There has been a number of large and destructive fires up in NorCal. Napa Fire, which had the greatest impact on vineyards and wineries, was caused by tree limbs falling on PG&E power lines.
There are photographs everywhere. It is the call of photographers to see and capture those images.
www: garyayala.com
JaneK wrote: Ohhhhh, what a shame. Aren't those grape roots that are in those vineyards like very old too?
Some are and some are not. Many California vineyards are constantly in flux, keeping some vines and replanting other vines. The oldest grapevine is actually in Los Angeles at the Avila Adobe. The adobe is located on LA's very first street, Olvera Street.
The first Europeans to descent into the Los Angeles basin/valley was the Spanish explorer/colonist Portola. Portola was accompanied by Father Crespi, his Franciscan chronicler/diarist. Crespi noted that his first impression of the LA basin was that it was a vast vineyard of wild grapes. In 1769 the first Californian wine grapes were planted by Father Serra in San Diego.
JaneK wrote: WOW look at you! You really know your history!
Do you get up there often?
Maybe a couple times a year for Sonoma, (north of San Francisco), which is about 450 miles from Gary. Gary has found Napa to be overly commercialized, sorta like Disneyland with tastings. Sonoma, which is west of Napa, produces equally fine and less expensive wines. Places closer to home the more often Gary visits. As a former journalist, Gary has a habit of doing some research on the places I go.
In a couple of weeks we'll be heading back north to a winery up near Pinnacles National Park in Monterey County. Mary Lou, Maggie and Gary belong to wine clubs (wineries) up and down the state from Sonoma to Temecula. (Typically, members receive free tastings and significant discounts but are required to purchase around 12 bottles a year from the winery.) As Temecula is slightly more than an hour away, it has become Gary's most visited wine region. Wine has become a bit of a hobby with Gary. He enjoys all the various flavors, he enjoys the visits to wineries, most are quite beautiful and he always enjoys the people he meets and chats with while tasting.
There are photographs everywhere. It is the call of photographers to see and capture those images.
www: garyayala.com
Cory J wrote: Temecula is a great little surprise of California, I was there a couple years ago. Great wine and tacos there!
Temecula has really grown up in the past few years. More wineries and more places to eat ... Gary has never had Temecula tacos. Typically, he eats at Thornton Winery. They have a wonderful restaurant. Their wines are so-so, but the food is wonderful. Gary is a member at Thornton because of the food. (Their sparkling wines are good.)
There are photographs everywhere. It is the call of photographers to see and capture those images.
www: garyayala.com
GaryA wrote: Hey Ian. Gary's been pretty busy ... getting the house painted (outside), a new roof (Energy Star), new gutters (they work) the restoring all the stuff that was destroyed getting the house painted. Mary Lou, Maggie and Gary took a quick trip up to Salinas and Monterey for a funeral.
Next there was a wedding down in Temecula, then two LA based graduations ... a few plays/musicals ... and Gary has been working his fat little tail off processing photos (Whitney High School's production of Beauty and the Beast and now he is working his fat little tail off processing a production of Grease.) Last night we entertained guests (including dogs) for Chinese. The new patio table worked out perfect. It was a very cool and drizzly evening, but we fired up the table and it easily put out enough heat for us to eat out side. (Gary had to turn lower the output to about 50%.) A very enjoyable evening comfortable sitting around the table, sipping wine, nibbling on Chinese watching the dogs play and chase an opossum across the yard ... for dessert a berry tart with Colombian Supremo.
How often do you get to Temecula? Isn't there more vineyards down there?
GaryA wrote: Hey Ian. Gary's been pretty busy ... getting the house painted (outside), a new roof (Energy Star), new gutters (they work) the restoring all the stuff that was destroyed getting the house painted. Mary Lou, Maggie and Gary took a quick trip up to Salinas and Monterey for a funeral.
Next there was a wedding down in Temecula, then two LA based graduations ... a few plays/musicals ... and Gary has been working his fat little tail off processing photos (Whitney High School's production of Beauty and the Beast and now he is working his fat little tail off processing a production of Grease.) Last night we entertained guests (including dogs) for Chinese. The new patio table worked out perfect. It was a very cool and drizzly evening, but we fired up the table and it easily put out enough heat for us to eat out side. (Gary had to turn lower the output to about 50%.) A very enjoyable evening comfortable sitting around the table, sipping wine, nibbling on Chinese watching the dogs play and chase an opossum across the yard ... for dessert a berry tart with Colombian Supremo.
How often do you get to Temecula? Isn't there more vineyards down there?
There are more than 40 wineries in Temecula. Gary gets down there, once or twice a month. Gary belongs to two wineries down from a high if six. His favorite for wines is Lorenzi.
There are photographs everywhere. It is the call of photographers to see and capture those images.
www: garyayala.com
Yesterday, Mary Lou and Gary met up with friends to attend a play by Beckett, "Happy Days" at the Mark Taper Forum. OMG ... it was possibly the most boring play Gary has ever attended. At halftime, about a third of the people left. The good part of yesterday started with lunch (the play was a matinee). The Mark Taper is surrounded by a moat. We arrived early and lunched along side the water, drinking wine and munching on salads/wraps and snacks. It was all so pleasant to relax outside in the middle of Los Angeles on another perfect day. Lunch was much better than the play and far more interesting. After the play, we retired to the backyard with our guests for more vino and pizza. Yesterday was a loooong day. Even Maggie had a long day yesterday, as she and her best friend Max, (a Golden Retriever mix), played in the backyard all afternoon and evening. Consequently, we all just hung out and recovered from yesterday, a Netflix day.
There are photographs everywhere. It is the call of photographers to see and capture those images.
www: garyayala.com
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Typically, he eats at Thornton Winery. They have a wonderful restaurant. Their wines are so-so, but the food is wonderful. Gary is a member at Thornton because of the food. (Their sparkling wines are good.) 
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