Delius's Annual Bus Trip

Sunday, July 19, 2015

This was Delius restaurant annual bus trip to the "wine country". www.deliusrestaurant.com.  this year it was arranged for us to have a private tasting at Clos Pepe vineyards with Wes Hagen. The 2014 label will be the last for Clos Pepe. They have leased the grapevines to others and will suspend their own wine making for 15 years. After that time Wes and his brother Rob may resurrect the label. There is always something more to the story than is made public I have my own deep suspicion's.

We had our "Champagne" breakfast at Delius before heading out for the 3 hour trip. 405 freeway northbound transition to the 101 was closed. So we had to go past the 101, take the next off ramp and the head back down to catch the 101. Added at least 20 minutes to the trip.

We arrived at Clos Pepe about 11:45. Wes was taking with a smaller group as we arrived. After joining the discussion we headed into the "big" house for a sit down tasting. 10 wines altogether. Liquid Farm was pouring also. We were treated to a catered lunch which had some of the best "cheesecakes bites" I have ever had. Several varieties and all were outstanding.

About 3 o'clock we headed to Lompoc for a private barrel tasting at Loring Wine Co.. Brian Loring and his sister Kimberly are the owners and are really great people.  We tasted about 12 barrel samples and Brian discussed what the difference was in clones and how they decide to blend what with what. I am not sure if everyone in the group really understood  "barrel sampling".

Left Lompoc about 5 o'clock to head back to Signal Hill. Not to much traffic as the weather was not the best and it seems that a lot of people did not travel that weekend. Had rain most of the way home. Got back to Delius restaurant about 8:30.  Very warm and humid. Reminded me of Hawaii.

I found this bus trip "different".  There seemed to be an edge in the air for some reason. The bus was clean but a bit "seedy". No snacks were offered on the way up. Cookies and brownie bites were passed around on the trip home. People were quieter than in other years. Not the "normal" for these bus trips.