Vancouver, Vancouver

Yesterday my friend Bridgette and I took a trip down to the Vancouver Convention Centre to check out the EPIC Expo - the sustainable living expo featuring fashion, food, home decor, and much more.  On the way down we had to stop at JJBean for coffee and as such wound up taking the long way on our walk to the Convention Centre.  It wasn't the greatest day (i.e. rainy and gross) but it was nice to get out into this lovely city.  Here are some photos from our walk:

PS my two favourite EPIC booths were the Luscious Creations booth (amazing amazing vegan cupcakes) and Andrew Briggs' art (both Bridgette and I picked up amazing pieces).  Check them out!

Graffiti

This photo was taken a few years ago down at the breakwater in Victoria, BC.  My friend Haley was in town and we went out for an expedition around Victoria.  I thought that the graffiti on the wall looked particularly amazing against the calm of the ocean.  I particularly like the bright colours - brightens up the gloomy Vancouver day... WHEN WILL SUMMER COME?!?!?!

Sonoma Wineries

After vising Cornerstone, we went on two days worth of wine tours through Sonoma.  Here are some photos of the wineries that we visited:

Day one started with a visit to Cline Winery - Not just your classic winery, Cline also features an impressive collection of unique birds.

Viansa Winery - This winery features an impressive deck that overlooks a lovely wetland.  I suggest picking something up from the deli and enjoying your snack on the deck.  Perhaps you can even play a little bocce on the bocce court afterwards...

We finished off day one with glasses of champagne at Gloria Ferrer - delish!

Day two started off with a visit to the Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery.  They have a beautiful garden and a great wild boar statue at the Villa Fiore wine shop and tasting room.  The statue is reminiscent of the wild boar statue in Florence, Italy.  The legend is that if you touch the nose of the wild boar that it will grant you good luck!  Needless to say, I gave the boar's nose a little rub for good luck.  

Our final stop of the trip was the Ledson Winery.  What a gorgeous building, huh??  We sampled some amazing wines including one that hasn't even been released yet!  Yum!

All in all it was a fantastic vacation!  If you ever get the chance to go, take it!  And, if you have been before and think I missed out on seeing something please leave me a comment so I can start my list of must-sees for my next trip :)  As for me, I will be working on planning my September East Coast vacation.  

Cornerstone, Sonoma

Our first day in Sonoma we headed off to the Cornerstone Gardens.  The Cornerstone Gardens are described as "an ever-changing series of walk-through gardens, showcasing new and innovative designs from the world's finest landscape architects and designers" (from the Cornerstone website).  The gardens are gorgeous and very unique.  It was a lovely sunny day when we visited Cornerstone and it was fantastic to walk through the gardens and check everything out.

Big Blue Chair

Barrels... Well we are in Wine Country after all :)

Flowers

Geometric Statue

Stark Simplicity

Garden through the tunnel

My Auntie L loves birdhouses and bright colours so I had to take a photo of this garden

Hearts

Clay Man

Napa

After San Francisco we drove over to Napa for some relaxation and copious amounts of wine.  We did one full day of winery touring and wine tasting, which was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.

Our first stop was at Black Stallion Winery.  If you get there be sure to try the 2007 Oak Knoll Merlot.  This Merlot is phenomenal - it tastes the way that a Merlot should!

Black Stallion Winery

Black Stallion Winery

Next we drove over to Mumm Napa to check out their art collections.  When I visited they were featuring an exhibit by photographer Art Rogers which juxtaposed photos of families throughout the years.  A photo from a couple's wedding would be placed alongside a photo of them in the same spot 5 years later with their children.  The photos were beautiful and I particularly loved one of Art Rogers' quotes that was displayed on the wall which read: "Some people see growing older as degeneration, I see regeneration".  The winery also features an impressive collection of Ansel Adams photographs.

Mumm Napa

After Mumm Napa we headed off to Castello di Amorosa, which is a gorgeous castle/winery in Napa.  Unfortunately I lost my tasting notes for the wines (sorry!) but I know that I loved the 2007 Napa Valley Sangiovese because I bought it :).  The castle itself is gorgeous and very reminiscent of the castles in Italy (which is likely because the owner studied medieval castles and has a property in Italy - the influences are all in there).  Enough of my rambling though, check it out:

Castello di Amorosa

Wine Barrels at Castello di Amorosa

Castello di Amorosa

Castello di Amorosa

Wine bottles at Castello di Amorosa

The Castle

After visiting Castello di Amorosa we headed over to another Dario Sattui owned winery, V.Sattui Winery.  The grounds are gorgeous and they sell not only wine but also cheeses, deli products, and amazing olive oils, marinades, etc etc.  We even picked up a bottle of kiwi marinade for our chicken that night that was incredible!

V.Sattui

V.Sattui

V.Sattui

V. Sattui

All in all it was a fantastic day in Napa.  Though I could have bought wine at every winery we visited I had to limit myself to my customs alloted amount... unfortunately.  Here are my spoils from the day:

Yum, yum!