A Lady Goes West

A healthy lifestyle blog by Ashley Pitt

  • Home
    • Popular Posts
  • About
  • Fitness
    • Les Mills Group Fitness
    • Workouts
    • Fitness Tips
    • Class Reviews
  • Food
    • What I Ate Wednesday
    • Recipes
  • Clean Beauty
  • Mom Life
    • Fit & Fertile Book
    • Baby
    • Pregnancy
    • Postpartum
  • Press
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa Valley

January 20, 2015 By Ashley 54 Comments

Sometimes Dave and I get to do some pretty cool things. Over the past two-and-a-half years of living in the Bay Area, we’ve had quite a few incredible experiences. While I hate the fact that I live so far from my family and friends back in Florida, I do love many of the perks of life here in San Francisco. And one of the best things? Living just about an hour away from wine country.

Wine tasting in Napa ValleyTwo shots from our day in wine country. Dave and me posing with delicious wine at William Hill Estate Winery and me stopping for a picture in front of the sign at Freemark Abbey tasting room.

Two incredible wine-tasting experiences in Napa Valley

This past Saturday, Dave and I took an adventure to Napa, and it was pretty awesome. Because last Friday was the anniversary of the day we met each other six years ago, we knew we wanted to do something to celebrate over the weekend. Dave had arranged a private tasting experience for us through some of his work connections as a surprise for me. Well, around the exact same time, I also received an invite for a tasting experience on the same day. When I told him about that, he let me know he was already thinking of a trip to wine country. Much like the two of us standing next to each other at a bar in downtown Orlando on a Friday night in 2009, clearly our day of fun in Napa was meant to be. So we did it.

On Saturday morning, after a short sweat session in the gym, in which I completed a 20-minute four-move total-body dumbbell workout, Dave and I hit the road for the valley. It took us just over an hour to reach our first stop, William Hill Estate Winery. We really had no idea what to expect from our experiences that day, but figured we were in for something good. And yes, we were.

Visiting the William Hill Estate Winery

When we pulled up to William Hill Estate Winery, the fog was pretty heavy. It wasn’t exactly a beautiful day, but we marched up to the big white building and went inside. We were immediately greeted by a lovely woman who gave us a class of Chardonnay to “open our palate” as we waited for the other guests to arrive. I liked the sound of that. Chardonnay is definitely my drink of choice, friends. 

William Hill Estate Winery tasting via A Lady Goes WestWelcomed with friendly faces and a glass of tasty wine white, we immediately felt at home in the William Hill Estate Winery tasting room.

While waiting in the tasting room, we learned that we would be part of a group of eight. And all of us had been invited through the Klout Perk service to be some of the first people to go through a new offering at William Hill Estate Winery. We were told that only 15 people had tried the experience to date, so we were really getting in on the ground-floor. And who doesn’t like to be the first to try something?

Within about ten minutes, everyone arrived, and we were led outside for a quick tour of the estate. During the tour, we walked up a hill, learned a bit about the growing process of the grapes, had a little photo-shoot and then went into the private Benchmark Room for the main event: The Collector’s Experience.

Ashley in front of William Hill Estate WineryEven though the skies were gray at William Hill Estate Winery, it was still a beautiful and serene setting for a nice day of wine tasting. Oh and that’s me, wearing Dave’s sunglasses because I left mine in the car and was super squinty in every picture.

So get this, while up on the hill at the beginning of our tour, we all had a chance to introduce ourselves. Right when I went to say my name, someone stopped me and said. “Ashley, do you teach classes at 24 Hour Fitness?” Ha. Why, yes I do. “I take your Wednesday night BODYPUMP classes.” Ha. Why, yes you do. Small world! Everyone in our group was from the San Francisco and Oakland area, and so of course, we had a connection. I thought I recognized one of the fellow attendees, but didn’t put two-and-two together that it was from the gym. How about that! Clearly, it took her a while to realize it was me, because she is used to seeing me yelling loudly at the top of my lungs while drenched in sweat. Not this time though, I actually had on some make-up and normal clothes.

