I know, I know… I’m only supposed to be here on Mondays.
But at the risk of wearing out my welcome, I’m opening up the Editor’s Journal an extra time this week to share some information on three upcoming events that may motivate you to get in the car or hop on a plane to take in some nice scenery and taste some good wine.
All three events will be taking place in California’s Central Coast wine region, and the first is one of my personal favorites.
It’s the annual Celebration of Harvest, hosted by the Santa Barbara County Vintners Association. Even as many of the wineries are still bringing in grapes for their 2009 vintage wines, they’ll be sharing their cuvees from vintages past.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that the event is scheduled in just three days — on Saturday, October 10.
The better news is that as I was making this entry in the Editor’s Journal, tickets were still available. You can get all the information online at: www.sbcountywines.com
Need a little more time to plan your trip?
Well, a bit farther up the coast, the vintners and growers of the Paso Robles area will stage their own Harvest Wine Weekend October 16-18.
Get this: Over the course of the three days, some 130 wineries will host more than 150 individual events.
This is the place to be if you know how to be in two (or three…) places at one time.
A helpful online planning utility is available at: www.pasowine.com/events/harvestactivities.php
If you’d like to mix in some art with your wine, check out Ventura’s Harvest ArtWalk Weekend October 24-25.
This is a free, self-guided, walk-around event in the city’s downtown cultural district, located a short walk from the Ventura Pier and the beach. Galleries and studios will be open, of course, but there also will be numerous “gallery-for-a-day” venues such as restaurants, boutiques, antique shops, et al.
While there is no “official” wine tie-in with the ArtWalk, the cultural district is home to numerous wine-savvy restaurants and wine bars — which means you can take a number of breaks between the galleries to simply sit and soak in the atmosphere of one of California’s more eclectic beach communities.
For more information, visit: www.venturaartwalk.org
Okay, I’m done till Monday… but check back here between now and then for a couple of wine-friendly recipes and more…
