Wine & Fire Weekend

Saturday, August 19 to Monday, August 21, 2017

Left early Saturday morning to make the trek north to the Sta. Rita Hills for the annual Wine & Fire fest.  I have been doing this for over 15 years.We made the trip in 2 hours, traffic was light and good driving all the way.  Headed down Santa Rosa Road looking for the entrance to this years seminar and lunch at El Jabli vineyards.  After going many miles down the road and the numbers are getting higher we decided we must have missed the signage. Turning around on a narrow two lane curvy road is interesting.  As we headed back looking at the road numbers we came to the entrance for Alma Rosa.  No signage, no balloons, nothing to indicate this was the stop.  Asked a field worker where El Jabli vineyards were and he pointed to where he was standing. After pointing up the hill we took off and after cresting the small hill we saw the white tent and the big BBQ rig from Hitching Post.

Had a great seminar on the wineries and vineyards on the Santa Rosa Road area of the Sta. Rita Hills. Last years seminar was on the Route 246 producers.  Lunch was good as always. Lots of wine flowing and good talks by the participants. This all was headed by Matt Kellerman  from Wine Enthusist magazine. 

At 5:00 we at the entrance to the big grand tasting at the La Purisma Mission. Beautiful grounds.  They cut back on the amount of tickets available this year and it was a much better venue. Not nearly as crowded and no long lines at the tasting tables. Hope they do this again next year.

Sunday morning after having breakfast at the hotel we were at the door of the Taste of Sta. Rita Hills tasting room  when they opened. Left with 6 bottles of a very good Proseco that Antonio Moretti makes. Next was Fiddlehead for a quick tasting before heading down the road. In Buellton we stopped at Buscador.  A new place for me . I was impressed with his wines and bought a couple of bottles. I will make it a point to stop in here next time I am in town. 

Leaving Buellton we drove into Los Olivos. Tercero's tasting room was packed so we went around the corner to Dragonette.  Brandon Gilles was pouring at the seminar. A Pinot from Radiance vineyard which was exceptionally good. Then popped into Stolpman for a quick taste and walked out with 6 bottles of their Rose.

Back to Solvang for dinner at First & Oak. A restaurant in the Mirabelle hotel.  Owned by the same person that has the Sky Room in Long beach. I can never remember the name of the winery he owns. Starts with a "C" like Cloqcouiet or something along that order.  But do not like the wines at all. The food at dinner was very good but the wines by the glass were all his winery. I would dine there again but would order a bottle of something else and share it at dinner.

Up bright and early to head home. After a brief stop at watch the eclipse we veered off the freeway to visit the Hubers and their new home in Newbury Park.  Had a nice vist with Norman and Traudl then off again. Cindy needed to get home by 2:00 to do a webinar for work.  About 1:30 I reached for my purse and it was not  in the car. I had left it at the Hubers.  So we pulled over and found a shady spot so Cindy could d the webinar on her cell phone. At 2:45 we turned around and headed back to Newbury Park.. Traudl made us a dinner to go. A nice sandwhich, fresh blueberries and a homemade brownie.. Norm threw in a couple bottles of wine and Perrier water.

Got back to Cerritos at 6:30.  9-1/2 hours after we left Lompoc. Long day. Went up with the intention of not buying any wines but came home with 17 bottles.  I have no will power. But a good trip overall and looking forward to next years festival.