The Collector’s Experience at William Hill Estate Winery

When we walked into the Benchmark Room, the table was set with a lovely display for each person. Wine glasses, crackers, water, fancy cards and pens to take notes on what we liked were all set up perfectly. The room was well lit too, so it was great for us bloggers who wanted to take pictures, and yes, we all did. Our lovely guide told us about the William Hill Estate wines we were going to try, poured them in our glasses and gave us the perfect food pairing for each.

William Hill Estate Winery Collector's Experience via A Lady Goes WestOur expertly curated food pairings shown above from right to left in the bottom picture:

Cyprus Grove’s Truffle Tremore Cheese with a drop of Napa wildflower honey on a Cowgirl Creamery toast. Paired with a 2011 Bench Blend Chardonnay. Yum.

Local Fig and lemon with Laura Chenel’s Cabecou Chevre. Paired with a 2009 Unfiltered Chardonnay. Holy amazing.

Spanish Quince Paste with Nicolau Farm’s Quattro Pepi on the Fatted Calf’s Sbriciolona. Paired with a 2011 Bench Blend Cabernet Franc. Completely delicious.

Bellwether Farm’s Carmody Cheese. Paired with 2007 Meritage and 2010 Benchmark. Yes, please.

I’ve had a lot of good food in San Francisco, but these four bites, paired with incredible wine, were some of the best taste sensations I’ve ever experienced. Like wow. I’m pretty sure I mumbled, “amaze-balls,” under my breath about four times. Perhaps not the classiest description, but the truth, folks. The truth.

And the wine. Oh man. Every single variety we tried was incredible. Only one of the wines we tried is available in stores and restaurants, and the rest is only available by purchase online or at the winery. We sampled wines ranging from $35 a bottle to $115 a bottle, which is way more pricey than anything I would ever buy myself. I tend to stick to less than $10 a bottle, because I’m cheap, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like to partake in the good stuff when I can.

The best wine of the day? That would be the 2009 Unfiltered Chardonnay. William Hill only produced 25 cases of this kind, and it retails for $75 a bottle. It was to-die-for times ten. I tend to like my Chardonnays on the buttery side, and this one delivered all the buttery I could have ever asked for. It didn’t stop there …

Learning some wine-drinking tips

I really enjoy wine tasting experiences, not only because of the wine, but also because of the educational part. And this experience included a few tips I’ll be taking with me. Check it out:

  • Use the stem! If you hold a wine glass by the larger part, not only will the oils of your hands change your taste-buds as you drink, but your hands will heat up the wine. Yes, stemless glasses are a fad, but they are not the best way to drink wine.
  • Many wine varieties have best-by dates. If you need to keep track of your wine and all of the best-by dates, try using cellartracker.com. I’ve never used it and don’t have enough wine at home to need it, but thought it was a great tip to share.
  • You can now drink a glass of wine out of a bottle without ever opening it. There is an awesome new tool that restaurants and wineries are using these days which can pull one glass at a time out of a bottle through a needle, so you don’t have to take out the cork. It’s called the Coravin 1000 Wine Access System, and we got to see it in action at both wineries. Pretty awesome thing. (Check it out in the picture above or the affiliate link.)

So there you have it. We learned, we drank, we ate, and after a little over an hour, our experience was done. We were some happy campers, and I’d definitely go back and do this same experience again as a paying customer one day. To recap, here are some important details on The Collector’s Experience:

  • Takes place every day at 11 a.m.
  • Features hand-selected luxury wines with expertly curated food pairings.
  • Seating is limited to 12 people.
  • Reservations are required, and you must book the session 48 hours in advance.
  • $60 per person.
  • Lasts about 60 minutes.

For more information, you can visit the William Hill Estate and browse around. They didn’t ask me to tell you that, in fact, we were invited on a no-strings-attached trip. But it is so worth sharing, I had no doubt I’d devote a full blog post to it. I mean, amazing.

I can’t thank the William Hill Estate Winery folks enough for having us out for this complimentary experience. It was educational, tasty and such a good time. If you’re heading to wine country and want to do something special, I highly recommend this winery. Yay for wine! And yay for Klout Perks too!

A super-exclusive tasting at Freemark Abbey

After saying our goodbyes to our new wine friends, Dave and I had to hit the road to make it to our second appointment of the day. We headed to Freemark Abbey, a winery about 20-minutes away in St. Helena, which we visited once before during our last trip to wine country in March. However, this time we were in for something different than the average stand-at-the-bar-cookie-cutter tasting.

