Sally and I have just returned from Napa.

The trip was originally supposed to happen in March, but California's shelter-in-place order went into effect the day we were scheduled to leave. So we cancelled and spent the past few months monitoring the situation to decide when to return.

Things finally felt right and a few weeks ago we re-booked our stay for September 1-5. It was definitely a different experience compared to past trips, but we learned that Napa is still a great place to visit.

It started with a quest for barbecue.

Our friends told us about a great place in Fallbrook called The Rib Shack. Another couple went there too and confirmed it was legit. So Sally and I decided to take a Sunday drive to Fallbrook for some barbecue.

And hey, while we were up there, why not check out a few wineries?

"I didn't know if I'd have a job to go back to."

That's something Sally and I heard over and over from winery employees, restaurant servers, and other customer service professionals we encountered in Napa Valley. We were visiting three weeks after the devastating 2017 fires.

My wife and I consistently heard one message while we were in Napa. "We're open for business. Please come to visit."

A family wedding in the Texas Hill Country town of New Braunfels gave us the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with the local wine region. With Sally's mom, Mabeth, generously handling the driving duties, the three of us set out to taste some wine.

We were lucky to find two gems on a three winery tour. Not bad for any day of tasting.

Sally and I recently enjoyed wine tasting in the town of Los Olivos with some friends. If you've tasted wine from Santa Barbara County, you know it well.

If you haven't yet visited Los Olivos, you should. Here's an overview to help you plan your visit.

The severe drought that San Diego and much of California is experiencing might have a happy side effect: more good wine.

How we’ll get there takes a bit of a detour through our local farmlands.

We discovered another hidden gem that’s far off the beaten path.

The North Mountain Wine Trail is a collection of four wineries near Warner Springs. This is a small community on Highway 79 in the most northern part of the county, about a 30 minute drive from Julian.