The kid's back in town

That's right! I'm back and lovin' it!
I got into town a few day before I had to start work for harvest this year so I spent time "playing".


The Ferry Building
I stayed with a friend in San Francisco so I went sightseeing again. I walked around Market Steet, past a few craft vendors near the Ferry Building then drove over to Walnut Creek. It was absolutely a beautiful day so I decided to find a park and have a picnic lunch.

(for all my foodie friends...turkey on honey-whole grain bread with avocado and havarti cheese. YUM!)

I was able to hang out with Andrew at AP Vin too. It was so great to catch up with him before all the chaos of harvest takes hold. One of my favorite wines Andrew makes is from Kanzler Vineyards from Sonoma Coast. The characteristics that come from that fruit are spectacular and are exactly what I love in a Pinot noir; intense red and dark fruits like cherries, plums and boysenberries and it offers a long elegant finish. So as we sat around chatting Andrew received a phone call. When he hung up the phone he said, "Stick around, Steve's coming over". Not quite sure which Steve he was referring to, I asked, "who?". "Steve Kanlzer" Andrew said matter-of-factly.

Steve arrived and Andrew gave him the grand tour of the winery, checking out the new equipment and discussing the logistics of things. Then we tasted the 2008 AP Vin Kanzler Pinot noir. To sit and drink the wine that I helped make with THE winemaker and THE vintner was THE best part of my day! It was such a great opportunity to sit and listen to each of their comments about the wine and to hear what they thought about it. These are the people that saw this fruit from beginning to end. Who would know it better? Both Andrew and Steve are such kind and sharing individuals. We chatted for quite some time and they shared so much information with me. When I left there I was on cloud nine. Absolutely a great experience!! (THIS is why I love being around during harvest!!)

Saturday I left the city and headed up to the wine country. I spent the day visiting people in Napa and doing a few tastings at some of our favorite wineries. I headed to Fantesca Estates on Spring Mountain and chatted with one of their winemakers whom I had met earlier this year. I also visited Tres Sabores and visited with Julie Johnson, whom I met last year and was fortunately enough to meet for lunch while she traveled to Houston this summer.



A view over the vineyard at Fantesca Estates



Julie Johnson and her dog Zoe, checking out the Zinfandel grapes.

Now, I am settled in at my home-away-from-home in Healdsburg and today I am off to do a little more "playing" before reporting to work tomorrow.