Took a drive up valley today.

[Adsos Letter]

Regusci Winery

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Omigod, my dear Adsos Letter!

This is just breathtaking...

Everything looks amazing. The lush grass, the hills, the framing trees, the farm buildings...

Thank you!

[Adsos Letter]

2. Thank you, Peggy.

You made me blush

This is a beautiful time to be up in wine country. We've been having some good rains, and the hills are turning that emerald green that they do when rain accompanies the start of spring.

Next week I'm driving down your way to visit my older daughter for a few days. I hope to get out into the Anza-Borrego for some desert shots.

[mr_lebowski]

3. I don't even have to ask where ... I know the look of the Sonoma/Napa valley like the back

O' my hand. Also looks like lot's of places further south like Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Briones Park, Tilden Park, Danville, Alamo, Blackhawk, Livermore, Sunol, Niles Canyon ... basically the Mt. Diablo foothills area and nearby looks much like that ... but Wine Country has lots of wide-open stretches like that. And buildings that look like that, and grapevines lol ...

And if it AIN'T there ... it is IDENTICAL in terms of climate, that's for sure.

[Adsos Letter]

5. Its off of Silverado Trail.

Right below Stags Leap.

What’s your connection to the valley? I lived there for 35 years, and worked there for over 30.

[mr_lebowski]

7. I almost said ... looks like Silverado Trail area lol ...

I grew up in the Bay Area, lived there 35 years, and my folks still have homes (one they live in) there in the East Bay, and my brothers live there so I get back fairly often.

I grew up in a household where auto touring was a big part of life, and the folks in this british-car motor sports club loved their wine. So there were FREQUENT car rallies up around Napa/Sonoma in the 1970's. Then when I got older me and me mates spent many a weekend up there tasting and partying. The patio at Mumm's is a favorite spot ... that's right near the start of the Trail if memory serves. Picnics at V. Satui ...

Oh, also my stepdads parents lived in St. Helena at a really nice mobile home park so there were plenty of trips up to see them, and Silverado was the route to their place.

I also know that pictures can never quite do justice to how pretty it actually is. Once the hills and trees are past a certain distance in your line of sight, they take on this almost cartoon or painting-like look to them that you can never *quite* capture on film.

[mnhtnbb]

4. You really have had rain!

What a wonderful shot!

[Adsos Letter]

6. Thanks, mnhtnbb.

We’re getting some good rains after a relatively dry winter.

We’re supposed to get a few more days this week, but I’m driving down to San Diego for a few days mid-week. I hope to get out into the Anza-Borrego for some desert photos.

[Mira]

8. Bucolic and lovely

so glad you shared this photo.

[Adsos Letter]

9. Thanks, Mira.

We've been having rain; it has been very satisfying, and inspiring, to be out in it.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

10. Gorgeous.I love the soft yet vibrant colors.

California?

[Adsos Letter]

11. At the lower end of the Napa Valley.

At the lower end of the Napa Valley, on the eastern side, between Napa and Yountville.