slow down

Instead of cursing the slow tractor driving in front of you on an ancient vineyard road. Praise the road. Praise the tractor. Notice the wildflowers that grow between the vines. Smell the fresh cut mustard grasses. See the sun winking between trees. Ponder where the tractor is headed and what it's accomplished already.

Instead of flying through 4 or 5 wineries in a single day. Why not just head to two and really taste through the wines. Picnic. Walk the vineyards. Examine the grapes growing. Decipher what direction the vineyard is facing and make guesses about the sun, the wind, the rain's impact.

Take pictures of the minutiae.

Smile alot. Why not. You ARE in wine country after all.

Tres Preguntas

This blog, posed three questions to a revered winemaker.

But if WE were asking the questions ... we might ask:

1. What were you listening to while you crushed the grapes?
2. Whats the dirtiest part of the job?
3. How do you know when you are in the midst of a making a GREAT wine?

Also, we might ask, what the winemaker was doing later. You know if he was good-looking and, ahem, single.

Body, body, rock that body

I was watching Everybody Loves Raymond last night - and just about giggled out loud when one of that characters lamented their lack of motivation to work out after they've been drinking wine. Another character said "I love my body when I've been drinking wine. I feel good."

I came across this article about lack of health benefits associated with drinking wine and supposed reduced brain size. And if you do a google search there are articles and research data to support both the benefits and drawbacks of drinking red wine.

In this month's Bon Appetit there is an article explaining the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet, focused mostly on consuming Olive Oil. By the way, the Med Diet also touts red wine as a health benefit.

Somewhere, always there is someone telling us not to do this or that or that that or THAT!

Hot Baths - NO!
Meat - NO!
Fats - NO!
Sugar - NO!
Carbs - NO!

In the end, I'm just going to make my way as best I can in this lovely world and do everything in moderation. So pass the steak, the red wine and daaaaahling, draw me a hot bath. Life is just too short to always be worrried and fretting.

Enjoy your Weekends:)

Legacy of Martini

Do you know your family significance and history?





Three wineries in Napa in the 1930's: Beaulieu, Inglenook and Martini all began illustrious post-prohibition journeys. Today the Napa Register is celebrating the life and times of Louis Martini.

As times change and as time passes, new pioneers become important and interesting (Santa Barbara Syrah, anyone?). But it is always important to reflect and look back at once was -

wrap it up (I'll take it!)

It's been an interesting year between bowling at Hospice Du Rhone, star gazing at Gen Art film Festival & enjoying the views and aromatics at the SB VIntner's Festival.

Here's a cassette tape wrap up, for those of you who couldn't make it with us every step of the way.

Introducing. . . Kinton Syrah

Too many people think Cab is King. Maybe they are the same ones who put their left leg in their pants day in and day out.  The same ones who heed the various warnings on paper shredding machines ("Don't feed pony tails or men's ties into machine!")

Step outside the box with us.  Try something new and unexpected - but still balanced and food friendly.  Take a walk on the wild side with a sexy, forward, red fruit and forest floor. Put our delicate bomb in your glass and attack the steak on your plate. 

Kinton Syrah, Santa Barbara... introducing our inaugural vintage 2005

Santa Barbara Syrah: The Perfect Balance

Syrah is one of the world’s most compelling grapes. From warmer climes,
Syrah delivers inky, saturated wines that ooze sunshine and dark fruits. From cooler locales, Syrah is an exotic blend of spices, leather, pepper, and earth.

Kinton is located in Santa Barbara County, one of the most celebrated appellations for Syrah. It’s not by accident that Kinton is located in Santa Barbara. The unique conditions of our region let us create Syrahs displaying both intensity and balance. Kinton is dense and concentrated, elegant and sleek

Did you know this about Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara’s first vines were planted by Father Junipero Serra in 1782. The first winery, an adobe built in 1804, today stands as Goleta’s oldest landmark. Wine continued to be made during the pueblo and ranchero days, but after Prohibition production declined until the early 1970s.