As with the first stop, we had no idea what to expect. And as with the first stop, we were beyond pleasantly surprised. This tasting was just incredible. We were not in a group this time at all. In fact, it was just Dave, me and the Estate Manager of Freemark Abbey, a friendly South African fellow who took great care of us. We were in a private room, set up with tasting glasses, fine nibbly foods, and of course, pens and a place to write, so we could take notes. Just look at this spread …

Freemark Abbey wine tastingWine and food are two of my favorite things. At Freemark Abbey, we tried all red wines, with a variety of mixed meats, cheeses, olives, nuts and gluten-free crackers. Delish!

We spent about two hours chatting with the Estate Manager, getting to know each other and learning about the wines. He was super knowledgable and even told us about the history of American wine versus South African wine versus French wine. It’s all very different. And during all that learning, we tasted some great red wine and paired it with even greater little bites.

Once we finished up our spread, we got to go down to the Freemark Abbey cellar and try some pours from old bottles dating back all the way to 1974 and 1983. Wow. That was definitely the oldest wine I’ve ever tasted, and yes, it was still really good. In order to get a glass out of each of the bottles, the Estate Manager used the Coravin tool I mentioned above, so he never even had to open them. So cool that we saw this thing not once, but twice during our day.

Wine tasting at Freemark Abbey via A Lady Goes WestLook at all of that old wine, and look at those happy wine tasters. Even though the bottles had dust, Freemark Abbey wines seem to stand the test of time.

Nearly two-and-a-half hours after arriving at Freemark Abbey, Dave and I finally finished up our tasting experience and hopped back in the car, stopped for a late lunch at Dean and Deluca (in which I ordered an incredibly overpriced salmon salad that paled in comparison to our eats earlier in the day), then headed home to the City. We couldn’t have been more happy with both of our stops. We were truly given the VIP treatment at both wineries and took away a lot of good wine information.

A change of scenery is a good thing

Because our day was full of so much fun, we ended up staying in on Saturday night and relaxing with a few episodes of Weeds on Netflix rather than hitting the town. I guess that was a good thing, because on Sunday, I woke up rested and ready to hit up the Yoga Journal LIVE! conference. Wine and yoga? What a great combination for a weekend.

I must say, it’s pretty amazing that we can drive such a short way and be immersed in a totally different setting than San Francisco. The rolling hills of Napa Valley are gorgeous and are a far cry from the busy city skyline we see every day. I love to escape our urban area and get out, and wine country is one of the best ways to do it.

So there you go. That’s a little recap of our fabulous day in Napa. Dave and I are just normal old folk that are lucky to get hooked up from time-to-time, and this was a great example of that. And two in one day? Wow, the stars were aligned.

I hope you guys have a great Tuesday! And I’ll see you back here tomorrow for a post a little less fabulous than this one. Cheers!!

Questions of the day

Have you ever been to a wine tasting before? What’s your favorite kind of wine? Have you ever gotten to take advantage of a cool VIP experience? If so, please share!

 Ashley signature

Filed Under: Food, Travel, Uncategorized, Weekends, Wine Country Tagged With: Coravan, Freemark Abbey, Klout, Napa, Weekends, William Hill Estate Winery, Wine Country, wine pairings

SIGN UP FOR A FREE GIFT

Get a free "How to have a great week of workouts" checklist and action plan when you sign up for the list. And you'll get new posts by email.

About Ashley

I'm a mom and fitness instructor in Charlotte, North Carolina. And A Lady Goes West is where I share fitness, wellness and clean beauty tips, as well as stories from my life.
 
Stay in touch ...
Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Facebook.

