April 13 and 14 Santa Ynez Valley and Paso Robles with Ginny and Lars

Visited the artisan wine makers in Santa Ynez Valley... Roblar and Brander for pick ups and sipping. Then off to Curtis Winery, owned by the Firestone Family aka tires, vintners and brewers. We were so taken with the wine that....yes....we became members of another winery. However, we are just Interns....beginners in the wine club. I took a picture of the wonderful sky above the vineyard as the rain storm was moving though.

We arrived in Templeton at Ginny and Lars home just in time to watch the hail come down while the sun was shinning.

On Saturday, the 14th, we had a wonderful lunch at Denner winery of food we purchased at Farm Stand 46. We had a pick up and tastings during lunch by the fireplace.

Then we were off to visit our friends Jeff and Florence Pipes at Pipestone winery....tastings and a wine purchase. I took a picture of their Belgian Draft horses that Jeff uses to do all his field work and drives with his wagon at the Templeton Fourth of July parade.

Finally we picked up wine from our wine club purchase at Minassian-Young. Sipped a little wine, sat outside on their rocking chairs and witnessed a cat catch and eat a mouse whole. A bit icky...but interesting....the cycle of life. A hawk lurked overhead, perhaps interested in the cat.

The West Paso Robles wine country is beautiful steep rolling hills, oak trees with Spanish Moss and great people. What a joy!