Festival of the Grape

On Sunday I went to the next town to tip my glass to Dionysus and partake of some of my Valley's best wines.  I spent two hours at the wine festival with my girlfriends and let me tell you - it wasn't long enough! 

There were so many fabulous wines that I had a hard time keeping track of the ones I liked the best.  It could have had something to do with the amount of wine I was drinking...

The wine glasses we were given for "tastes" were filled sometimes half-full by the generous winemakers, instead of the typical ounce or two generally given at a wine tasting.  It didn't take long to catch up with us.

I really loved some of the clever winery names, such as "Church & State," "Dirty Laundry..."

...and "Misconduct."  This "Massacre Rose" was my favourite red (almost-red) I tried.  I love the label!  They were also tasting "Misfit - White Blend," "The Big Take - Red Blend" and "Suspect Series." 

Who wouldn't want a little tast of "Forbidden Fruit?"

There was even a cover-band doing ABBA songs.  I snickered a little at first - but they ended up doing realy well and getting the crowd all worked up.  (Not hard after all that wine, I'd imagine!)

There were pretty big crowds there, and the wine tasting tents were swarming with people.  But there were also food and artisan venders there too that you could wander around to see.

We also did some faux celebrity spotting.  I wish I'd gotten a pic of the girl who looked exactly like Pink - it was uncanny.  This guy did seem to have a Robert Pattinson thing going on though - and that girl is looking at him like he sparkles!

We really did have a fabulous time, and then staggered off to a three hour dinner afterward.  There is nothing like a day full of wine, friends and silly fun! 

Cheers!

 

Why I Love My Job

Today the owner and general manager of the store that I bookkeep for, took me and the department managers on a "Mystery Tour."  When we all showed up at the store this morning, there was a stretch limo waiting, and we were whisked off to five local wineries for a fun-filled day of wine and food.

The views were stunning, and the wineries were all so original.  This winery had a gorgeous deck with a pergola covered in grape vines:

I lost count of how many wines I tasted....possibly as little as 10....or as many as 20....

There were also so many great gifts and books and clever sauces and other yummy items being sold by the wineries.  I picked up a cool bottle of BBQ sauce for my brother the BBQ sauce connoisseur. 

I loved this little monk wine-bottle cover:

I was a good girl and only came home with three bottles of wine - but it was very difficult to stop at that.  There were so many wines that I just wanted to buy for the witty labels - like this one:

It was such a fun afternoon, and a lovely gesture by the owners of the store.  The managers work pretty hard this time of year, and it's such a treat to know you are appreciated, and to be rewarded with a day like this!

Now I just have to decide which bottle to drink first....