Roses in Napa

Touristy Napa Valley is as good a honeymoon destination as Paris or Rome or...Venice. It's a different kind of flavour though. More Cath Kidston than Balmain, if you get what I'm trying to say.... More bold, bright colours and honest architecture than exquisite works of art masquerading as structures. Visit if you're a bubbly, happy couple. Leave your stilettos and bandage dresses at home; hop out in frou-frou confections and espadrilles. Take your picnic baskets with you.Make sure they match your shoes.

Visited the area in mid August and it was just beautiful! Rolling hills set against the skies of azure blue. And of course, the neat rows of grape plants streaking the hills with lines in Om Nom green.


In addition to too many grape plants, most wineries also have inns attached to their facilities. These inns have courtyards FILLED with roses growing in every imaginable shade and direction. Napa Valley's a very popular wedding destination, by the way.

Roses reaching out in delightful disarray.


close-up


While the guys tried to look like wine connoisseurs, the females pranced amongst the roses. Don't have any flattering photos of myself doing that though.... because I'd made quite the Wardrobe Misjudgment that day; paired a black RL cable knit with my strangely loose grey Volcom jeans and black Charlotte Russe boots (they hurt like hell, by the way).

And really, anyone who wears black in a flower garden looks like an assassin.

The unfortunate truth about not being very tall or very slim is that it's much easier to look like a country bumpkin. Throw in sallow skin (note to self: WEAR COLOURS) and a bad haircut (THANK YOU MELVIN FROM SALON VIM), and one succeeded in looking like one was an assassin from the Motherland.

Another truth to be derived from this experience is that She Who Plans Her Wardrobe in Advance will have fewer Ugly Days.

Aren't you curious now? Lucky you. Decided that I absolutely had to snap a photo with the winery's sign. Did it and walked away looking like a cat who'd just jumped into a flowerbed.

Branded but inappropriate clothes, check. Paired with beautiful but inappropriate bag, check.

Okay enough whining. Hahaha. I've dumped the boots and kept the jeans. Still love the sweater though!

Stopped by a Thai curry place after. Table was adorned with..what else? Roses

So we visited a few wineries, and Sutter Home (link) left the deepest impression on me. At USD4 a pop, I really should have bought a few bottles of their famous White Zinfandel. Too bad I didn't think I'd be imbibing much alcohol on exchange. Chanced upon their White Zinfandel in a nondescript Boston alcohol shop, and came back with two bottles, but that's a story for another time.

Till then, Om Nom loves you.

Playing Ninja.

White Zinfandel: (off the Sutter Home website) A delicate blush pink color introduces this fresh, lively wine. On your palate, light creaminess surrenders to a refreshing crisp finish of strawberries and melon. Enjoy chilled as an aperitif, or partnered with all types of foods, particularly those with a slight spiciness, such as Asian or Latin cuisine.

Xy and I had a pretty pleasant experience with this wine. Get it from Cold Storage at SGD25. :D