If I asked the wine-loving twitterverse to mention the first winery that comes to mind in Napa Valley, many would probably say St. Supéry.

The reason for this is because Rick Bakas, Social Media Director for St. Supéry, has done a tremendous job not only in managing their brand throughout social media, but in truly engaging wine lovers to talk and share their passion for wine.

I don’t know about you, but I tend to better appreciate wine when I hear people’s experiences, when winemakers tell me their stories, when I learn something new about a particular wine, when I am among friends simply enjoying life with a good glass of wine…

Well, I had a similar feeling when I visited St. Supéry in Napa Valley; their staff was so welcoming, friendly, and knowledgeable about the wine that I couldn’t wait to taste it.

To start, you don’t go directly to the tasting room. Well, you can… but I highly recommend first taking a self-guided tour of their exhibits where you can learn the process of wine making.

One of the coolest displays in the exhibit is their SmellaVision (see photo), where you can sniff and learn to distinguish the aromas from the different varietals. There’s a display for Cabernet Sauvignon and one for Sauvignon Blanc.

After this, visit the tasting room and test your nose on real wine.

St. Supéry Tasting Room

St. Supéry’s tasting room is elegant, comfortable, and their staff is great. Joe is one of the most experienced staff at St. Supéry and I must say I learned a lot about wines during our tasting.

The selection of both white and red wines in St. Supéry is extensive and you can see all the descriptions on their website. But I want to point out two wines that I loved and which I think are of great value.

2007 Semillon

I simply love this 100% Semillon wine. It is unique, rich, and elegant. The oaky aromas blend well with the nice notes of citrus and peaches. The finish is pleasant with balanced acidity and a velvety texture.

Ah, the Semillon is so refreshing that it makes for a perfect summer wine.

An interesting thing Joe noted is that it’s a white wine that drinks like a red wine. I know, it got you thinking.

2005 Petit Verdot

St. Supéry’s Petit Verdot is an outstanding wine. With a deep purple color and round tannins, the wine is powerful without being overpowering.

The hints of blackberry and cedar on the nose actually reminded me of the SmellaVision exhibit. It has fine notes of toasty oak and plum on the palate with a nice long finish.

Petit Verdot is best paired with red meats and aged cheeses.

So there you have it! If you are visiting Napa make sure you stop by St. Supéry. Not only will you have the opportunity to taste great wines, but you’ll have a memorable experience.

And if you are looking for a great place to stay, check the Napa Marriott.

I have been to many wineries around the world and I have to say that some of the most rewarding experiences happen when I come across wineries that are so incredibly unique.

I am talking about wineries that have absolutely no intention of copying anyone; wineries that do what they love and share their passion with the world.

Deer Park Winery, located in Escondido, California, offers precisely that.

And by the way, the word “Escondido” means hidden in Spanish, which is interesting because Deer Park Winery is a bit hidden in the north-eastern part of San Diego County.

The most fascinating thing about Deer Park Winery is that, besides their award-winning wines, they also house an auto museum with a huge collection of vintage convertible cars.

Some sites even claim it’s the largest collection of its kind in the world with about 120 cars. It truly is impressive!

The Vintage Car Collection

This auto museum has three different rooms that are impeccably cleaned and very well maintained.

Two of the most iconic and classic convertible cars you will find in the collection are a 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air and a 1953 Cadillac Eldorado just like the one President Eisenhower rode during his Inauguration Day parade.

But they have quite a few exotic models.

One of the rarest cars in the collection is a 1928 Franklin Airman with a “Spirit of St. Louis” ornament.

Some other exotic models are a 1954 Kaiser Darrin, a tiny 1959 German Messerchmitt, a 1958 Ford Edsel, and a 1953 Nash Healey. And many more…

The museum’s admission fee is $8 but really worth the Americana experience. Besides the cars, they also have a collection of vintage house appliances.

Their Wines

Deer Park Winery is a small family owned and operated winery producing about 1,000 cases per year.

I will recommend their 1996 Zinfandel, which is well balanced, fruity on the nose and a bit oaky.

They also have a 1991 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, a unique dessert wine with hints of dry apricot. This wine pairs well with apple crumble and vanilla ice-cream.

Due to it’s uniqueness as a great travel spot offering great wine, Deer Park Winery is a TravelPlusWine must!

The Point Loma Lighthouse, located on the grounds of the Cabrillo National Monument Park, was built in 1855 and helped guide boats into the San Diego Bay.

A great advantage, which was also a huge drawback, was the fact that it was built 422 feet above sea level. When it was clear it offered great direction to sailors, but on foggy nights the low clouds buried its light. Due to this technicality, its operations only lasted 36 years.

Today, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse is a historical site and a museum. The National Park Service has done a tremendous job refurbishing the interior of the lighthouse just the way it looked in the late 1800’s.

With over 400 wineries in Napa Valley, a visit to the region can overwhelm even the most distinguished wine drinkers!

Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of your Napa wine tasting experience:

Start your trip at the Napa Visitor Information Center.

If you don’t know which questions to ask, they do. You’ll leave with brochures, wine tasting coupons (a huge bonus!), and well-highlighted maps to get you started on your Napa wine tasting adventure.

At the very least, know which type of vineyards you want to visit.

Do you prefer the big names or small boutique wineries? White or red? Sweet or dry? A winery with a view? A place to picnic? Somewhere in close proximity to your hotel?

With limited tasting time in Napa, nobody wants to spend their time at all the wrong wineries!

It’s okay to share tastings.

Not everyone wants to have their very own! Sometimes it’s nice to share a tasting and be able to check out that extra winery rather than overindulge at one or two. Less is more, right?

If you’re ever in La Jolla, California and need a sugar fix, be sure to check out Cups on Girard Avenue for a cupcake fix. As a bonus, their coffee is so delicious, it’ll soon be the place to go for a caffeine fix as well.

Cups is a very interesting concept—think: cupcake bakery meets karaoke bar meets coffee shop. Although quite original, the verdict is out on whether the karaoke element is a good idea or a bad business move. I guess it depends on who sings! When there’s nobody to belt tunes into the microphone, a DJ who goes by the name of Crème Supreme plays tunes at Cups.

On a diet? Have no fear because Cups in La Jolla offers something for everyone: vegan, flourless, gluten-free, and dairy-free chocolate just to name a few.

Cups has a rotating menu and each day they offer a different variety of cupcake surprises. I tried the Liliko’i which is a passion fruit cup with light passion fruit buttercream frosting. While I’m not a huge buttercream fan, the actual cake itself was perfectly moist and refreshingly fruity.

I can’t wait to go back with my vegan friends! No excuses now, ladies!

Follow them on Twitter: @CupsLJ