Note From Jo ~

Harvest is over and it is the countdown to the holidays! Fall came crashing into our door in Napa Valley. One day you could be jogging in shorts, and the next day need sweats and a cap.   Mid- October brought some welcomed rain.  For those of you who hail from hearty Minnesota, our temperatures seem balmy, but it has turned cold for this California girl.

The change of seasons is a remarkable thing in Napa. Not quite as dramatic as the East Coast, but we do have our colors in the vineyards. We humans “winterize” our homes, Mother Nature gets the vines ready for winter – leaves change color, start to thin out and, as temperatures dip, leaves fall creating a patchwork effect on the ground. That is my signal to start baking for the holidays.

Gingerbread “people”, chocolate chip, snickerdoodles and Russian teacake cookies were among the standards our kids loved.  Long decorating weekends would ensue immediately after Thanksgiving.  Gingerbread house baking started much earlier, giving the pieces sufficient time to dry before assemby. One year a gingerbread carousel was created with reindeer instead of horses.  Our, then five-year-old, middle son had discovered the pieces drying, ate the antlers off of each reindeer and put the pieces back.  It made for an “interesting” look when assembled.

Christmas Eve always brings Dungeness crab, Silverado wines, friends and family together no matter where we are.  Wherever you are, bring a little tradition with you.

Our vineyard tour program has had great success this year. There is nothing quite like seeing the “wine” up close and personal. The deeper into fall we get, the program will enter into hibernation until spring. Our Library Tastings are year round – another great way to get up close and personal with our older wines.  To schedule a tour or tasting, call the retail room ~ 707.259.6611.

Cheers,

Jo Dayoan
Wine Club Coordinator