A Winery Tour: Cupcake Wine - California

On a recent trip to California, I had the opportunity to tour a winery. The winery was owned by The Wine Group. If you are a wine drinker you wouldn't recognize that name, however, you might recognize the names of their wines: Cupcake, Underdog, Franzia, Concannon, Canyon, Fish Eye, Mogen David, and Corbit Canyon to name a few. Franzia was one of the first, "wines in a box". The motivation for the box was to lower shipping costs. On our visit to the winery, we learned about how The Wine Company attempts to remain current and competitive in a highly competitive wine industry. Presently The Wine Group is the fourth largest winery in the world. Part of the presentation focused upon how the various generations (the Boomers, The X-Gen, and the I-Gen) have different preference for wine. The Boomers are very traditional wine drinkers who prefer their wine in bottles with corks. The I-Gen have come to wine drinking earlier than the Boomers and X-ers. They don't mine their wine in boxes or with screw caps. We learned about how the company purchased a number of vineyards around the world and often make their wine and truck it to the bottling plant in bags to save the cost of shipping the wine. Once at the bottling plant the wine is removed from the large bag and bottled for sale. After the presentation we had the opportunity to tour the winery. The winery includes a vineyard, manufacturing area, bottling area and tasting area. After the tour we had the opportunity to engage in a wine tasting. One of my favorites was the Cupcake brand of wine. Of all the reds and whites I tried, my ultimate favorite was the Cupcake Riesling. What a great tour and opportunity to learn a bit about a business and how they are constantly reinventing themselves to remain competitive in a global economy.

The RV Show

What do outdoor people do when there is two feet of snow on the ground (which is unusual for this area that averages 25 inches per year)? We dream about spring, summer and fall when we can be out and about. Some would say that we could be out and about during the snow. I would agree, but I am a warm weather girl. I am so ready to be on my bicycle, motorcycle, running and swimming in the warmth and sun of spring and summer. So, when cabin fever hit, we hit our convention center to see the RVs. I can't say that I have ever truly considered using an RV and going camping. At first, it was just an excuse to get out and about on a Friday night. However, the excuse to get out quickly turned into a great time of exploring a whole new world of camping in RV style. I was amazing at the size of the trailers and fifth wheels we visited. I could not believe all of the luxuries available in a trailer. Flat screen TVs, surround sound systems, state of the art appliances. I had to ask myself whether or not this was camping as I pictured it. Using an RV appeared to me that I would have a "mini" home on wheels to take where ever my heart and map desired. I remember my father once saying to me, don't buy one of those trailers. Back then, some thirty years ago, I can see his point. Tonight I found myself wondering what he would think now given the amazing advances in trailers and the technology available.

Snow Storm

What is the only profession in which you can be wrong most of the time and still be employed? Forecasting the weather! I'm sure weather men and women get razzed a great deal by their friends, families and even strangers. Yesterday, the news began broadcasting that our area was going to get a major winter storm. The previous weekend we had watched the reports out of Washington D.C. chronicling the 24 to 30 inches of snow fall they received. We didn't think we would get 24 inches, but the forecast was calling for 6 to 8. Reports had the storm starting around noon today. I left for lunch - no snow. I headed to my 4:00 p.m. meeting - no snow. However, when I emerged from my 4:00 p.m. meeting around 5 o'clock the snow began. Driving home was a challenge as the heavy snow fall was whipped around by the wind. We are not use to major snow in this area so drivers are ill prepared to navigate the snow. However, as I drove home this evening I couldn't help but wonder had this time one of those times when our weather forecasters were right.