Tastes like Christmas

Saturday we had tastings with really nice people. The first couple was from LA celebrating a birthday. They clearly were experienced wine drinkers with impressive palates. They enjoyed the wines, became wine club members (thank you!) and interacted with the other family who were tasting with us.

Retired General Charlie Holland, his gracious wife Nancy, brilliant son Justin and good friend Ike arrived shortly after the Packs. Conversations covered military academies, China and the coincidence that Justin and our daughter Meg were in both 2006 grads from Boston colleges. I don't know if their paths ever crossed, but Justin studied at MIT and Meg was at Wellesley so maybe!

While tasting our unique Grenache-Zinfandel blend, ZinG, Justin commented that it tasted like Christmas. Ever sense he came to that conclusion, I confess, I taste the spice of Christmas too! It's not cinnamon or nutmeg, but there is something in the wine that creates a memory of a Christmas cookie. Please go taste your ZinG and help me define what that flavor is. Don't have any ZinG, we can handle that.......visit www.percazocellars.com.

Roll out the unwelcome mat!

Today we had our hearing with the county about approving our minor use permit for establishing a winery on the property. It was a very frustrating process like most government bureaucracy where people who have nothing better to do than butt into your business weild too much control. There is a group of NIMBY's who have been been trying to sabotage every winery project. If it wasn't so personal I actually would feel sorry for these folks whose lives are obviously so small and narrow that they waste precious time scheming against their neighbors.

They did not prevail today. We did receive permission to build a 2500 case winery.

When you think that this country is built on the backs of small family operated business, anyone opposing the entrepreneurial spirit is un-American - especially in challenging times like now.

We need a little a little Christmas now.....

Tonight we entertained Cantus, the all male a cappella choir based in Minnesota who are in the area to perform their original show called All is Calm. The powerful performance is based on the true story recalling the remarkable Christmas Truce of WW I – a day when both sides laid down their arms to embrace peace with a cease-fire . Dave and I have seen the staging when we were in Minnesota and it promises to be an amazing experience if you can sneek away to see it tomorrow. It will be performed in acoustically-stunning sanctuary of the Grace Church in San Luis Obispo. They also will be performing at UC Davis, Phoenix, Kansas City and Tulsa between now and Dec. 15.

Dave has been on their board and we have always been big supporters so when we learned they were in the area, we insisted they come for dinner. It was a lovely evening and everyone seemed to enjoy the food and the Per Cazo Cellars wines. Their gift to us was a moving performance of Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas that one of the singers had arranged. Dave and I both were moved to tears by the pure magic of the moment. Nine men singing in perfect pitch in our dining room is something I never will forget. Oh to be that talented.