2025

It's here and so are we. Not my favorite time of year and yet we have some really great stuff going on: our annual tasting room closure break, mushroom foraging, local Dungeness crab season and cold but often beautiful sunny days.

   

Our annual break lead us on the road to Palm Springs. We're looking for sun, warmth, good food and outdoor activities. This trip did not disappoint. We hiked part of the PCT, we took the tram up to snow and hiked the 1.8 mile loop, we walked all over the Palm Springs strip and had fun doing it.

Hiking on the Sonoma Coast on sunny days in winter is a true pleasure. There might be one or two people on the trails, can be wet and muddy but this year Red Mountain was already dried up from the December rains. The sky has been so crisp and clean that one can see all way to the Farallon Islands.

The warm sun can almost make us feel like it's Spring.

     

Crab season is especially favored because we have to wait for the season to officially open. We feast for the first few weeks on cold, hot, sandwiches, salads, cakes, you name it, we try it all with crab and the the seasons winds down.

   

Our annual crab dinner brings smiles, joy and laughter to the tasting room. A good thing for January.

The biggest news for our start to 2025 is a new POS ( point of sale ) system.

We finally made the BIG jump in technology. Anyone who visits the tasting room in Graton will see it. It is an obvious change and we're basically having to reenter every customer into the new software.

It is an incredible improvement and will pay off for all of us ( no more double charges ).

Although it is an adjustment for our old brains, I'm slow at it still.

Next up, we're looking at staying positive and joyful in February!

Tasting barrel samples of the 2024 wines.

Mushroom season can start in the fall but is totally dependent on weather. We expected this year to be amazing with all the rain fall in November and December. unfortunately it hasn't really happened. The weather from pretty much January 1st has been sunny. I do prefer the sun to anything so I'm fine with that.

cheers to making 2025 good for friendship.

1st puzzle of 2025 complete

 Holiday Dinner - Lobster

Our December Dinner tradition continues to thrill. It's the time a year we opt for the WOW factor, the ultimate treat.

Originally started in December 2007 at Mosaic Restaurant in Forestville, long before we opened our Tasting Room in Graton. The tradition has shifted locations, menu's, size but we still hold strong that our wine family celebration of food and wine and a toast to the good things in life.

Lobster Rockerfeller is a creation of Mat's. Over the top rich and oh so good all you need is 2 bites and that's all you get.

Lobster Bisque never disappoints, especially with a whole lobster claw and both Chardonnay and Pinot to pair. 75% of our guests preferred the Chardonnay pairing while 25% chose the 2013 TNT Pinot.

Risotto is a favorite in our home and Mat made this lobster version loaded with lobster!

It was so good! And both the Chardonnay and Pinot paired great. Not every Pinot will work with this dish. We chose a newer vintage out of magnum, our Bohemian vineyard. I describe the Bohemian vineyard as a Francophile wine, cool climate, higher acidity, delicate fruits. We pick this vineyard last and one year not till the 1st week of November.

Main course surf and turf. Butter poached lobster from the French Laundry cookbook, grilled filet of beef with béarnaise sauce. We don't get béarnaise sauce very often, in fact only once a year!

We poured 2 Pinot's, and older vintage and a newer.

2013 Horsehoe Bend Pinot magnum and 2019 TNT 750ml.

I think the noise leveled dropped due to the love of eating. No discussion needed, this was all just so good!

A we close the evening with a simple cookie. 

Till next time, cheers and Happy Holidays.

                                                                      We're in it!  

November flies by and it's already half way through December. Time flies is no joke when you have a small family business to run with no employees.

Wine club shipping starts mid October with the hotter States going last. And as always, requests for later dates and specific times go out weekly. We are flexible, it's our wine family we're trying to continue to appease. It literally takes 3 months for our wine club to run it's course. And then the Holiday requests start coming in.

November saw our 1st Wreath making class, which was a blast and all enjoyed getting in the 'spirit'. Already discussed next year doing 2 sessions as the dining room holds 7 enthusiastic decorators.

Mushroom Season started after we had big rains the week before Thanksgiving. three days and 16 inches later then we were back to sunshine. Incredible days to visit the Sonoma Coast, clear and clean views with the ocean calmer than ever. our drive back from Salt Point State park we could see all the way to Pt. Reyes Station and the rugged Farallon islands.

Thanksgiving weekend is fun as we see lots of club groups with family and the Christmas tree'ers needing to stock up. It was a beautiful weened late November right into mid December.

We did a very fun 'Taste West County ' event in the 1st Sunday in December. We offered special's including cheese bites paired with our wine which was a huge success. We brought in some local art, food purveyor products which will linger through the month. Great new exposure for PMV.

And now, here we are, counting down the days to Christmas and the close of 2024. Shipping wine final dates have passed and it seems to have slowed to a light litter patter.

Our final event of 2024, a Holiday Dinner, 5 course Lobster mid way through the month. It feels nice to have a celebration with our wine family when we're not crazy busy. We put a lot of energy into these dinners, we love highlighting our wines that show so well we food. I have been known to say 'I only drink Chardonnay with Lobster'. Well here it is, 2014 Chardonnay magnums from our library. 2 of the last 6 pack chilled to pair. Also magnums of older Pinot's to battle out the perfect pairing.

Plus, we take a small break early January which helps our momentum. There is a light.

We'll be closed January 5th through 15th. YAY, Palm Springs here we come. R&R to start 2025.