The Flamingo Resort, Santa Rosa, circa 1959: it was the place to stay north of the bay within two years of its opening, a posh retreat for the Hollywood Jet Set. One could find the likes of Jayne Mansfield, dramatic and daring in her then-scandalous two-piece swimsuit, soaking up the sun poolside and presumably posing for […]

When I’ve walked the paths through the stately giants of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, about 30 miles from my hometown, I’ve always been awed by the majesty of those timeless trees. Equally timeless, it seems, is the far-off whistle of the historic Roaring Camp steam locomotive that runs daily from its mountain home in the town […]

Wine 2.0 is, apparently, the confluence of wine and technology that results in purple teeth. Without a whole lot of fanfare, I hereby offer photos from last night’s Wine 2.0 Spring Fling at Crushpad in San Francisco. Many thanks to Cornelius Geary and Jeff Playter of Rad-Cru for hosting what many folks felt was a […]

I’ve been invited by the nice folks at Cinnabar Winery to speak at their next Alchemy Tuesdays program, which is scheduled for January 8th. The public is invited, and yes! - it’s on a Tuesday evening. Imagine that.

 
So far I’d have to say I’m delighted by the variety of speakers who have presented in this […]

Having a few friends on Facebook is a cooler thing than I expected it would be. For instance, while I originally joined Facebook some weeks back to ostensibly stay in touch with my burgeoning band of wine and hiking friends - bloggers and nonbloggers alike - I sometimes find myself invited to actually see them […]

 
In a July 31st update to his winemaking clientele, Crushpad CEO Michael Brill relates his strategy for creating a passageway to his new barrel room, and he does it in high YouTube fashion. Writes Mr. Brill:
We just took possession of the 7,000 sq ft room that will store up to 2,000 barrels. The problem was that there […]

Tasting rooms seem to have come and gone over the years in Saratoga. That’s why I’m hoping Cinnabar Vineyards & Winery will make a good go of it for many years in their new location at 14612 Big Basin Way between 5th and 6th Streets in downtown Saratoga, commonly referred to by locals as The […]

If you’re planning a girl’s weekend out or a bachelorette bash, then an escape to the wine country may be the perfect plan. You and your girlfriends can fill your days with spa time, fabulous food, and of course, wine tasting. A number of wineries fit the bill for a celebration, either with their bubbly wines, large outdoor […]

The following list presents the top ten lodging facilities located in and near California’s most celebrated vineyards. They’re not cheap places to stay, but if you can plan your vacation budget well, you will experience the best of the best of the California wine country. I look forward to being your host someday at these […]

 
San Francisco’s Crushpad, the custom facility for small-lot winemaking, will soon move from its Potrero Hill location to new, larger digs at the American Industrial Center about a mile south of AT&T Park. A Spring Open House is planned, but so is much more, including involvement in a PBS reality TV series and a brand incubator program, […]