24 Hours In - Ojai, California

I love semi-impromptu wine trips, especially those with besties.  Since I had an overnight in Cali, Danielle Grey and I took Saturday afternoon and drove north from LA, bumping Migos in traffic while pretending to be 20-something. 

Getting off the e way on what seemed like a deserted and DRY mountain town, a bend in the road revealed a burst of random ass humanity.  We sifted through the people and parked near Ojai Vinyard.

Where to Go:

Go straight up to the bar.  For a late Saturday afternoon, the vibe was chill and not overly crowded, but there was a wait for service; there was a small bridal party and some filled tables and a sign that said their last pour would be at 4:00 for an event later that day.  Boooo to this as in true us fashion, the plan to arrive at 1 pm turned to arriving at 2:45.  Either way, we began to sip on the first pour of the 15 dollar tasting, a Chardonnay, while assembling our charcuterie and cheese board. 

What to Bring:

We called ahead and verified that it is BYOF.  Def came in like a bag lady, I LOVE Aldi's fine ass cousin, Trader Joe...*swoons*.  He got us right togther with the essentials for about 30 bucks: peppered salami and prosciutto.  Red globe grapes.  Extra creamy Brie and Manchego.  Apricot preserves and balsamic glaze.  Water crackers and savory crackers.  Nom. 

Don’t worry about the stares you might get in the preparation process of your own snacks; the glares of envy when our tray was prepared tasted almost as delicious.  Also, they will provide a knife but not the best one, so bring your own, along with a board and plates if needed.

What to Do:

Talk, drink, and snack.  And take selfies.  Danielle and I caught up about life on opposite sides of the country, and by the time the third pour came around, the room was a bit lighter and the bartender was able to come to our table to pour vs. us bombarding the bar.  She was very well versed in her wines, going into detail about the lighter-tannin-content-due-to-lack-of-water-and-blah-blah, just pour the wine.  

While I do love a tasty glass, I am more about the food. If you want details on wine particulars, be sure to visit The Lush Life website for perfect pairings and other real life wine stuff.

Have you been to any wineries?  What is your favorite and where?  Talk to me! Comment below!