Orange you glad …Merry Christmas!

(from the Emerson Troop store window in Los Angeles).

Mother Amelia Ceja & Daughter Dahlia the next generation of shaping wine in Carneros with their signature Ceja Vineyards - her husband Pedro is the winemaker and viticulturalist. A story of struggle and reward - an inspiration to us all.

Doing some last minute stuff before we go to Yosemite tomorrow for the Vintners Holiday at The Ahwahnee Lodge with winemaker Amelia Ceja, grower extraodinaire Andy Beckstoffer (congrats on Vintners Hall of Fame!), Steve Reeder winemaker from Simi, Frederick Schrader of Schrader Vineyards, and Dan Goldfield of Dutton-Goldfield - can’t wait!

photo by Kenny Karst

Hors d’oeuvres at the Hostellerie de Plaisance St. Emilion, France

I love drinking champagne in the middle of the day - and these beautiful treats (the lollypops are fois gras) started our lunch off on the perfect note. Stay at this hotel if you can afford it - the vistas are amazing - or else indulge in the 2 star lunch.