Comments

  1. Sara @ Lake Shore Runner says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:46 am

    Your wine tasting looks AMAZING! Cali knows how to do it 🙂 I love when they pair the tastings with cheese, meats, olives, and sometime Chocolate. Happy Tuesday!!
    Sara @ Lake Shore Runner recently posted…Tried it Tuesday #10: Switching Up My Breakfast Routine [Recipes]My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 7:33 am

      Hi Sara! I know! So good! And a very happy Tuesday to you too! 🙂
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  2. Ruthie@She'sWickedHealthy says

    January 20, 2015 at 5:14 am

    Looks so fun! I’ve never been on an official wine tasting date – but I do plenty of tasting at home! Glad you were able to celebrate in such a nice way!
    Ruthie@She’sWickedHealthy recently posted…Sunday Progress Report #1: A Health & Fitness Update!My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 7:34 am

      Thanks, Ruthie! Enjoy your home tastings! I do that too:)
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  3. Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment says

    January 20, 2015 at 6:24 am

    Wine Country is on my must-see list so I can’t wait to make a trip of it! Scott’s cousin got married in wine country, but alas it was before we knew each other. I have not gone to a winery like the ones you feature, but have been to lots of wine tasting events hosted at restaurants and such. Glad you enjoyed the day!
    Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment recently posted…Psyche Truth Exercise DemosMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 7:36 am

      Hi Lauren! I sure hope you guys get out to wine country one day! But until then, keep up your wine loving at home! 🙂
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  4. Chrissy @ Pink Polish and Running Shoes says

    January 20, 2015 at 6:48 am

    I went to a wine tasting at the Biltmore Estate in NC as part of a work trip. It was a blast and the location was gorgeous. I can’t believe you got to do two wine tastings in one day. So jealous! Looks like you had a great time. I’m a little bit of a light weight so I think I’d be drunk by the end of two tastings lol, but I’d love to do it anyway.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 7:35 am

      Hi Chrissy! I’ve been to a wine tasting at the Biltmore in NC too! I went with my Momma on a little road-trip, and I loved it there!! And the amount of wine they give you is so small, so two tastings in a row isn’t too bad! Plus you get to wash it down with some food. 🙂
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  5. Jen @ Pretty Little Grub says

    January 20, 2015 at 7:00 am

    I love wine tastings! So cute you were both on the same page and plus two wine tastings is better than one 🙂

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 7:34 am

      Hi Jen, Well I would agree with you there! Thank you:) Hope you have a great Tuesday!
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  6. Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says

    January 20, 2015 at 7:42 am

    Interesting tips on the wine drinking! Loved reading those. Looks like a glorious little trip! I would LOVE to go on a little getaway to wine country some time. It’d totally be my thing!
    Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries recently posted…Comment on At My House Survey by Lindsay @ Lindsay’s ListMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 9:05 am

      Hi Ashley! Yes, I know you would love it. Put it on your list of future travel spots for sure!! 🙂 Happy Tuesday!
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  7. Annette@FitnessPerks says

    January 20, 2015 at 8:26 am

    I don’t drink alcohol, but I had to comment–you looked so cute!
    Annette@FitnessPerks recently posted…Recently ReadMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 9:03 am

      Thanks! Even if you didn’t drink, you would have loved the setting and the food! 🙂 Have a great day, Annette!
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  8. Lynda@fitnessmomwinecountry says

    January 20, 2015 at 8:29 am

    We love William Hill Estate, so amazing. Living here in wine country for more than 35 years, we have done our share of tastings for sure {legal drinking age of course}. The Napa Valley has so much to offer, but so many amazing places to visit around the area, it goes forever. 🙂
    You must message me the next time you take a weekend here and we can connect
    Lynda@fitnessmomwinecountry recently posted…1000 Voices #1000 Speak For CompassionMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 9:04 am

      Hi Lynda! I will definitely let you know next time. This was a quick last-minute trip, but next time maybe we can do lunch! 🙂 And of course, I want your suggestions on other wineries we can visit off-the-beaten path! Happy Tuesday:)
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  9. Kelly - A Side of Sweet says

    January 20, 2015 at 8:51 am

    I absolutely LOVED our eexperience with William Hill Estates! Such a gem!
    Kelly – A Side of Sweet recently posted…Yogurt Brûlée Recipe (Opt. vegan)My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 9:04 am

      Sure is! Glad you enjoyed:)
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  10. Leslie @ Life Begins at 30? says

    January 20, 2015 at 9:49 am

    What a fantastic wine tasting experience!! I love private tastings!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 12:46 pm

      Hi Leslie! I know, it was a good one!! Thanks for reading. Happy Tuesday to you:)
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  11. Emily @ Sweets and Beets says

