Late June in the Napa Valley for the wines of racing drivers

This was my first visit to the Napa Valley and my main reason for going there was to get some wines produced by racing drivers, motor racing being my other hobby.

My first view of the vines in the Napa Valley

Rows of vines with the Californian mountains in the background

I was on my way to Mario Andretti's winery in the Napa.  He has been producing wine since he retired in the nineties.  I still have vivid memories of seeing him race in the seventies.   

I have arrived for the tasting on Sunday morning.

They charge you for tastings in this region but if you are good enough customer you can avoid the charge.

The wine guide was in a good mood on the morning I went and we got to taste a few wines other than in the tasting we bought.  I didn't particularly appreciate the whites but the reds were rather nice.

A nice Syrah but I bought their most expensive wine!

Being California you can taste inside or outside!

The Andretti "ranch" is very Italian in style, not surprisingly as that was where Mario spent his early years.  His racing was inspired by seeing Alberto Ascari in the 1955 Mille Miglia.

The Andretti winery has a lovely Italian feel.

Some of Mario's vines.

The Sonoma Wine Trolley visits the Andretti Winery.

Up the road from the Andretti winery is the Blackbird winery with its interesting sculptures.

Avenue of trees, European style, near the Andretti winery.

An absolutely beautiful early model Ford Mustang outside of Meadowcroft wines in Sonoma where I taqsted and bought the wines of AJ Foyt.

Whilst in the area I also bought the wines of two other great racing drivers, AJ Foyt and Jeff Gordon.  I will be organising a rather special Motor Racing themed wine tasting dinner soon!

If in the area also check out the wines of Randy Lewis, another driver I saw race in Europe. Unfortunately he was closed on Sunday.

Between Napa and Sonoma is this imposing winery of Domaine Carneros

Domaine Carneros.