Anette’s Chocolate Factory
1321 First St., Napa,
(707) 252-4228
www.anettes.com

The people at Anette’s Chocolate Factory continue to find new ways to tempt us. Among the new offerings are tins of chocolate and nuts, all in stylish packages that make them perfect for gift-giving any time of year. Headed to a ski weekend at Lake Tahoe? Pack along some of their Powdered Cocoa for a fabulous mug of hot cocoa, or to sprinkle on dessert or a steamy cappuccino. Use the almost sinful disks of Belgian Dark Chocolate to bake with or to nibble on by the handful.

The Candied Pecans may make terrific cookies but more often than not they find their way into salads where they make the most sedate greens sit up and take note. The tins of Roasted Nuts are perfect to enjoy while you have an informal wine tasting or just want an afternoon snack that is miles above what you’ll find on the average grocery shelf. Depending on what you choose and the size, prices for these treats range from $5.95 to $10.95

The old saying about giving a man a fish and he has a fish dinner, but teach him to fish and he is fed for a lifetime is an apt sentiment about the latest of the Robert and Margrit Mondavi largesse. With one of the largest single private contributions to UC Davis, the Mondavi’s $35 million dollar donation will be divided between the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences ($25 million) and the Center for the Performing Arts ($10 million).

UC Davis has earned a worldwide reputation for their groundbreaking research and studies in the field of wine, and graduates of these programs can be found around the globe at some of the most acclaimed vineyards. “UC Davis has been a true partner in building the international reputation of the California wine industry,” Robert Mondavi said recently. “We are greatly honored to support UC Davis with new facilities that ensure its position as the world’s leading educational center for viticulture, enology and food science.”

Napa native Thomas Kincaid and his father Norm, himself a Valley resident for the last three decades, a retired teacher and much-loved golf coach, began the Napa Winery Shuttle last August. With daily pick-ups at virtually any hotel or B&B in the Napa Valley, it’s a painless way to visit up to seven area wineries without ever turning the key or picking up a map. For $38 one of the company’s four vans will take you to the winery, drop you off and then pick you up when you’re done tasting.

“Once we start running, our shuttles make continual loops, so there is no ‘group tour mentality’ involved. We start at 10 AM and run until the wineries close, between 4 and 5PM, but you can join at almost any time during the day,” said Thomas Kincaid.

It’s highly recommended that you make reservations the night before, but it’s not unheard of for people to find themselves with time on their hands to hop on the shuttle at the last minute, or even midday. Don’t want to lug bottles from stop to stop? Fill out a form at the winery and your purchases are picked up and delivered to your room. “Usually by the time they get back to their hotel or inn, the wine is already there.”

The shuttle makes stops at some area restaurants for sustenance throughout the day. Lunch as well as nominal tasting fees are additional. For more information or to make reservations, call (707) 257-1950.

As if you need another reason to visit Domaine Chandon, they now produce two wines (and rumor is there will be a third) that you can only find at the winery. And not only that, they haven’t a bubble between them.

These small production Domaine Chandon-labeled wines consist of a Pinot Noir and a Pinot Meunier that are both 100 percent of their varietal as well as 100 percent Carneros fruit. Production for each is extremely limited (under 1,500 cases for the Pinot Meunier, about a third of that for the Pinot Noir), they are each aged for ten months in oak and both sell for a very reasonable $29 a bottle. And both, might we add, are pretty spectacular.

The Pinot Noir has a nose that resounds with deep fruit and has an approachability that is charming. The Pinot Meunier is simply captivating with well-rounded plum and cherry notes. We have long been proponents of buying good wines at wineries that are not available elsewhere. If ever we needed confirmation of the correctness of this philosophy, it can be found with these two bottlings from that venerable sparkling wine house in Yountville. Buy two of each and give one to a very deserving friend. And keep the other one for yourself.

If you thought stained glass began with the Cathedral of Notre Dame and ended with Tiffany lamp shades, you owe yourself a visit to the Imani Gallery in downtown Napa. Gordon Huether, founder of Architectural Glass Design in Napa whose work in stained glass is usually found in commercial, residential and ecclesiastical settings, has some of his personal creations on display there. Priced from $4000 to $7000, they present a fascinating interplay between light and the materials he selects. Unless you would prefer to visit the Getty Center in Los Angeles, the world headquarters of Oracle, or can finesse a visit to one of the private homes that have commissioned his work, this is your best bet to view some extraordinary art. The gallery is located at 1144 Main Street; call (707) 224-7886 for hours.