    January 20, 2015 at 10:14 am

    Wow, that looks like an absolutely fabulous experience. Wine tasting in NAPA Valley is definitely on my bucket list .. I hope to check it off sooner, rather than later. 🙂

    Funny that you got recognized for teaching body pump, and not even for the blog 🙂 haha. Has that ever happened?
    Emily @ Sweets and Beets recently posted…Long Weekend Ahead — Friday FavesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 12:47 pm

      Hi Emily! I know! So funny! I’ve been recognized for both before. It seems like more often than not it’s for teaching while out and about around San Francisco though. Restaurant hostesses, pharmacists, you name it, they’ve taken my class somewhere hahha 🙂 Happy Tuesday to you! Hope you make it to wine country one day soon.
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  12. Jane says

    January 20, 2015 at 10:29 am

    I have done a few tastings (and barrel tastings!) and they are always so much fun because you learn so much more that way. (Not to mention feel oh so fancy getting a taste right out of the barrel!) Sounds like you had a lot of fun!
    Jane recently posted…21 Day Fix: Week 2 Check In. (And last week’s workouts.)My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 12:51 pm

      Hi Jane! Drinking wine, learning stuff and being fancy. What else could you want? Hope you’re having a great Tuesday! 🙂
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  13. Hilary says

    January 20, 2015 at 12:29 pm

    That sounds like an awesome experience! I have been wanting to do a wine tasting since I turned 21 over a year ago now haha, but hopefully I will get to one soon! In fact I just might have to do one this winter since it is a little cold outside for outdoor activities in Ohio!
    Hilary recently posted…Lifestyle Changes & Not Just To Lose WeightMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 12:55 pm

      Hi Hilary! Oh yes, I bet it’s cold there. I hope you get to a wine tasting soon. Of course, you could always host your own!! Happy Tuesday:)
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  14. Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says

    January 20, 2015 at 12:57 pm

    I agree, it is very nice to live so close to such a beautiful part of the world. I’m so glad you had a good time. Everything sounded amazing and that is too funny that you ran into one of your Body Attackers! 🙂

    By the way, you look pretty cute in Dave’s glasses. I might have to steal them if I were you. 😉
    Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health recently posted…Chocolate Chip Cookie Chia Seed Pudding ParfaitMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 1:31 pm

      ahhaha Sarah! I am in the market for new sunglasses, maybe I should shop in Dave’s dresser drawer? hehehe Happy Tuesday!
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  15. Alishia says

    January 20, 2015 at 1:33 pm

    What a great trip! I went to San Fransisco for the first time this year and loved it. We didn’t get to venture out to wine country, but I certainly would like to someday!
    Visiting from BlogHer. 🙂

    Reply
  16. Laura @FitMamaLove says

    January 20, 2015 at 2:41 pm

    How fun! Would you believe that I live in Silicon Valley and have never taken a Napa trip? I really have to make it up there with the hubby one of these days!
    Laura @FitMamaLove recently posted…I Wish Someone Had Warned MeMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 6:08 pm

      Hi Laura! Oh my! That’s crazy! You definitely owe yourself a trip up to see what you’re missing. Hope you’re having a great Tuesday so far. Thanks for stopping by to say hello!
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  17. Nicole says

    January 20, 2015 at 3:22 pm

    Hi Ashley-love the pics from your trip! I work for a wine distributer in Sarasota and sell William Hill! I’ve been out to the winery a couple times but never tried that unfiltered Chardonnay-I’m jealous!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 6:10 pm

      Hi Nicole! No way! First of all, yay for Sarasota and Southwest Florida living. Second of all, that’s a cool job I bet. You have to get your hands on some of the Unfiltered Chardonnay! What’s your favorite wine??
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
      • Nicole says

        January 20, 2015 at 7:47 pm

        I know you like Chardonnay so try Laguna Russian River-I think you’ll like it!

