Lodi: The Quiet Napa(1)
It’s 4 pm and I am savoring a delicious selection of nine artisan cheeses,
gourmet nuts and a medium-bodied cult Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Thanks to Angela Jackson, Director of Publicity at the hotel, I am
living the life of a celebrity for the day.
As I gaze out the window and take in a spectacular view of San Francisco Bay
the elevator door opens and out strolls a distinguished Japanese executive
impeccably dressed in Polo wear, with his entourage of female assistants in
tow.
“Mr. Yamaguchi, let’s go over your shed-yule,” his British
accented assistant insists.
Sipping my cult cab, comfortably reclined in a plush leather chair,
I listen to their conversation; a fly on the wall.
“On Friday, your tee-time is set for 9 am, your Executive Meeting is at
2, you fly to Monterey for your dinner meeting and return by 10pm," she
declares.
He nods.
“On Saturday, the driver will pick you up in the lobby at 9 am sharp for
your tour of Napa Wine Country,” she continues.
“Such an early start for a Saturday? Can’t I leave later?" He inquires.
“Mr. Yamagughi, it’s about 80 miles to Napa and Saturday traffic is very bad. They are getting almost as many tourists in Napa as Disneyland ®! And if you want to barrel taste with the winemaker at Hess Estates, you will need to allocate several hours for doing so,” she explains.
I sip my wine and think about my planned wine tasting journey. It will almost equal the
same mileage as Mr. Yamaguchi’s yet I will be heading in a slightly different
direction with a bit less traffic: due east towards Lodi, the quiet Napa.
