Napa Valley in a Day: Robert Mondavi Winery’s Glow-Up, Clementine’s Charm, and a Few Other Weekend Finds

Happy Saturday, friends!

It’s time for the weekend post with Kim and Elizabeth, our weekly roundup of inspirations and goings on. On this week’s meanderings a Napa Valley day trip to the newly renovated Robert Mondavi Winery and whimsical Clementine, plus an English cottage coffee table book and a detective series to binge.

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Summer’s hitting its stride and that can only mean one thing … pumpkins, ghosts and bats have arrived in stores. I’m not sure why this continues to startle me year-after-year, as does the new-ish term ‘pre-fall.’ What the heck is pre-fall? Wait … I know … it’s SUMMER. My long-standing policy of no pumpkins until October holds firm. That said I do look forward to placing the first fall pumpkin on the Folly’s doorstep … on the appropriate day. And, I’m not opposed to getting my ducks – ahem pumpkins – in a row ahead of time.

Speaking of the Folly, it’s rolling right along. This week saw more disruptive work happening in the street in front of the house. Sorry, neighbors. A utility trench that’s been open for over a week was finally filled in and the driveway curb set. The backyard is leveled, and the patio area defined. Did I mention we got a new fence on one side of the house and across the back? Shout out to A&J Fencing who’s been coming through for us for the better part of two decades. Inside, the baseboards are being installed. And, in very exciting news, California Closets sent me a ‘we’re three weeks out’ from installation reminder. Woo hoo.

Let’s get to this week’s inspirations …

Newly Renovated Robert Mondavi Winery

During my 15-months (who’s counting) of pied-à-terre living I vowed to get out and explore the Bay Area. Has that happened? No. But in a rare exception and we took a drive to Napa Valley to check out the newly renovated, always iconic Robert Mondavi Winery.

The mission style arch and tower is refreshed but unchanged.

The Winery has been closed for three years – three years – to undergo a $200 million renovation, and reopened a couple of months ago. More on that here. Many of the sculptures were shifted around the property including the copper head of Robert Mondavi by artist Len Urso.

Full disclosure: Jim used to work for Constellation Brands, and Robert Mondavi Winery is a crown jewel of their portfolio, so I got to tag along to many winery events and boondoggle’s over a period of many years … Cannes Film Festival anyone? A favorite was always the Summer Concert Series, with pre-concert dinners served family-style between the vines of the famed To Kalon vineyard. Those were the days.

These days the concert lawn is gone, replaced by drought tolerant native landscaping where bees and butterflies do their thing. Not to worry, the winery’s still figuring out live music going forward, and I’m happily awaiting that next chapter.

We booked The Mondavi Table food and wine pairing experience, overlooking the new kitchen gardens. Forget the traditional wine tasting, this is a three-course, fresh-from-the-garden lunch served family-style, paired with lush wines, hosted by a wine educator (shout out Jeff) who works the room refreshing glasses and talking food, wine, vineyards, history and why California and California wines are the best. The couple next to us was celebrating their 25th anniversary, so naturally, bubbles appeared. Jim was curious about the reserve cab, and that appeared too.

A couple of relaxed hours with zero pressure to buy anything or join a wine club – just a wine list on the table if you felt like it. After lunch, we wandered around taking in the changes while feeling that the laid-back, contemporary vibe remains very much the same.

 

Wine enthusiast reading recs ~

1. The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty – shocking when published, and banned from our house at the time (I read it anyway, and even attended the author’s lecture and book signing ☺️)
2. Margrit Mondavi’s Sketchbook: Reflections on Wine, Food, Art, Family, Romance, and Life – known for her incredible hospitality, Margrit’s book is beautiful and inspiring. I’ve gifted it time and again
3. A Tale of Two Valleys: Wine, Wealth, and the Battle for the Good Life in Napa and Sonoma – the title says it all, the low down and dirty on these neighboring but oh, so different valleys

Clementine in Yountville

Last August the restaurant of my dreams opened in Yountville, a favorite wine country town (hello, Hotel Yountville & Bistro Jeanty). By “restaurant of my dreams” I mean whimsical ambiance, fresh seasonal food and a Spritz-forward cocktail menu. Swoon.

