Another day in ...

Paul Robeson tomatoes

Well, life in the wine country carries on ... and continues to be pretty damn nice. Yesterday we went to the Healdsburg Plaza to listen to Nick Gravenites play the blues. As usual, the event was a giant block party of wines and great food. A friend brought a giant platter of roasted Padron peppers to share, another had an interesting and tasty bottle of sparkling Petite Sirah - the food vendors provided lamb tacos, shrimp tostadas, heaping helpings of onion rings and savory Gyros, charcuterie plates and lavender lemonade.

Good friends were everywhere and the weather was perfect!

After the music festivities, we grabbed a bottle of port and a lemon to join our neighbors in their kitchen to cook up some port poached pears for dessert. We were picked up in a vintage convertible with yummy white and red leather upholstery and driven next door with a sea of bright stars overhead. Ahh .... the pears were delectable!

This morning I awoke to host a wine shop owner for a walk in the Calliope vineyard with fresh coffee in our cups. We then took samples of the vineyard grapes to test for sugar and maturity. The cat followed us around as the fog gently cleared and sunshine warmed our path. After testing the grapes, we tasted the previous year's vintage from that vineyard then packed up some cucumbers, tomatoes and asian pears for his departure. He happened to bring a gift of two beautiful packages of local cheeses from Cowgirl creamery - which we will most likely enjoy at the picnic table at the top of the vineyard with a cold glass of rose' this evening.

Now then, what's with the picture of the tomatoes? This is an heirloom variety that we planted for the first time this year and I am preserving that event here in this blog. They are the most flavorful and delicious tomatoes that I have had to date - a perfect balance between sweet and savory tomato goodness. Next year, I'll plant two plants of these as they are not the most prolific.

Well, gotta go get the lodging ready for a visiting intern, do some laundry, deliver some wine and finish correspondence with one of our distributors. Another day in paradise!