NANCY AND BARB AT CRYSTAL BASIN CELLARS

Well, I guess it's time for Nancy and Barb to toss down some vino. "We left Honey Bear Ranch and drove to Crystal Basin Cellars (crystalbasincellars.com). This winery and tasting room will not be found on the Apple Hill Scenic Drive map, but is located on Carson Road. Directions? You may also take this exit off of Highway 50. Bailey...you remember our dog...was greeted by Dakota another friendly four-legged creature.

Crystal Basin does not grow their own grapes, but they have the connections to obtain great local grapes. They have been awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals since 2001. The owners are a group of friends. Mike Owen is one owner who gave us a tour of the wine cellar and a demonstration of the Crusher and De-Stemmer machine.

I was pleasantly surprised that the wine cellar has 18 inch thick walls and they are filled with a natural insulation: sawdust from a local lumber. Great place to go during the heat of the summer, don't you think? Outside we were able to see grapes raked into a hopper. In this funnel-shaped chamber the grape stems were piling high on one side and on the other side the grapes came out crushed. What an amazing process! Certainly easier than stomping on grapes!

At the end of our tour Mike mentioned that when he was younger he remembered there being a farm house. On the current property of Crystal Basin the remains of the structures of the old stone pump house and a wood carving area.

There's one more place to visit before we end our Apple Hill tour."

Photos by Nancy Kozicki. Tech by Barbara Coletta