It feels like Spring for this Winehiker
Ah, Spring has Sprung, and this morning I notice that the sun is glowing a little more golden, the breeze caresses me a little more warmly, and the birds are singing a little more cheerfully in my garden.
After struggling to pull myself back inside, I reviewed the latest contents of my inbox and noticed a Google Alert to a story published this morning by Mary Babbitt of the NBC-TV magazine, In Wine Country. Babbitt, host of the half-hour nationally syndicated television show, is local to the Santa Clara Valley area, which is located at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay. For her show, she visits wineries and wine-related venues and interviews local winemakers and others who live and breathe the wine culture of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.*
In this morning’s article, Mary mentions California Wine Hikes, the company that this blog supports. It’s true that I organize hiking tours of the Zinfandel Trail at Picchetti Winery, as Mary mentions. In fact, I’ve probably guided more tours along this Zinfandel Trail than any other. It’s a wonderful stretch of trail because it’s a unique example of the best that the Santa Cruz Mountains has to offer: open, brushy chaparral, dark, enchanting bay forest, a gurgling Stevens Creek, and fine views of Coyote Ridge and the Santa Clara Valley. The trail is fun and easy to walk, too, which makes it perfect for hikers and wine lovers of all levels. Hiking always goes well with food, of course, and quite naturally, food goes well with wine. All go well with friendly outdoorsy people, so my tours of the Zinfandel Trail always culminate in a grand feast of a picnic and a tasting of the special Italian-style wines poured in the rustic and enchanting Picchetti tasting room.
I’m proud to receive the mention in Mary’s article. But more than that, I am absolutely ecstatic about the prospect of meeting Mary Babbitt in front of the camera in mid-May at Picchetti Winery.
It sure puts Spring into my step! I’ll let you know when the show airs as soon as I find out. Plus, when it’s available, I’ll attempt to add the NBC podcast here on this blog.
*See my previous post about Mary Babbitt and her In Wine Country show.






It feels like Spring for this Winehiker…
Wine Life TodayMary Babbitt, host of NBC-TV’s “In Wine Country”, published an article today that, among other things, mentions the Winehiker’s tour company, California Wine Hikes. But the Winehiker is pretty excited about what’s going to happen next….
March 21st, 2007 11:59
You should look forward to it. We got to meet Mary Babbitt a couple years ago when she came thru Murphys and interviewed us about our winery and tasting room. She’s definitely a class act! (Though I wouldn’t mind if you mentioned that it has been a couple years since she came thru Murphys and maybe it’s time…:)
el jefeMarch 21st, 2007 14:57
Hi El Jefe!
Mary BabbittThat trip to Murphys was a favorite of mine and believe it or not, I’ve got it in the hopper for a future article (I’m writing monthly articles for a few newspapers in addition to the show). Murphys has a great thing going with fun tasting rooms, cool people and beautiful surroundings. I loved it there!
Thanks for the kind words. I hope to get back to Murphys soon! Cheers, Mary
March 26th, 2007 22:03
I’ll be visiting Murphys myself later this summer, if not sooner. I’m afraid, though, that if I make Twisted Oak Winery my first stop, it’ll be a little like Hotel California (I’ll never leave) - for reasons I’m sure only El Jefe Knows!
Thanks again for checking in here, Mary.
winehikerMarch 27th, 2007 16:37
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