We love the Farmers Market all year round but we love it especially in the summer and best of all June. There are flowers and a wide selection of vegetables even in winter but in June it all comes together. Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Plums, Figs all ripen in June and quickly disappear.
I often feel like one of those grizzlys who gorge on Salmon as they struggle upstream to lay their eggs. Its now or never and one year is along time to wait.
The photos are of the Tuesday Santa Barbara Farmers Market — two blocks on State Street which opens at 4:00pm, sharp. There is a Saturday Market, as well, held in a public parking lot but the street scene of Tuesdays adds to the experience.
This past weekend the Santa Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance held its second Annual Wine & Fire, a weekend-long event that includes a wine reception under the stars at La Purisima Mission and in-depth tasting seminars, followed by a gourmet lunch under the oaks at Rancho La Vina.
The weather was near perfect as was the ambience. David Lafond represented the Lafond Winery at the wine reception at La Purisima Mission and took a few photos shown below. Winemaker Bruce McGuire participated in the Saturday seminars at Rancho La Vina, as did Assistant Winemaker Ray Ralston.
La Purisima Mission, just as you enter Lompoc, is one of the most unspoiled of the Missions, possibly because it lies outside the city itself, in a very natural setting and not surrounded by houses or businesses. As David commented, standing in the garden you almost expect a Spanish Conquistador to come around the corner at any moment.
The results of the 2007 California State Fair:
Gold — Lafond SRH 2005 Syrah
Gold — Lafond SRH 2005 Pinot Noir
Gold — Lafond, Lafond Vineyard 2004 Pinot Noir
Silver — Lafond, Lafond Vineyard 2005 Chardonnay
All the wines listed above have had sufficient bottle age, one year or more, and are showing very well.
These wines are all available and can be ordered here
Workers are still leafing — removing leaves covering the grapes. They should be finished by early next week. The first photo shows workers going down the rows. The second photo the results.
This week we had a small group from the Madison City Club, in Madison Wisconsin, visit both our Santa Barbara Winery and the Lafond Winery in the Santa Rita Hills. Craig Addis, our Marketing Director, spent some time at the begining of their visit reducing if not eliminating totally the mysteries of winemaking. It is always a pleasure to receive these small groups and we encourage their visit.
This was a pre-wedding party for a small group. The bride lives in Santa Barbara and the family in Georgia. The mother in Rome, Georgia about 60 mile north of Atlanta. The wedding, which is tomorrow, Saturday, is at another winery in the valley. Vineyards have a great appeal as a venue for weddings and in June they are in their full glory.
Suzanne Fitzgerald announces two events for this summer:
June 30 Here’s To Good Health — Certified Natural Chef and Nutrition Educator, Micah Elconin will guide us through a four course cooking class highlighting the benefits of cooking with natural foods. Micah is Chef/Owner of the Educated Vegetable providing personal chef services and cooking classes. He also publishes a monthly newsletter and writes a food and wine column for the Santa Ynez Valley Journal. We will eat, drink, and be merry, all in good health. 6:30 to 8:30 pm — 50.00/person.
August 23 Straight From the Barrel – Winemaker Bruce McGuire has offered to tap those barrel just for us. We will sample a selection of our Reds while Bruce educates on the role barrels play in production.He will also teach us about new and older barrels and the taste differences between forests and toast levels. 6:00 to 7:30 — 30.00/person 25.00/wine club members.
To make reservations please call 805.963.3633 between 10:00am and 5:00pm Pacific Time or make a reservation here.
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