Friday, May 28, 2010

Tony's retirement from the Navy

Even though this weekend is dedicated to our fallen heroes, this note and pictures from one of our wine club members, a living hero, is worth sharing:


Denise;

Good day from the right coast. Last week I retired from the Navy after 25 years of service. I remember from our past discussions, you always wondered what I did…so here is a little taste. The attached photos were taken in front of one of my Riverine Assault Boats. The bad ass looking machine gun in the background is a MK-44 GAU electric mini-gun which fires 3000 rounds per minute. My wife Diane and son Jonathan are in the second photo. Enjoy!

Tony







Congratulations Tony & Family!
============================================
For those of you that did not see my Memorial Day posts from a year ago, please click on these:


http://pinanapavalley.blogspot.com/2009/05/memorial-day-weekend-2009-at-vets-home.html

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Auction lot dinner with a Cornhole tournament

To go to the Howell Mountain Vintners & Growers Association website, please click on this:

For the past several years, we have donated a dinner for 12, with games, to the live auction noted above.  When our guests arrive, they are treated to a variety of Piña Napa Valley wines as they socialize right in our winery cellar/tasting room. Then, they are served dinner right in our winery cellar/tasting room. Once dinner is over, the tables are cleared and we have a Cornhole Tournament right in our winery cellar/tasting room, as the dessert bar is brought out.



The Cornhole Tournaments have become a regular activity at many of our events. 
I've described the game and talked about it in 2 previous posts:

Cornhole Craze Expanding West!

AND

“We’re here for a good time”

We held the latest Auction lot dinner and Cornhole tournament on Saturday, May 22, 2010.  We must be doing something right, because many of the folks that contributed to the purchase of this auction lot, have been involved for the last 3 years. 

This is what this year's group looked like:


They are diverse, fun loving group with a common thread;
The Oakland Police Department.

The Cornhole Tournament winner this year was Gordy.


Not that he's competitive, but Kyle, last year's winner spent several minutes checking my math on the scoresheet after placing third.

And even though much wine was consumed,
we were not concerned when this group headed home.

Because these two gentlemen (James & Erik) loaded them all into their Escalade limos for the ride home.

James, the business owner, was formerly with the Oakland PD.

We thank them all for supporting the auction that benefits the
Howell Mountain Elementary School.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The Wine Club Deck (Finale)

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Joe & Lori (Sis) Bauer
for coordinating the photos and even bringing the various hats & props.

John & Julianne
Placerville
"Make My Day - Pour Me a Chardonnnay"
Good thing that we now have a Chardonnay!








Jason & the 4 foot Paella pan


Cousin Joanne and Omar Cruz

The ever pleasant Jeanine Layland

Yogi and fans

Ranndy with Denise, Our Sales Manager

And with Anna, Our Winemaker

And with Cindy, his Commander in Chief!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

The Wine Club Deck, Part 3

More Club members, friends & volunteers...

Norma & Roger
Woodland Hills

Aletia, Bottle Top (Anna) & Jennifer
The Wild Women of Southwest Ranches, Florida!

Nancy, Michael, Scott
Michael works with us and his folks are from Katy, Texas

Macario (our assistant winemaker) with his lovely wife Griselda,
and the too cute for words, Isa

Nadine & Jay
San Ramon

Dave & Andy
Ithaca NY, San Francisco

Petrus & Liz, Carolina & Art
Bay Area

Carolina & Art

Pablo Ceja (Griselda's Dad), Carolina & Macario

Pablo & Macario

Can't read the names too well, here folks - Guessing:
Tim, Ann, Maurice & Kurt
Brisbane

Volunteers Colby with Father-in-Law Mark

Volunteers Samantha (My cousin Joanne's daughter) &
Dave (My brother Larry's Son-in-Law)

Volunteers Dave & Jeanine

Cousin Craig & his niece Sam

(Stay tuned for the final installment)

Saturday, May 1, 2010

The Wine Club Deck, Part 2

More Smiling Faces from our
Howell Mountain, Buckeye Vineyard Cabernet release party

(Some of the writing was a bit hard to read,
Please correct me if any of the info below is in error)

Alan, Lynn & Tyler
Reno/Napa, Berkeley?

Bill, Sally, Carol, Stan
Mill Valley
(Wine Club Members "Forever")

Ran, T. Man D.
El Dorado

Dev, Tal, Peg, Will
San Ramon

Joanne, John
Roseville

Adele, John
Napa

Rick & Joanne
Gold River, Sacramento

MB, La Patty, PJ, Pest(?), Big Red
Alhambra & San Rafael

Allan & Susan
Benecia

Allan & Susan (2)
Benecia

Vanessa, Dalia, Mom, Belen
(Ceja Vineyards - Napa)

Bill & Stan
Mill Valley

Anna (our winemaker) & Allan
Napa & Benecia

Joe, Tammy & Chuck
Sacramento

Janet, Chris & Felix
Danville

To be continued...