The Tri-Valley holds a subtle beauty expressed in a swath of earthen tones, natural smells and textures. Mount Diablo’s cretaceous skirt sweeps the regions floor, offering recreational and historical value from indigenous peoples, their myth and lore, to hiking, water sports and wineries.

This weekend, friends took me for a walk up Mount Diablo. I was assured our efforts would be worth it, as we slowly ascended the west peak between rain and tiny snow flakes.

You locals may already know this, but the native people of the region believe the world was created within the massive crevices of Mount Diablo. Once you reach the north, south, east, or west peaks, you can understand why the natives feel something spiritual about the mountain; it’s eerily surreal standing in the heavens, and the views are breath taking.

If you want to know where you live within the north, south, east and western central coastal regions of California, I encourage you to climb Mount Diablo and take a look. Once I arrived at the northwest point, I was startled at the vastness in view. First, looking northwest I identified a familiar shape from my new perspective. Like a navy blue construction paper cut-out, the golden gate bridge lay flat against a lavender backdrop, floating in a sage sea. The city under a deluge of rain clouds, just turned on the afternoon lights. Like diamonds sewn on black velvet, the lights twinkled and danced over Twin Peaks. I could almost hear the Hyde Street cable cars ringing their bell.

When I turned to my left and looked southernly, I was stunned by Mount Loma Prieta, tucked into the end of the Santa Cruz Mountain Range. There she sat, majestic with little swollen tributaries at her feet, and for that one moment in time she was not the angry rumbling mountain of the 1989 earthquake, but a chubby sleeping cat in Lake Vasona’s lap.

Returning to ground-level, I headed for home, stopping at Fenestra Winery for a bottle of its 2007 Petite Sirah. This bottle received the highly sought, Double Gold award at the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. This competition is America’s largest wine trial, which says something outstanding about Fenestra’winemaker, Brent Amos. This Livermore winemaker, friendly and knowledgeable, knows his regional terroir. The ‘07 Sirah is a voluptuous wine with nosey ripe blueberries swirling in cloven spice, crushed pink peppercorn and a long deliberate finish; a tongue wrapped in juicy raspberries. To give this winemaker 98 points for perfection is an honor, and I encourage you readers to get our and taste your regional wines. Here’s a tempting little recipe from my files to pair with the ‘07 Sirah. “Eat Art, Drink Imagination!”

Pink Peppercorn Dip

Serves 4

1-tablespoon pink peppercorns ground fine
¼-pound room temperature finely grated parmesan cheese
1-cup sour cream
1-teaspoon lemon zest
1-tablespoon whole egg mayo
1/8-teaspoon coarse salt

Place all ingredients into food processor and blend until smooth. Serve very cold with crudities and crackers.

Here Judith Speak at www.chefjudithhenderson.com