The names of the vineyards slipped away as we drove down the corkscrew roads, some only big enough for one car at a time. The roads dusty, with knarled olive trees creating a canopy over the road. If we spotted a sign by the road for one of the 70 wineries in in the Dry Creek Valley, we stopped — but only if it looked interesting. When I realized the names of these gorgeous vineyards were slipping away, I began taking a picture of each vineyard entrace sign — of only the ones we visited. 
Bella was one vineyard we planned to see, because it had “caves.” Bella was circled on our map, yet it took us two days to get there. There were many, many other vineyards on our map that distracted us before we made it to Bella.
Bella is very casual…
Even though a chef prepared
teeny-tiny bilinis with herbed-creme fraiche.
The caves are new — 2003 — not ancient. 
The caves, like grandma’s root cellar, provide a constant year-round average temperature of 61F so that the wine can be stored without air conditioners.
The unfished wood, glass, and smooth stone 
gave an aura of primitive relaxation.
The folk art — a bit of whimsy
