Day 37

Day 37

February 23, 2015

Miles: 4822

Today was a BLAST!!

Okay so we decided to stay another night here in Lodi and dude! I'm being spoiled today because of it!!

First stop of the day, Lodi Wine & Visitor's Center.

Yeah, no joke!! There are over 65 vineyards just in this small town so we popped in to get a little extra information and directions!!

The wonderful lady at the Visitor's Center gave us a LOT of information so DQ (Grumpy stayed home with most of the herd) and I decided a quick bite for lunch and we could plan our route while we eat.  I figured since downtown was so cute the other night when I went to the cinema, I'd take DQ down and show her around a bit.  We saw an old McDonald's (like the original store design) but I forgot to take a picture for CDawn!! (Please tell her I'm sorry but I have gifts for her!!). Downtown Lodi is so cute!! It's got that hometown feel to it.  Most of the people in this area have been here their whole lives and fully plan on future generations in this land.  It's a lovely thought that I used to share, but now I'm just glad to have them be locals while I travel the world.  

There isn't much in this town that isn't absolutely adorable!

We stopped at ShangriLa and had bento boxes for lunch.  It actually filled us both up pretty good and we had a lovely waiter (local of course) that helped us figure out our winery plan of attack!

Second stop of the day's tour was Jessie's Grove estate.

Have I mentioned I love CALIFORNIA?!?!??

The vineyard looks like someone's farmhouse and honestly it's like coming home to the family farm when you pull up.  They welcome you right in and find out how the family is!! Our sommelier, Andrew, was lovely!! We did the reds tasting and HOLY CRAP!! It was pretty damn good!  I ended up buying two different bottles; I loved it so much!  The grounds themselves were beautiful!

I think that's my favorite place so far, and not just because of the wine (even though it was scrumptious and I'm not sure those bottles will make it home before I drink them!!) but it was just a warm and welcoming place.  Peaceful.  Made my heart warm and full.  I loved it.

Our next stop ended up being the last of the wine portion of our day because SOME PEOPLE can't seem to hold their wine tasters very well..... ahem.

Michael David's despite being born the same year as the most AWESOMEST person YOU know, I wasn't very impressed with their wine or their sommelier for that matter.  I did end up buying a bottle I liked but that was mainly because I had already promised myself at least one bottle from each winery we tasted in.  The grounds were lovely but they had that generic hotel/staged feel to them.  The garden looked like a exquisite place for a party/wedding/etc but it was too cold feeling to me.  

I don't know.  I think I was just THAT impressed with Jessie's Grove. 

Our final stop for the day was all about DQ.  

I found a Ghirardelli outlet near Stockton, CA so I drove DQ down to shop and taste a little.  To say she was excited would be a SERIOUS understatement!  It was pretty awesome though, we walked in the door, were welcomed and handed peppermint bark candy.  WHO WOULD ARGUE WITH THAT?!?!? And peppermint being my favorite, I was pretty sold on the place.  Needless to say, I picked up a gift or two for some of my favorite people, so I plan on being SUPER popular when I get home!!

All in all its been a good day.  I brought home lots of wine and chocolate so yeah we are good.  Tomorrow is going to be a hella long day, so I'm headed to bed!  

I love you enough to think of you when I go places.

I miss you enough to buy you a gift even if you said you didn't want it; I am my mother's daughter.

Goodnight!!

Xx

P.S.  Y'all see your gifts??