Chasing the PGA Tour through Pebble Beach

I love going down to Pebble Beach for the Crosby (aka AT&T). Let's face it any excuse to visit the area is hard to turn down.

Well here's an excuse to come down, we're going to meet some fun people at the Pebble Beach driving Tuesday, February 10 at 11:00 am (we actually taxi in from Carmel Valley). We're going to enjoy some ball striking on the range before strolling over to the first tee for the pro shootout at Pebble.

They'll play 1, 2, 3, 17 and 18 (takes about 1.5 hours) and they draw some of the top players in the tournament and it's narrated by a comedian. This just happens to drop us into the Tap Room at Pebble Beach (not a bad place to enjoy a drink and snack).

We then have enough time to taxi or shuttle over to Spanish Bay for a little putting action while the bag piper plays in the back ground. Of course another cocktail is in order at my favorite 19th Hole (Spanish Bay #1).

Dinner is set for Rio Grill in Carmel Valley. Some of us will clean up at our hotels and we're set for 6:30 pm. If our party gets large I've arranged to have a private room at the Carmel River Inn. My buddy will some guitar, we'll enjoy some wines and dinner. Who knows a player or two from the tournament may drop in. Last year Michael Allen (finshed 14th last year and our honorary wine club member) joined us.

Wednesday we're set to golf at Fort Ord's Bayonet. Bring your game because this course doesn't hold back, it's brought grown men and women to tears and fits of self loathing. Still I'll put up some wine for prizes (low net, low gross, a closie or two and something else like prettiest outfit or worst swing).

Call me at 707-529-6458 if you'd like to come out.

The 19th Hole Golf and Wine Tour kicks off in Palm Springs

The 19th Hole Golf and Wine Tour kicks off in Palm Springs or to be more precise La Quinta for a round of golf on one of my favorite golf courses, the Mountain course at La Quinta.

On Wednesday, January 21 we tee off at 1:22 pm. After the round we'll 19th Hole and have dinner with my wines in the Adobe restarant at La Quinta.

The green fee is $179 and dinner is probably around $60 but I'll supply the wines. Lodging and watching my buddy Michael Allen, PGA Tour pro, tear up the course the next day optional.

For information on the other events click here (Phoenix Open, ATT at Pebble Beach).

Gifts a couple clicks away

You know that person that has everything? Every year you have to figure out a gift that'll score points. If that person is a golfer and enjoys wine well we just made your shopping a breeze. For more details...

Some Gift Ideas for Golfers

We've just released a couple new wines that I'm really excited about. Actually a Tiger Woods fist pump for a 2004 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2007 Merlot (we call it Mer-Moe)from Dry Creek Valley. They're excellent wines tasting like $25 bottles but as a special until the end of the month I'm doing $180 a case!

Just in time for the gift giving season we've got in these cool two bottle wooden boxes that are a great keep sake for you or a fun gift for a friend. Right now we're packing them with a bottle of our Cabernet Sauvignon and the Merlot along with some lucky golf tees.

With shipping the cost for the box and wine is $79. You can call us at 707-529-6458 if you'd like to order a set.

Check out the 19th Hole Wine website.

19th Hole Wine Club Event!

It's about time for a 19th Hole Wine Club event and with the Schwab Cup in Sonoma I thought we should piggy back watching a little golf with wine tasting in some real cool places in the Sonoma Valley.

Saturday, November 1, 2008, we'll start the day meeting at Deerfield Ranch Winery in Kenwood at 11:00 a.m.. You'll see where we produce 19th Hole Wine and walk the caves where we store the wine. You'll taste some of our new wines and some of the releases like our Cabernet Sauvignon and our tasty Red Blend.

Heading back toward Sonoma, about two miles, we'll have lunch at one of my favorite destinations and gems of the Sonoma Valley, Olive and Vine in the the Jack London Village in Glen Ellen. You'll also get to see and taste a few other treats next door from vendors in the village who make chocolate, cheese and olive oil (this is why I live here). About another mile down is parking for the golf tournament and we'll shuttle in to event where you see up close Fred Funk, Jay Haas and Jeff Sluman play flawless golf. You may stay until play finishes, about six o' clock, or leave whenever you wish.

The cost for the day is $60 and this covers the wine tasting, lunch and the ticket for the golf tournament.

Call me if you'd like to attend and I'll save you a ticket.

707-529-6458

Making Wine in Sonoma

In many places in the wine country as you drive or walk around you'll get the sweet and distinct fragrance of the fermentation taking place in the surrounding wineries. I love each year being a part of this wine making process. It has so many interesting and satisfying steps and I'm happy to share some of those with you.

We just wrapped up our harvest and now we wait for the grapes to turn its sugars into alcohol. This year we made 250 cases (or 3,000 bottles).

I shot a couple videos for the fun of it and for you to enjoy what I am lucky enough to experience. Making wine is truely a joy (well most of the time). I love to visit the vineyards during the year and watch the grapes grow. Tasting them as their getting closer to picking time.

The barrel room is also a favorite of mine, the combination of oak and wine is something I'm never tired of. I would love to have more meals in the cellar surrounded by the abundance of wine and the enticing smells (keep an eye out, I'll be doing a dinner in the cave at some point and everyone will be invited).

Pulling wine from the barrel with a wine thief (glass gadget that can sucks in wine for tasting) is something I do and relish during the entire year. It's a rough job but someone has to do it. You really do have to stay on top of the wine as it's on it's journey to be a finished wine. Is it oaked enough? How's the acid levels?

At the end of a long day, you pull a bottle from the past, pop it open and toast all it took to make that tasty glass of wine.

Harvest time in Sonoma

After quite a heat spell the weather has turned to foggy mornings and perfectly comfortable 80 degree afternoons. I'd say 30% of the grapes have been picked. I've got Chardonnay cooking down in fermentation and ready to press this weekend. The first of the month we'll be picking Cabernet and Merlot. I shot of my wine maker, Robert Rex owner of Deerfield Ranch Winery in Kenwood, walking the vineyard and describing what he's looking for in the ready-to-pick grape.



On the golf side Sonoma Golf Club is in great shape for the Schwab Cup next month. I'm going to put an event up for October 4 where we play some in the am and check out some of the wine production taking place at Deerfield. Until then!