        Reply
  18. Lizzie @ The Magic Tree says

    January 20, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    I went wine tasting in Napa for the first time this past fall. There is honestly nothing like it! I would go back in a heartbeat.
    Lizzie @ The Magic Tree recently posted…Meal Planning & Workouts for the WeekMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 6:16 pm

      Hi Lizzie! That’s great, so glad you’ve had a chance to see Napa! It sure is a fun and wonderful place. Hope your Tuesday is going well:)
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  19. Jenna says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:09 pm

    Ashley that sounds amazing! I know very little about wine but I definitely enjoy drinking it! I’ve only been to a handful of tastings but they were a ton of fun. I am a Chardonnay gal as well. I love my white sweet wines. Glad you guys had fun!
    Jenna recently posted…5 workouts to try in 2015My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 20, 2015 at 6:16 pm

      Hi Jenna! White wine is where it’s at! 🙂 Glad you’re a fan as well. Hope you’re having a great Tuesday!
      Ashley recently posted…VIP wine-tasting experiences in Napa ValleyMy Profile

      Reply
  20. She Rocks Fitness says

    January 20, 2015 at 6:25 pm

    I have been wine tasting before, but have yet to go to Napa which is on my bucket list. I am big fan of Sauvignon Blanc’s and Red Blends. I love wine and would love to experience a VIP tasting…Thanks for sharing your experience!
    She Rocks Fitness recently posted…Currently Loving…My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:28 am

      You’re so welcome. Glad you’re a fellow wine lover! You need to make it to Napa one day! 🙂
      Ashley recently posted…Must-try veggie pasta tip and my eatsMy Profile

      Reply
  21. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says

    January 20, 2015 at 6:45 pm

    Looks like you guys had a great time! I never knew that about drinking with your fingers on the stem. I thought only fancy people did that. Not because there was a reason behind it. Hope you had a good day!
    Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…I Adore Adora + A GiveawayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:28 am

      Haha Megan, me too! Now I know. I hope I remember to keep that tip in practice. Cheers!
      Ashley recently posted…Must-try veggie pasta tip and my eatsMy Profile

      Reply
  22. Cassie @ Almost Getting it Together says

    January 20, 2015 at 9:52 pm

    I am planning a wine country trip next month!! Definitely going to check out William Hill! I’ve been to Yountville before… did Turnball, Elizabeth and Spencer and maybe one other I forgot about. Did Williamette Valley this summer and LOVED it!
    Cassie @ Almost Getting it Together recently posted…Five Easy Kitchen UpgradesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:29 am

      Hi Cassie! I haven’t been to any of those you mention. One of the prettiest I’ve gone to was Far Niente for a concert and tasting event. But I basically love all wineries!
      Ashley recently posted…Must-try veggie pasta tip and my eatsMy Profile

      Reply
  23. Jessica Doll says

    January 20, 2015 at 11:06 pm

    This place looks great, and you two look like you’re having so much fun! I can’t wait to go tasting some time soon with only adults, haha.
    Jessica Doll recently posted…Saratoga, CaliforniaMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:30 am

      Hi Jessica! Yes, definitely a different experience with kids, I’m sure! Hope you get to go again! Have a great day:)
      Ashley recently posted…Must-try veggie pasta tip and my eatsMy Profile

      Reply
  24. Holly @ CBC blog says

    January 21, 2015 at 7:01 am

    I live near Napa and love checking our wineries- will have to into these!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:31 am

      Hi Holly! That’s great you live near Napa. Do you go wine tasting often? Probably isn’t as exciting when it’s so close. Just that hour distance from SF makes me want to go more! Hope you have a great day! 🙂
      Ashley recently posted…Must-try veggie pasta tip and my eatsMy Profile

      Reply
      • Holly says

        January 21, 2015 at 7:33 am

        We go pretty often! We are members of two wineries and they have awesome events so that helps! We are right outside Mountain View, so we have a tiny drive, but it is always worth it!
        Holly recently posted…Clean Eating North Carolina BBQMy Profile

        Reply
        • Ashley says

          January 21, 2015 at 7:34 am

          Well that sounds like fun! Cool! I’ve never been to Mountain View. Guess I need to change that:)

          Reply
  25. Nancy says

    January 21, 2015 at 9:49 pm

    I’m liking your initial clutch! We might have the same middle name 🙂
    Nancy recently posted…eBay purchases: ratedMy Profile

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Must-try veggie pasta tip and my eats - A Lady Goes WestA Lady Goes West says:
    January 21, 2015 at 2:05 am

