So Many Wineries, So Little Time!

We left our cottages at 10 AM, and didn't get back home till almost 5 PM... Now that's alot of time to sit and visit with vintners and wineries!  Had a great time and we seem to learn something new at each one.  Today's wineries were boutique wineries and sell mostly through their wine clubs.  However, we could buy bottles direct, which we did... at each one no less.  Debbie, our driver, set up all of our tastings which were personalized just for the four of us!

The Pinot Noir at Dunstan winery at Durell Vineyards was superb.  They sell their grapes to some of the 'big guys' and then, make their own wine too, but limit the number in their wine club to 400 (and have a waiting list).  The wine is just as impressive as the property is!  (We found that at all the wineries we visited!)

Petroni Vineyards we had visited a while back with Julie and Jens and wanted Jillian and Steve to see it.  Our host, Brandon, was awesome and we found out the first time we visited, the vineyard cave had just opened.  It's a huge cave, that was built for the wine, but more importantly for functions.  We greeted with wine upon arrival, and 6 more varieties as the visit went on.  Here, we found the Sangiovese was our favorite.  We ended up having some shipped home.

The last winery was Deerfield, and that winery had lots of little surprises.  The Vintner sat with us, as well as his wife.  And, I can't forget, Obie Wine Knobe, their standard French Poodle.  They had a Tawny that was perfect!  They too don't compete with the big boys, but have a robust wine club.  And they were so gracious cuz we actually were in the their home... Check out the kitchen!  

So, got back home, and after a well earned nap, had a light supper and ended up watching an old 'Columbo' episode on the TV... we are such party animals!

By the way, the hills all around show the scars of the fire last year.  So weird how one area could be wiped out, yet next door, nada, no loss. See the Black trees in the distance, we found various areas like that.

Dunstan Winery

 

 

Petroni Winery

Deerfield Winery

The Cottages and the Benziger Family Winery

Woke after a great nights sleep and saw the sweet little group of cottages we were staying in.  So nice to just walk outside and have a table to enjoy a cup of coffee and the creek.  Had a leisurely morning in preparation for our wine tour and lunch at Benziger Winery.  The winery is family owned and Jill Benziger was our host.  We had a blast, even got into discussing Tequila and other liquors!  But, I digress!  The winery has spent much time and money to become Biodynamic (big word, I know), organic and certified sustainable farming is the priority.  Pretty cool to see how it all comes to be!  Loved their Chardonnay (which I generally pass on, but this was good!) and their Merlot and Pinot.  The only drawback... after another bottle of wine at lunch, by the time we got home, we all wanted a nap at 4 in the afternoon!

  

 They prune out some of the grapes by hand to assure that the grapes mature at the same time on the vine.  Just leave the pruned ones on the ground and they go back to the earth.  

 Lotsa Wine!

 Jill, a fun host!

A Trip to Wine Country But First a Quick Ride through San Francisco!

Last March, Halley bought a trip to Glen Ellen, CA and some wine tours from Minnesota Life College.  She then excitedly gave it to us!  So Jilli, Steve, Jer and I made plans and off we went.

Landed at SFO during rush hour, of course... but still were able to get through pretty quickly.  

Arrived late to the cottages where we are staying, excited to see what they look like in the morning!

Steve is quite entertaining!

 Those steep hills of the city by the bay!

Tomorrow the journey continues!

Hey, is there a hike nearby we can go on?

An unexpected find, a hike to Dickerson Creek Falls, outside of Bremerton. Was a fun walk and even got an unexpected bridge picture. Met another couple on the path, she had issues with the trail down to the falls (fear of heights)... but, she did come and loved the reward. One picture is of her partner at the falls while we are up at the bridge looking down. I love finding the wild Rhododendrons blooming in the woods!

 Can you see him... next to the white foamy water at the bottom?

 Wild Rhoddies!