Wining and Dining

Castello di Amorosa Winery
A few months ago I emailed my Aunt Joanne who lives in Santa Rosa to propose a wine tasking trip for the Boylan women. The stars aligned and everyone came together, my mom and me, cousin Christine and her friend Sarah, my Aunt Joanne, and my Aunt Melody and her daughter-in-law Kelly.

From left: Aunt Melody, my mom, me, Christine, Kelly, Joanne, & Sarah

Our first stop was Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga. So beautiful. Our tour guide said it took the owner and his team fifteen years to design and plan it, fifteen years to build it, and that they have now been open for about eight years. The estate is set up to replicate a castle from the 1400's-1600's. And it only cost about $45 million dollars...pocket change... 






We started out learning about the estate, then we went under ground and were all thoroughly freaked out by our guide when he talked about torture practices of the time period- seriously, Game of Thrones style. Then we had our first tasting of a red, 





Then the real fun began when we tasted four whites, four reds, and three sweet wines.



After the wine frenzy we needed sustenance. We headed over to VJB Cellars for lunch. I also got a delicious chocolate covered Oreo, because honestly, who can resist? They had a tasting room there, but we were in too much of a food hangover to go for another tasting round. The weather was perfect, so we all just sat on the patio and enjoyed conversation.

After VJB we drove a short distance to St. Francis Winery in Sonoma.






Aunt Melody treated us to more wine and again we relaxed outside and enjoyed the company of our family.

I have always loved listening to peoples' stories. Their experiences, beliefs, ideas, it all makes up who we are, what we stand for, what we hope for...Spending the weekend with these women humbled me. I have family that loves me, supports me, uplifts me. 

Most of all, I have a beautiful mother who gives me her all, and shows me what it is like to grow and change and shift, no matter how painful or daunting it seems, in order to become authentic and true.