    […] any dessert or wine or junk (unless of course, you looked at my post from yesterday detailing a fabulous trip to Napa), but those things are very much in my diet on a regular basis, just not an everyday basis (I […]

    Reply
  2. A mid-year blog and goals check-in for 2015 - A Lady Goes WestA Lady Goes West says:
    June 4, 2015 at 6:49 am

    […] Fillmore in the City, went to a country concert at Levi’s Stadium, were invited to enjoy two VIP wine tasting experiences in Napa, attended a fun fashion event and did a wine and canvas painting night in Walnut Creek and […]

    Reply
  3. Wine country, weekend and weekly workouts - A Lady Goes WestA Lady Goes West says:
    September 14, 2015 at 2:59 am

    […] we live in the East Bay outside of the city. And by the way, I hadn’t been to wine country since January, and that’s just far too long. (As most people, I happen to love sipping wine and smelling […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

ashley bio pic

Hi, I'm Ashley. I'm a mom and fitness instructor living in Charlotte, North Carolina. I love to help you live a balanced life with no extremes, making sure you never skip a rest day. A Lady Goes West is where I share my workouts, simple meals, clean beauty tips and wellness insight with you. Find out more about me and stay awhile!

Connect with me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Search This Blog

Follow

Get my ebook

Fit & Fertile ebook: How I found my body's fitness from the inside out by overcoming hypothalamic amenorrhea.

Recent Posts

  • Current faves: Leisurewear, animal print, TV and workouts
  • Ask-me-anything A Lady Goes West Advice Corner: first edition
  • Current faves: Our new house, new sneakers and workouts
  • Current faves: Moving day, easy breakfasts, TV and workouts
  • Five new things I’ve added to my life in the last year that I love

SIGN UP FOR A FREE GIFT

Get a free "How to have a great week of workouts" checklist and action plan when you sign up for the list. Your email address will automatically be added and stored to receive new posts by email and more. See the Privacy Policy for details.

