This week everyone at the winery has been in a tizzy. This weekend is our second annual Art and Wine Fair. The weather is gorgeous, we have over 50 artists and a few food vendors AND it is the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association's Passport Weekend (all Passport holders receive a complimentary tasting and a free glass).

We are expecting a big crowd. But I don't think we have ever been so organized and ready for it. We brought in extra bathrooms and we bought 2,000 new glasses. Our gift packs are arranged "just so." Melanie is making posters!  And Cindy is the puppeteer, directing people and furniture, wine and cash registers.

If you are in town, please come by this weekend.  It's an all hands on deck scenario, so if you know someone who works at the winery, most likely they will be here this weekend. 11-5pm. Please click here for more information and a list of the artists attending.

Melanie makes a poster showcasing personalized labels.

Dominic and Natalie pose with a pallet of new glasses and the SCMWA passports.

Potties!

We picked the last of the grapes (except for anything Late Harvest) on Thursday, right before the rain. The crew is really excited about the Cab this year...the low yields made the flavors go through the roof. Looking forward to releasing that 2008 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon in three years.

We had a little bowling, beer and pizza celebration after the grapes were brought in. To spice it up, we added a little Halloween costume contest into the mix this year. First place got about $350 cash....(part of a pool we all threw in), second and third, some wine.

I will preface this by saying that yes, I am a poor loser (I came in second). However, my costume was completely homemade AND wine related. Anyways, next year I think we need a more offical voting system...I HATE losing to a blow up doll.

And the winners are.....

3rd Place, Winemaker Stephen Tebb, a bottle of Clos LaChance WIne (with his lovely wife Kathleen as a bunch of grapes).

2nd place: Me, Cheryl Durzy, VP Sales and Marketing, Cork Dork (here with the Murphy clan, Brenda as some kind of weird curly haired dancer, Bill a hippie and Kristin a Sharks fan).

And 1st place, Jason Robideaux, Cellarmaster, as Ken and Barbie.

The winners circle: