LOCAL Houston | The City Guide AUGUST 2015 | Page 70

Local August 2015_FINAL.qxp_002houston 7/27/15 12:19 PM Page 70

DESTINATION

GET PAIRING
IN NAPA AND SONOMA

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA’S NAPA VALLEY AND SONOMA
COUNTIES HAVE LONG BEEN CONSIDERED AMONG THE
COUNTRY’S TOP GOURMET DESTINATIONS. AFTER ALL,
THIS IS WHERE MANY OF THE MOST FAMOUS
AMERICAN WINES ARE BORN, AND WHERE MANY OF
OUR TOP CHEFS—FROM THOMAS KELLER TO CHARLIE
PALMER—WORK THEIR CULINARY MAGIC. EATING AND
DRINKING ARE SERIOUS BUSINESS HERE, AND NOT JUST
FOR TOURISTS; CHAT WITH ANY RESTAURANT SERVER OR
WINERY EMPLOYEE, AND YOU’LL FIND THAT THEY SPEND
THEIR OFF-HOURS HONING THEIR PALATES IN THE
REGION’S BARS AND EATERIES, TOO.

1

WITH ALL THE FOCUS ON THE
TASTE BUDS, THE REGION HAS
ALSO BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF
CULINARY TRENDS. A CURRENT
ONE: WINERIES AND VINEYARDS
THAT GO BEYOND THE TYPICAL
TASTING EXPERIENCE TO OFFER
GOURMET, CHEF-PREPARED FOOD
AND WINE PAIRINGS. HERE ARE
SOME TOP SPOTS TO GET YOUR
MOUTH WATERING.

3

2
By Sandra Ramani
Photography provided by wineries

70

L O C A L

| august 15