On Saturday, Jes and I went to Far Niente Winery for their Cabernet Release Day event.  For non-members it was $75 per person but complimentary to their wine club members (yes, we’re members) so we thought we’d take advantage of it.  We’ve had lots of their wine but had never visited the winery.  It was up on a hill and beautiful and the event was held in their wine cave.

We tasted 5 different wines: 2003, 2005, and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignons, barrel tasting of the upcoming 2008, and a Dolce dessert wine.  They had a variety of hors d’oeuvres featuring duck, steak, lamb, and tuna.  All were very cute and tasty.  Well, except for the lamb meatballs that smelled of armpit.

The wines were all good and the dessert wine was paired with an assortment of mini desserts ranging from creme puffs, fruit tartlets, french macaroons, and foie gras!

We had a fun time tasting and exploring the grounds.  The rain was off and on and at one point there was a rainbow off in the distance.  We managed to leave the winery without buying anything and spent only $2 on tip for the free coffee bar and $5 on tip for the poor valet guys running around in the rain all day.  That was probably the shortest and cheapest trip to Napa for us so far.  Can’t wait for the next release event in a couple months!