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

The latest on Instagram

I've got to be honest, I'm much more of a writer t I've got to be honest, I'm much more of a writer than an Instagrammer and many times I feel like what I want to share doesn't fit well into a grid. But I'm able to bring much more long-form content to my blog each week. Speaking of that, this week, I debuted a new series called "A Lady Goes West Advice Corner" which has been something I've wanted to put together for a while. In this series, I'm taking totally anonymous questions from YOU and giving you some neutral third-party advice on it all. Here are the questions I addressed in the first advice corner edition:
.
-“I became a first-time mom last spring and am currently dealing with all things motherhood. How do I deal with my expectations vs. reality of being a mom?" (such a good one, and I've been there)
-“How do you deal with days when you don't love your body? I think we can all relate to looking in the mirror and being disappointed with what we see?" (this happens to us all)
-“How do you deal with comparing yourself to others on social media and not feeling like everyone is doing things better than you?" (spoiler alert: everyone has their issues that you don't see)
.
The answers are long, they come from my heart, and I hope they can provide some value to you! If this is something you're interested in, head over to A Lady Goes West today to check it out, and you can submit a question for the next edition.
.
Here's the direct link: https://aladygoeswest.com/ask-me-anything-a-lady-goes-west-advice-corner-first-edition/
.
Have a great night, friends! And when in doubt, talk it out.
G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y!🎉 Who doesn't love a collagen g G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y!🎉 Who doesn't love a collagen giveaway? As a little thank-you for following, I wanted to do a giveaway of one of my favorite products. I've been using Vital Proteins collagen in my morning tea latte for years, and not only does the collagen creamer add a great taste, but it also supports healthy hair, skin, nails and joints too. Today, I'm giving away not only one canister of collagen creamer, but also a canister of collagen peptides to one lucky winner.
.
Here's how to enter:
(1) Like this post.
(2) Follow @aladygoeswest and @vitalproteins.
(3) Leave a comment on this post tagging a friend who wants healthy skin and joints.
.
You can leave as many comments as you want, and each one serves as an entry. You can earn an additional entry by sharing this post to your stories and tagging me. This giveaway closes on Saturday, February 27. The winner must live in the U.S. And this giveaway is not associated with Instagram. Good luck, and thanks for being here! 🙂 xoxo
HOME! We closed on and moved into our home in Char HOME! We closed on and moved into our home in Charlotte over the weekend, and we're so excited to get settled in our new neighborhood, city and state after many weeks of transition. In honor of this momentous occasion, I thought it would be fun to look back at the places Dave and I have lived together over the last 12 years. Here's what it has looked like -- and each place has been special for different reasons:
.
-2009-2012 in a high-rise condo in downtown Orlando, where we lived when we got married.
-2012-2013 in a one-bedroom apartment in South of Market in San Francisco, which was always freezing no matter the time of day or year.
-2013-2014 in a tiny studio apartment in Nob Hill in San Francisco, which was only 550-square-feet, but we could hear the cable cars out of our always-open windows, so that was cool.
-2014-2017 in a two-bedroom townhouse in Walnut Creek, where we brought home both Rudy and Brady and had many sleepless nights.
-2017-2021 in a house that we owned in Pleasant Hill outside of San Francisco, which was across the street from a Starbucks so we went there way too often.
.
And now we're here in Charlotte. It's good to be home! I'd love to know: Where do you call home?
Soulmates. ❤️ Whether you’re loving on other Soulmates. ❤️ Whether you’re loving on others or just yourself today, my little crew is wishing you a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Good additions! Even though I'm all about simplify Good additions! Even though I'm all about simplifying life, I also like adding more good, if there's room for it. And the last year has given me ample opportunity to make some changes and add a lot of good. Here's my super-random list of things I've added to my life in the last year that I now love:
.
-Using oat milk as my milk of choice (it's literally the creamiest, and I can’t go back to others now)
-Choosing to be outside as much as possible (can't believe I stayed indoors so much before, never exploring the beautiful Bay Area and now Charlotte until the last year)
-Teaching and taking virtual fitness classes (I was a gym rat for years, and now I actually love to work out at home with my virtual fitness friends)
-Wearing my Apple watch for notifications so I don't always need to be on my phone and tracking some beneficial metrics (I've only had my watch for about 9 months, and I love to check my heart-rate and close my rings)
-Appreciating the ability to work for myself and giving myself friendlier deadlines (I've been my own boss for several years and used to be so strict with my deadlines, until I realized it was stressing me more than it needed to, so now I say no to a lot of things and only do what works well in my life, without adding too much unnecessary stress)
-Shorter workouts (full-hour workouts are a thing of the past for me)
-Wearing more colors (no more black uniforms every day)
-And more!
.
I wrote a whole post about this topic on A Lady Goes West this week if this is of interest to you, and you can head on over and check it out. I'd love to know: What's something (random or not) that you've added to your life in the last year that you now love?
Over the weekend, I stepped foot into a big-box gy Over the weekend, I stepped foot into a big-box gym for the first time in more than 11 months. How did I feel about it? Mixed ... When we left California, gyms were still closed, and once we got to North Carolina, I was so used to not going to the gym, I didn't even think about going. After being here a month, I finally decided to get a guest pass at a gym near me, and I went twice. Here are my thoughts on the experience: 
.
At first, I felt so excited to drive up and go in and work out in a big space with a lot of equipment and not be at home. But then reality sank in: Even though masks were required and there were signs everywhere reminding people, about half the folks in the gym had their masks off or had them down around their chin. Ummm, not cool. I get it, working out with a mask on sucks, but rules are rules, folks. I also didn't like that it was busier than I expected, and quite a bit of the equipment I wanted to use was occupied. That never happens at home.
.
Overall, I'm glad that those who need to get to the gym are getting the opportunity, but right now, I think I'll go back to sweating safely at home for a little while longer. But at least I got my first locker-room selfie in almost a year. I'd love to know. Have you been back to the gym yet?
Load More... Follow on Instagram

As seen on

A Lady Goes West is a personal blog meant for entertainment purposes only and does not serve as a substitute for professional advice from your own doctor, trainer or nutritionist. While I'm a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, the workouts, food and plans I post are what works for me and may not work for you. Please enjoy these stories and tips from my life, but proceed with caution. Also, know that affiliate links and sponsored posts appear from time-to-time, and I appreciate your support. For more information about how your data is stored, visit my Privacy Policy. Thanks for reading!

Copyright © 2021 Ashley Pitt (A Lady Goes West) · Design by MakeMe{dia}Over