The Original GLBT Expo

I went to the Original GLBT Expo yesterday. Pretty good. Some new companies there. Was happy to see a few food places as booze companies are always around to give out samples. Cabot Creamery had tastes of four of their cheeses including one with basil and tomato. Catering company in Long Island City, here is Queens, had samples of their Maryland Style Crabcakes called Crabby Petes. They were also giving out samples of dessert things like chocolate covered banana on a stick.

Having nothing to do with the same company, there was T. Peters of Pete's Pride Dimes. They are dimes with a punched out heart, circle or diamond. Friendship, love, and to remind people that 10% (I think there's more) of the population is part of the gay community. www.pridedime.com

Loved this Wine Caddy company. Check it out at www.winecaddys.com Even if you don't drink wine, there are some cool sculptures. Having played the piano for several years, I decided on the piano player wine caddy and took some photos. Esther likes to sing along with me.

Candle's Your Way. Although they make candles for any occasion, the ones at the expo were all about dessert! I got one that looked like chocolate pudding with whipped cream and even smelled like chocolate. www.candlesyourway.shutterfly.com

Couldn't help take this photo. Company that sells electric cigarettes to wean you off of cigarettes. Right behind them is a huge inside display or whatever (didn't go in) on Camel cigarettes.

Sister Funk performed.

NANCY AND BARB AT JODAR WINERY

We're on the last leg of Nancy and Barb's Apple Hill tour but I hear that there will be a follow up story to this. Here is Nancy's report. "We met Lisa Scott who told us that Jodar Winery's (Jodarwinery.com) tasting room is very personable
and educational at the same time. They want their customers to
understand what type of foods pair well with the wine they will
purchase.

Their grapes are grown near the El Dorado National Forest at 2,400 feet.
The American River provides a nice cool mist for their grapes. Annually
they produce around 5,500 cases.

They sell a wine that had won double gold. Compared to Napa Valley this
specific double gold medal wine sells for $22.00! Wow!

During the year they have wine club events, picnics, weekly featured
wine, and sometimes a four-piece band playing on the grassy area
adjacent to the building. I got a kick out of the glassy gem t-shirts they sold at the gift shop. For each shirt there was a particular saying about wine.

Photos by Nancy Kozicki. Tech by Barbara Coletta

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

Nancy and Barb Visit Lava Cap

Nancy and Barb seem to be off to their next destination in El Dorado County. "Our next destination brought us to Lava Cap Winery on Fruitridge Road number 26 on the Apple Hill Scenic Drive map. I do want to point out that from Rainbow Orchards #10 to the winery there was another great Fall scent. The smell of wet autumn leaves! How I miss that from growing up on the East Coast in Massachusetts.

Upon our arrival to Lava Cap I first noticed the rolling hills and the golden sun at 11 am. Yay sun! We met one owner from this family owned business, Beth Jones. She told us the whole story behind the winery. There is certainly a lot more to learn than just grapes!

The land of Lava Cap is rich in history. The land was bought by Beth's Father-In-Law David Jones and his wife Jeanne in 1980. He was a well-known geologist and his two sons started this venture from an old small pear orchard they purchased. David Jones (vs. Davey Jones)and family wanted to preserve the fields and maintain the space and beauty by preserving this rural landscape. The grapes are grown in Volcanic soil along with the sloping terrain. Gold was found under the Lava Caps making it a famous area for gold miners because of the deposits (vs. withdrawals. Later, this region was recognized and known for its pears.

In 1981 the plan to convert the orchard to vineyard was developed by the family. Beth explained that there is a lot of sun exposure and for the grapes to obtain more sun they pull off the leaves from the grapevine. Their grapes are harvested after the Sonoma and Napa Valley grapes. These grapes at Lava Cap are at a higher elevation than the previous areas mentioned providing cooler evenings and prolonging the harvesting of the grapes. This allows the grapes to mature to their best potential.

As for wines, Lava Cap is known mostly for their Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Petite Sirah. It was a proven fact when I walked by their display case full of award winning medals. Lava Cap produces on average 20,000 cases of wine every season.

I like to budget my money and how can you go wrong with no tasting room fees, a smaller production area, and supporting a family run business? I have heard Napa Valley wineries charge tasting fees! For more information to their website visit lavacap.com

At this point in our travels Barbara, Jody, Bailey, and I were ready for lunch...on to our next stop. Photos by Nancy Kozicki. Tech by Barbara Coletta