Takin' it to the... mountains

Date: Wed, Aug 13, 2008 Winery Blogs Wine Business

We spent the past three days on the outskirts of the town of Chester, which is near Lake Almanor, which is "sort of" near Chico, which is about as close to civilization as you get up that way. Even though it was a mere 48 hours, it was a true get-away. Our friends own a forest service cabin that they have made into their little nirvana. So, 4 1/2 hours after leaving the Napa Valley, we arrived, dressed in style, as you can see! Chantico.

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Veraison 2008

Date: Thu, Jul 31, 2008 Winery Blogs Wine Business

It happened so quickly. One day the grapes were green and the next they were no longer green, but beautiful hues of purple, crimson, and okay, some green. Véraison is a French term, but we have adopted the word into our viticulture language. The official definition of véraison is "change of color of the grape berries." Véraison signifies the change from berry growth to berry ripening . I think the clusters look like a series of rainbows framed in gorgeous green leaves. Take a walk through a vineyard if you can - it is breathtaking. Chantico.

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Veraison 2008

Date: Thu, Jul 31, 2008 Winery Blogs Wine Business

It happened so quickly. One day the grapes were green and the next they were no longer green, but beautiful hues of purple, crimson, and okay, some green. Véraison is a French term, but we have adopted the word into our viticulture language. The official definition of véraison is "change of color of the grape berries." Véraison signifies the change from berry growth to berry ripening . I think the clusters look like a series of rainbows framed in gorgeous green leaves. Take a walk through a vineyard if you can - it is breathtaking. Chantico.

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Veraison 2008

Date: Thu, Jul 31, 2008 Winery Blogs Wine Business

It happened so quickly. One day the grapes were green and the next they were no longer green, but beautiful hues of purple, crimson, and okay, some green. Véraison is a French term, but we have adopted the word into our viticulture language. The official definition of véraison is "change of color of the grape berries." Véraison signifies the change from berry growth to berry ripening . I think the clusters look like a series of rainbows framed in gorgeous green leaves. Take a walk through a vineyard if you can - it is breathtaking. Chantico.

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Just "A Regular Guy"

Date: Sat, Jul 19, 2008 Winery Blogs Wine Business

This blog is not winery-related, unless you can count the fact that my friend, Laura Shumaker, loves Anomaly Cabernet! So in that sense, it is winery-related!

I met Laura two years ago in the Wednesday Women's Writing Group. We meet each Wednesday in Rockridge and talk about writing, share what we have written, and sometimes we even write! When I first met Laura, we hit it off as if we had known each other all our lives - some friendships are meant to be, and this was one of those rare ones. She had just finished writing a draft memoir of her family's life with their eldest son, Matthew, who has autism.

Autism has been in the news so much lately, that it feels like the "fad" disorder of this decade. The reality of living with a child who has autism is nothing like reading about it in the news, all technical and statistical.

Laura captures the life of Matthew and the life of their family as a result of Matthew's autism with such humor, clarity and personal grace that when she first share the draft with me, I couldn't stop reading it. I read it in one sitting. The true test, however, was Steve. He's not much of a reader and I can't think of a book that has ever kept him glued to the table reading. This one did.

So without going on and on, I just wanted to share with you Laura's successful completion of A REGULAR GUY which just appeared in bookstores this week. If you are interested in getting a copy, you can find it locally in the Napa Valley at River Books in St. Helena, Copperfields in both Napa and Calistoga, many Bay Area bookstores, as well as Amazon.com and www.LauraShumaker.com.

Thank you for your time in reading this blog. Chantico.

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Just "A Regular Guy"

Date: Sat, Jul 19, 2008 Winery Blogs Wine Business

This blog is not winery-related, unless you can count the fact that my friend, Laura Shumaker, loves Anomaly Cabernet! So in that sense, it is winery-related!

I met Laura two years ago in the Wednesday Women's Writing Group. We meet each Wednesday in Rockridge and talk about writing, share what we have written, and sometimes we even write! When I first met Laura, we hit it off as if we had known each other all our lives - some friendships are meant to be, and this was one of those rare ones. She had just finished writing a draft memoir of her family's life with their eldest son, Matthew, who has autism.

Autism has been in the news so much lately, that it feels like the "fad" disorder of this decade. The reality of living with a child who has autism is nothing like reading about it in the news, all technical and statistical.

Laura captures the life of Matthew and the life of their family as a result of Matthew's autism with such humor, clarity and personal grace that when she first share the draft with me, I couldn't stop reading it. I read it in one sitting. The true test, however, was Steve. He's not much of a reader and I can't think of a book that has ever kept him glued to the table reading. This one did.

