Whew! What a fabulous day in wine country!
The weather was perfect, the wine was delightful and, of course, I got to hang out with my mama! What do you think? Do we look alike?! 
So, this afternoon was just way too gorgeous to be inside. I took my mom on a driving tour of Dry Creek Valley and we hit up Quivera, my neighbor winery (it’s right next to Michel-Schlumberger!). Quivera is all organic, too, and is known for their delicious zinfandels. We tasted down the list and my favorite was actually the 2007 Grenache, which one a gold medal at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair last month.
After hitting up Dry Creek, we headed south to the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center for a sensory garden tour and food and wine paring!
Umm can I live here? Seriously?
Yes, it was only 3:30 and we were totally doing a food and wine pairing…it was awesome. What else was awesome? The absolutely amazing gardens at the wine center. Seriously, my mom and I were both totally in awe. They had everything. I wanted to pitch a tent and live in the lettuce patch. Just kidding….maybe.
We got the VIP treatment with Kendall-Jackson Executive Chef Justin Wangler as our tour guide. Chef Justin is brilliant in the kitchen and actually was just featured in this month’s issue of Better Homes and Gardens (my mom got a signed copy from him!). He educated us on everything growing in the garden and we were totally fascinated. There were walnut trees, asparagus plants, pear trees, apple trees, lettuce, chilies, potatoes and so much more. For some reason I’ve always felt right at home stomping through vegetable gardens…makes me so happy!
After our fabulous garden tour, we were seated out in the sunlight for our food and wine pairing. What a treat!
Everything was served in tiny tiny portions and served with a different Kendall-Jackson wine. It was like very gourmet tapas!
Plate # 1 was a watermelon salad, sweet corn custard and smoked duck breast. It was all so small and cute…and VERY tasty!
Plate #2: pork belly sliders and an Asian lettuce wrap
Plate #3: dessert!
The CARAMEL CORN! Best I’ve ever had. Hands down.
So good that I brought leftovers home in my purse. I’m just that classy, obviously. There was also a mini pumpkin mousse, which was fabulous as well. Oh California and its amazing food. I love thee.
Look who came out to say hi!
Adam was working an event at the Wine Center all morning and paused to enjoy some delicious food and wine with us. Tough gig, huh?!
We got home from all that craziness around 5:00 and my brain just didn’t know what to do with itself. The food I ate was delicious but it wasn’t lunch and it wasn’t dinner….and it was too big for a snack. It just didn’t fit! Plus, the portions were so, so tiny. So, around 6:30 I made quasi-dinner numero duo: pb&j:
On an Arnold’s Whole Wheat Sandwich Thin! Much better.
My mom totally crashed. She’s still on east coast time and had a looooooong day yesterday! I don’t blame her. Currently, I’m paging my way through the latest Bon Appetit and sipping on some licorice tea. Tomorrow we have more wine tastings on tap + dinner at The Estate!
{ 55 comments… read them below or add one }
What a fabulous day! When I’m 21 can I join you for an entire day of food & wine? Ahhh, Sonoma County – gotta love it =)
Your mom is SO cute! Beautiful pictures, especially of the tapas plates!
oh my gosh your mom looks so much like my mom!!! lol
QUIVIRA!!!! thats where our vineyards grapes went for years and years (now they are in murphy goode’s zin though). i love that place.
Lovely photos, Jenna! Although Adam looks frighteningly like one of the other postgrads in my department!
What is the licorice tea like? I bought a box recently, but haven’t got around to trying it yet. Does it actually taste like black licorice or is it a more mild taste like fennel?
Looks like a great day!
What an amazing day!
I read that BH&G! I was hoping we would meet Justin when we were ther. Lucky you!
Looks fabulous. When you get a chance, come to AMADOR COUNTY for the best Zinfandel around. Bay Area cannot do Zin like Amador (too cold). They have the best Barbera and Zinfandel around. It’s a wonderful day trip. Not to mention you’re within distance of the CAPITOL of California!
Just make sure you hit up COOPER VINEYARDS if you head to Amador. Tell ‘em “Pam & Charlie” sent ya. You’ll be taken care of for sure!
You guys do look alike! Wine country is gorgeous.
Look at you Miss Celebrity of Wine Country
LOL I love that you seem so much happier and you Glo as Angela would say. Congrats on everything.
you and your mom are adorable!!!
Looks like such a lovely day!
