a little wine-wasted at this point and needed the courage of carbs to keep us going.
We grabbed some sandwiches and headed off to Winery #3. We were the only guests on a gorgeous patio overlooking an even better view. The wine country is something to behold and I don’t know if I felt that way because of all the wine or because it truly was a view I will remember forever. We opened a bottle of red and ate our sandwiches, and enjoyed the splendor of new company that felt all too familiar. We stole a glass and went on our last stop.
At Winery #4 we were all dunzo. This winery knew Mike and Nicole the instant we pulled up and just started pouring. I never saw my glass empty here, which did not help the cause that I already was. At this point, it seemed as if all of us kids had been friends forever and Mike and Nicole were just family. And no, the wine isn’t speaking for me, I truly fell in love with this family over the weekend. Another bottle of red was bought for us and we were on way home for some beer and pizza. Every single one of us konked out on the drive home and napped until our greasy absorbent carb dinner. I couldn’t even look or think about alcohol because like a champ and not a waster, I never dumped the wine.
Mike made us leave with a case of wine, full hearts, and an endless amount of invitations to come back. Mike Stratton, I promise you that Bubs and I will be back and we will bring more bread. We can’t thank you enough for the experience of a lifetime.
March 18-19, 2017