So without going on and on, I just wanted to share with you Laura's successful completion of A REGULAR GUY which just appeared in bookstores this week. If you are interested in getting a copy, you can find it locally in the Napa Valley at River Books in St. Helena, Copperfields in both Napa and Calistoga, many Bay Area bookstores, as well as Amazon.com and www.LauraShumaker.com.

Thank you for your time in reading this blog. Chantico.

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Wish I had my camera

Date: Sat, Jul 19, 2008 Winery Blogs Wine Business

Only in the Napa Valley - well, I'm sure there are other parts of this huge world where one could see the same sign, but not from where we're from originally. So, we are driving up Highway 29 this afternoon following a quite successful Costco run (how can you not be successful shopping at Costo I ask?!). And, on the corner of Zinfandel and 29 (take note, as I'm sure it's still there) is a sign that says, "Fresh Picked Plums, 12 for $1.00" I look around to see where the "stand-keeper" is, and there is no stand-keeper. The plums are in boxes laid out on an old picnic table. There is a stack of old plastic shopping bags (helping our environment by at least re-using the bags), and a box with a hole in the top for the dollar bills. Once again, we feel lucky to live in this beautiful spot called the Napa Valley. Plum jam, anyone? Chantico.

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Wish I had my camera

Date: Sat, Jul 19, 2008 Winery Blogs Wine Business

Only in the Napa Valley - well, I'm sure there are other parts of this huge world where one could see the same sign, but not from where we're from originally. So, we are driving up Highway 29 this afternoon following a quite successful Costco run (how can you not be successful shopping at Costo I ask?!). And, on the corner of Zinfandel and 29 (take note, as I'm sure it's still there) is a sign that says, "Fresh Picked Plums, 12 for $1.00" I look around to see where the "stand-keeper" is, and there is no stand-keeper. The plums are in boxes laid out on an old picnic table. There is a stack of old plastic shopping bags (helping our environment by at least re-using the bags), and a box with a hole in the top for the dollar bills. Once again, we feel lucky to live in this beautiful spot called the Napa Valley. Plum jam, anyone? Chantico.

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Vote Now Vote Often

Date: Sat, Jul 5, 2008 Winery Blogs Wine Business

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Vote Now Vote Often

Date: Sat, Jul 5, 2008 Winery Blogs Wine Business

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Miss Cosette

Date: Fri, Jun 27, 2008 Winery Blogs Wine Business

Those of you who have followed this blog know that I am a Dog Person. Not that I don't like cats - I do. Just not as much. Not sure if it's the "needy" vs. "independence" thing between dogs and cats; somehow, I just relate better to the canine species. I'm sure it wouldn't surprise you to know that one of our three dogs goes to work with me each day. I say "me" rather than "us" as if it were up to Steve, the office would remain a "dog-free zone." Thankfully, it's not up to him. He does get points for allowing not one, not two, but three canines to reside in our home (and at night, at least two are on our bed). I know, way too much information.

Cosette was a rescue of course. She has been with us for 8 years and was most likely about 6 when we found her, so she is just entering her prime as I tell her each day. She loves hearing: "want to do go work?" each morning. However, in the past 6 months or so, her hearing has waned. But when I go towards the winery, there's no need for words, she knows.

This morning, I decided to water "Anomaly Farms" (this is what we call the vegetable beds--yes, it's a joke!) as the weather was already heating up. I looked around to see what Cosette was up to while I had the hose trained on the tomatoes. There she was, my loyal little lady waiting in the steps to "go to work."

Have a great weekend. Chantico.

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Miss Cosette

Date: Fri, Jun 27, 2008 Winery Blogs Wine Business

Those of you who have followed this blog know that I am a Dog Person. Not that I don't like cats - I do. Just not as much. Not sure if it's the "needy" vs. "independence" thing between dogs and cats; somehow, I just relate better to the canine species. I'm sure it wouldn't surprise you to know that one of our three dogs goes to work with me each day. I say "me" rather than "us" as if it were up to Steve, the office would remain a "dog-free zone." Thankfully, it's not up to him. He does get points for allowing not one, not two, but three canines to reside in our home (and at night, at least two are on our bed). I know, way too much information.

Cosette was a rescue of course. She has been with us for 8 years and was most likely about 6 when we found her, so she is just entering her prime as I tell her each day. She loves hearing: "want to do go work?" each morning. However, in the past 6 months or so, her hearing has waned. But when I go towards the winery, there's no need for words, she knows.

This morning, I decided to water "Anomaly Farms" (this is what we call the vegetable beds--yes, it's a joke!) as the weather was already heating up. I looked around to see what Cosette was up to while I had the hose trained on the tomatoes. There she was, my loyal little lady waiting in the steps to "go to work."

Have a great weekend. Chantico.