After Clementine opened, my social feeds became a parade of lucky friends and favorite follows snagging early-days reservations and posting envy-inducing carousels and Reels. My own quest for a table fell off the radar somewhere during my year of rental living mid-renovation with a newly retired husband (dispatch coming soon). But when you’re making a day trip to Napa Valley, destination-stacking is always the move, so I booked brunch at Clementine ahead of our Robert Mondavi Winery visit. In hindsight, that’s a lot of food and drink packed into a short window. But … YOLO.

Clementine sits in a historic brick building on Yountville’s main drag with both indoor and outdoor seating – though in the warm weather months the deck is really the place to be. Shaded by mature olive trees, ringed in colorful roses, dotted with plush sofas and marble-topped tables under fringed umbrellas, cushions and upholstery in soft florals and stripes, vintage sideboards standing in as bussing stations – it’s straight out of a fairy tale. I can only imagine how much more magical it gets in the evening under the stars and twinkle lights.

Jim enjoyed a glass of Schramsberg Brut Rosé and I indulged in a Clementine Spritz. Obvi. Not to be cliché but it’s 5 o’clock somewhere. Don’t you adore the embroidered fishy napkin?!

The food is amazing but I bit off way more than I could chew with the pastry basket … which could have served four.

Jim had the quiche Lorraine – which he said is amazing – while maintaining his firm never-say-no-to-bacon policy.

You heard it here first, Clementine is officially my new favorite restaurant and I can’t wait to return for lunch, cocktail hour and dinner.

Perfect English Small and Beautiful

Building the Folly has me obsessed with smaller spaces and Ros Byan Shaw’s (former editor at World of Interiors) Perfect English Small and Beautiful showcasing 12 smallish – most under 1000 sqft. – homes throughout the U.K. is giving me all the inspiration with a side of English charm.

Gone on Britbox

We binged Gone – six episodes over two nights – last week. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – and again – no one does crime and suspense like the Brits.

“David Morrissey and Eve Myles star in this gripping drama. Headmaster Michael Polly becomes the prime suspect in his wife Sarah’s disappearance, drawing him into a tense game of cat and mouse with Detective Annie Cassidy as she fights to uncover the truth.”

 

Grandma’s Estate Sale in Berkeley

Local friends, I’m not sure how I learned about this estate sale in Berkeley, the important thing is that I did. Sabrina Forscutt, a fashion stylist who may or may not live in the Bay Area (unclear), but had a grandmother who did, and that grandmother, it turns out, was a fashionista who held onto her now-vintage collection for decades. Sabrina’s organizing an estate sale, mostly clothing and accessories (looks like an enormous collection of hats, shoes, clothing, jewelry, you name it) maybe some home decor too (also unclear). Love how much authority I bring to something I know so little about?

Anyhoo … Sabrina’s been teasing the sale of her grandmother’s collection on Instagram and the sale is officially set for September 17-19 in Berkeley. You can sign up to receive an email when the sale address is revealed on September 16th. Sounds like it will draw a crowd, and the first 30 people in line will get in, then it’s one-out-one-in. I’m intrigued.

Follow Sabrina on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at the run-up to the sale and scroll around to get an idea of the scope of her grandmother’s collections. Oh, and an Estate Sale Q&A.

Update: It looks like the estate sale will include home furnishings.

Odds & Socks ~

• I bought this bright pop of linen gorgeousness for an August wedding shower. Turns out I mixed up my dates and can’t attend so I’m debating whether to return it or hold on for a future event. It’s on sale, with additional 30% off using Code: EXTRA30.
• This looks like an interesting read.
• I’m kind of loving this vintage inspired vase.

Current Favorites ~

And that’s all I have for today. If you missed last weekend’s post, catch up here.

Let’s see what’s inspiring Kim and Elizabeth.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE

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