Like minded folks-

I was at the bookstore a few weeks ago, and found this book.  I bought it for my younger brother, and DH swiped it from me.  This book is WRONG, just WRONG, and is suitable for anyone you know who is driving the bus to hell.

Yesterday, DH and I went on a Christmas Wine Trail....a tasting sample and an ornament at each vineyard.  I don't think I will buy tickets again, because folks physically can't GO to every single vineyard in a weekend.  It's a lot of work.  And since we never DO, I am going to skip tickets, and plan on a tasting fee at each vineyard.  

I will tell you about our two current favorite 'wine zones'.

Highway 290, between Fredricksburg and Johnson City.  

Skip the Fredricksburg Winery in downtown Fredricksburg.  Head east on Hwy 290.  

Stop off at the Circle E Candle showroom, and buy prezzies.  We bought "colleague thank yous" for the admin folks that help DH out, and pressed on.  Gifts run 5.00 and up.  It was the weekend before Christmas, so we didn't see FABULOUS buys, but maybe during other times of the year?

Stop into Wildseed Farms, and buy prezzies and stuff.  This place is a lot of fun-lots of seeds, plants, tourist crap and garden stuff.  Great place to bring seniors-lots to see, and places to sit.

Then on to wine-Grape Creek, Torre de Pietra, and Becker are our favorites.  Woodrose-not so much-they have some growing to do.  We haven't had a chance to visit Perdenales yet.  

We also like Comfort and Sisterdale.  

Comfort Cellars Winery.  This place is fun and creative.  We plan to bring my DBIL, a serious winer (!) there sometime, just to 'punk him.'  We bypassed the Orange Chardonnay and Jalapeno wine (yes REALLY-I tried it because it might be good in salad dressing) in favor of the Comfort Gold.

Singing Waters Vineyard.  

This was one of the secret stars of yesterday's trip.  It's WAY the hell out there-of course the deer all went into hiding when I hunted down the camera.  The signage sucks, and it's way out in Outer Nowhere.  They only make 4 wines-one white, three reds.  We bought three bottles.  VERY affordable, and we liked the wines better than many pricier bottles.  Worth the trip.

Sister Creek Vineyards-we skipped them yesterday, but I strongly recommend.

The other secret star of the trip was The Tinsmith's Wife.  I like this little yarn shop.  Within 5 minutes of walking in there, I could tell I was in a variegated yarn lover's ship.  Bliss.  

I noticed she had a copy of this book, and I snatched it up.  Looks like fun!