Napa and Sonoma

[Anirban Halder]

Napa and Sonoma valley - epitome of wine industry in America. Napa - totally Disneyland of wineries. High heels, black tie, pricey, lot about show.
Then there is this small town called Healdsburg - much more peaceful, relaxing. Loved Healdsburg.
These are random travel photos (in between wines) and not a documentary.

1. Stereotype vineyard shots.


2.


3.


4. Of-course Napa. Fancy building, wine - not so fancy.


5.


6.


7. This window reminded me of Greece.

[Anirban Halder]

Healdsburg:
8. Russian River Vineyards - lot of flora and rustic landscape design. It was very little crowded. **Great wine**.


9.


10. Lots of lots of flowers in Russian River Vineyards


11.


12.

[golunvolo]

You capture the calm. I was there around 2006 and your images have brought me right back.

  I like your stereotype images too but the one I like the most is the old bicycle with spider webs, great catch!

[elsa hoffmann]

Really a nice series
I enjoyed looking at them

[CS]

Nice images, Anirban, they stirred my memories of bygone years. Indeed, some of these places are over the top with their attempts at luring and impressing consumers. One such place is found in your image of Domaine Carneros. Admittedly, a beautiful piece of architecture, but, you can't put that in a wine or champagne glass. OTOH, Domaine Carneros is owned by Taittinger, a French company looking to get their share of the cash that flows through the California wine country's top location, which is, as close as they can get to Napa.

There's beauty in the area, as your images clearly show. They created a bit of homesickness in me, but thanks for posting them, because I enjoyed them in spite of it. 

[Airy]

Last series, with emphasis on the foreground, is much my taste.

[Bill De Jager]

I can remember when Napa was low-key and unpretentious, and Sonoma was only starting to get a reputation for wines.  Those days are long gone.

Nice series. 

[Anirban Halder]

You capture the calm. I was there around 2006 and your images have brought me right back.

  I like your stereotype images too but the one I like the most is the old bicycle with spider webs, great catch!

Thank you Paco.  Do you have images from 2006?  If I remember right, you had a point-n-shoot back then.

Thanks you Elsa, Airy, Bill.

Carl - thank you. Glad my images made you nostalgic.

#13. I was tempted to do a BW.

[golunvolo]

Thank you Paco.  Do you have images from 2006?  If I remember right, you had a point-n-shoot back then.

You do remember right. I'm away from home and the files. They should be in a big scramble mess of folders but will take a look to see if I can find something.

[Jakov Minić]

Oh how I wish I could visit Napa and Sonoma thanks to Anirban's images!

[David H. Hartman]

Much Ado About Nothing

Dave Hartman

These photographs reminded me of the location for the movie. The set was an Italian Villa. The dialog was straight up Shakespeare.

[Akira]

Love #11!  Thanks for sharing, Anirban!

[Anirban Halder]

Thank you Jakov, Dave, Akira for stopping by.

#14.

[Andrea B.]

Brings back delightful memories. Lovely series.

[CS]

I can remember when Napa was low-key and unpretentious, and Sonoma was only starting to get a reputation for wines.  Those days are long gone.

Nice series.

You said it!

But what are you gonna do when all of these people keep coming and shoving money at you? And nowadays real estate values keep the cost of doing business sky high.

Many years ago we we're having dinner at an old Italian place close to downtown Napa, and during a conversation with one of the locals, he told me that "the quickest way to become a millionaire is to invest 2 million in a winery in Napa"! Money has corrupted the laid back countryside atmosphere, and pretty much shut out the small unpretentious wineries.

Of course we can't see any of that in Anirban's lovely images, but luckily some of us remember how it used to be.