Wow – what a gorgeous day full of wine and food! Your mom is such a doll and yes, you look like her! I would love to have a job where I could pour wine all day. I think my husband would be very proud of me too
Your pictures are gorgeous…as always! So jealous of all the wine and good eats.
What a gorgeous day! Glad you’re having fun giving your mom the grand tour!
Beautiful. My mom used to live in the Bay area. I miss all the weekend visits of wine tasting in the valley. Oh how I love my wine.. looks like a gorgeous day too!!
You and your mom looks so similar! Looks like you had a great day together.
Mmmm….that lunch/dinner/snack (I don’t know what to call it either, haha) you had with your mom looks delicious!
You and your mom are beautiful! Looks so great there
I hope she gets a good nights sleep. And I wish we had those Sandwich Thins around here 
– I’m soooo jealous…seen a pic of the cat below too and she is gorgeous – love it!!
Caramel Corn reminds me of my childhood. My Great Grandmother made it every year for Trick OR Treat. The pictures of you and your mom are lovely!
*le sigh* what a glam vino life you lead, my friend
have an AMAZING time with your madre!!
xoxo
your mom looks so much like my aunt darlene ( my FAV aunt, btw) … too funny!
your mom looks so much like my aunt arlene (my fav aunt). although, i look nothing like you but you remind me of my baby sister. whew!! hope you come to washington state soon. my friends and i are planning a walla walla wine tour for next fall. it would be great if you could join us
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That tasting looks amazing. And isn’t this month’s Bon Apetit wonderful?! I don’t usually read it but I bought it for my flight to SF last week and totally fell in love!
I just love small plates. Flavor becomes so intense and compact when food is served in small portions. It really forces you to think about the taste, texture–everything.
Wow – you’re really making me want to move to California!!
eek it WON a gold medal, not ONE a gold medal! too much wine?
Your mom is lovely! And you totally look alike!
wow! looks like you and your mom had a great day! how many different wineries are there actually in cali? hah. there seems to be soo many! and licorice tea? sounds terrific!
jenna
I need to pay Adam a visit at Kendall Jackson… what a great afternoon!
I love those mini dishes! They were so cute! You and mom are so cute! I bet she is loving it there as well! Have fun!
I can’t wait to be home in Oregon. I hope that you soak up all the time with your family. I am so glad that you’re enjoying life Jenna!
What an awesome day with your mom and I bet Dexter is so happy to be reunited with you again!
Your day sounds perfect, and everything looked delicious! x x
looks like a gorgeous day to be touring wine country! And yes, you and your mom totally look alike. Oh, and popcorn is such a fun dessert idea!
Your mom is gorgeous!
You and your mom definitely look alike and I looks like you both had a greeeeat time! I hope one day I can host my mom in the wine country
Wow you guys look so much alike!
you look like your having the time of your life. Your mom is BEAUTIFUL!
That dinner looked so yummy!
Hey Jenna!
I want to buy some amazing grass and was wondering what you recommend? WOW! dinner looks great! I love your blog!!
Thanks!
Tieghan:)
What a great day for your mom!!! I hope you are enjoying her time with you! I miss my mom terribly and would love to take her to California in the future!
That tasting looks delicious – the dessert especially. I love caramel corn and don’t eat it enough
It sounds like you and your mom are having a blast, too. Yay for mother-daughter time!
Awww, Jenna! What a splendid day, the fact that you spent it with your mom makes it tops.
Those pork-belly sliders look outstanding and scrumptious!
Um, no one’s judging for stuffing the corn in your purse. I’m certainly not above it! Looks like you showed your mama a good time.
Your mom is beautiful! And you do both look alike:) Sounds like you played the perfect hostess and showed your mom a great time!
What a fun day with your mom! Such a great place to live!
Jenna, I want your life.
Jenna, I want your life.
Based on your love of the gardens at Kendall Jackson I highly recommend a visit to Kuleto. It is a bit of a haul up the mountain but beyond worth it! They cook everything from food right off their property. Plus, the wine is divine!
You have amazing blue eyes, and you definitely got them from her. It looks like you guys had a great time.
The Kendall jackson tasting room is amazing, the garden are so grogeous! I love it there. Looks like you guys had an amazing day there!
Gah, California is so beautiful, I am loving all your pictures. I really need to put that high on the list of places to visit
Beautiful pictures!!! I had to pull my fiance away from his X-box games to show him… we have been wanting to visit wine country for ages!!!
can I seriously just be you? if only for a day… you are too fabulous!
Your mom is so beautiful. Enjoy your time together.