Mia and I went to Hyde Vineyards to check out how the Sauvignon Blanc had set during bloom.

The weather so far this year has been a little cool, and uneven. One week it’s warm, the next it’s cold. So it’s good to get out to different vineyards and see how the weather this spring has affected bloom and ’set’ of the fruit.

The vines look really good, even down by the creek.

Mia says the clusters look small and loose. But in the next breath, she said they always look that way, and end up plumping up.

The good thing is all the clusters look even. They all bloomed at the same time, meaning there aren’t some clusters behind others in maturity.

We stopped and talked with Larry Hyde, and he indicated that he thought they looked small too, but they look that way every year, then plump up.

Then we had lunch at Farm, at The Carneros Inn. Chef Larry Singer did an amazing job on the food! I loved the goat cheese and beet salad, and the beet coulis put it over the top. The halibut on the sunchoke puree is not to be missed, and our strawberry dessert was awesome! We had the 2008 Selene Sauvignon Blanc, and the 2006 Peay Pomarium Pinot Noir with the meal. What a great Pinot!

Thanks to Gillian Ballance and Adam Kim for taking care of us during our meal!

Selene is the Greek Goddess of the full moon. I sometimes wonder what she sees when she’s looking at us.

Mia is really in touch with all the phases of the moon. You can ask her where it is, and what stage it’s in at any time, and she can tell you on the spot.

I’ve learned a lot of things about the moon from Mia, so it’s natural that I’ve become fascinated as well.

So it probably comes as no surprise that about two and a half years ago, Mia and I filled out our ‘Wish upon the Moon‘ form for JAXA’s Lunar Explorer named SELENE.

It was so cool think our message might be built into the Explorer named Selene and travel to the moon’s orbit.

The Orbitor SELENE was given the nickname ‘Kaguya’ by popular vote of people submitting names.

The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Taketori Monogatari): One day, an old bamboo cutter found a beautiful girl in a shining bamboo. The beautiful girl was named “Kaguya-hime” (Princess “KAGUYA,”) and the old man (”OKINA” in old Japanese) and his wife (an old woman, “OUNA”) brought her up with great care. As she grew up, many men proposed to marry her, but Kaguya-hime asked them to perform impossible tasks to prove their love and rejected their marriage proposals. On the night of a harvest moon, Kaguya-hime returns to the Moon with people who appear from the sky.

We have followed Kaguya since it’s Launch (Sept. 14th, 2007).

The first pictures it took of the moon.

The earth rising.

Crescent Earth Rise.

First quarter.

The photography and findings were incredible. Like this penumbral lunar eclipse:

They even found the landing sites of Apollo 15 and 17. Check out their gallery. They have video’s as well, so you can watch the earth rise and set in real time.

and now the end.

On June 10th at 6:30pm GMT JAXA is doing a controlled impact of Kaguya on the moon to end the mission.

We’ll be celebrating it as Kaguya’s return to the moon. - Skippy

Mia has been fortunate to be invited to The Wine Spectator’s “Bring Your Own Magnum Party” for a few years now.

I’ve been even more fortunate to be her guest invitee.

The first year I went it was like a celebrity scene for me. I was like a country girl on her first day in the big city, looking up at the tall buildings, with mouth agape.

Here I am with all these famous winery owners and famous winemakers, and we are just hanging out with them all enjoying great food and wine!

The “Bring your own Magnum Party” is a party put on by The Wine Spectator at Tra Vigne in St. Helena.

We had so much fun in the last few years, that we have been looking forward to this year’s party for weeks.

The Food. It’s over the top fantastic (hello it’s Tra Vigne), and there is always plenty to eat. The pasta station (ravioli, braised lamb pasta) and the wood fired pizza is always a favorite of ours. Mia liked the beef with creamy polenta and I loved the quail with baby pea salad. Not to mention the staff is spot on in all areas of service.

The Wine Spectator BYOM always has a live band too, so the music is great.

The Magnums. They are everywhere! I don’t even know how to begin describing the wine you see there. It’s not just any wine, these are wines I would never have the opportunity to try in my lifetime. There are older vintages (70’s, 80’s, 90’s) as well as just released wines that are really limited.

The People. Everyone is there! There is no other party like this anywhere. Period.

Why is this party so special?

Winemakers and winery owners have an inside joke with each other that the only time they get to see each other is (at a distributor tasting) out of town. These are friends who have known each other for decades. Yeah, some of them get together and keep in touch, but for the most part, everyone is busy, so they don’t get together as often as they’d like.

So, you meet while you are in some other state pouring your wine at your distributor’s trade tasting, during your 20 minute break (to woof down a deli sandwich and a water). Not much time but it’s great to get caught up, and visit with a few friends.

Other events are charity dinners, fundraisers, auctions… in which someone is always working (pouring wine or hosting).

I can’t think of any other party/event that allows winemakers, winery owners, and vineyard owners the chance to hang out all night with each other and get caught up with old friends, while being introduced to new friends.

No one is ‘working’. No one is pouring their wine. Everyone is hanging out, telling stories, laughing and having fun. It’s the most relaxed I’ve seen people in this business all year, Mia included.

Like I said, there is no other party like it. Nothing even comes close. It’s pretty cool that Wine Spectator does this every year. It’s something that all of us look forward to.

Mia and I weren’t the only people thanking everyone we saw from The Wine Spectator last night. More than once, someone would say, “Isn’t this awesome?”.

So thanks to everyone at The Wine Spectator! Especially this year, when we all really needed a night to hang out and laugh. - Skippy

People are always surprised to hear that Mia was in the junior life guards while she was growing up in Hermosa Beach.

She has stories about what happened to the kid that came in last on a bouy swim, so she made sure she wasn’t last. She loved surfing.

I have never been surfing, and she hasn’t been surfing since she was a kid. (Something about cold water up here, and looking too much like a seal around sharks.)

So it seemed appropriate for me to set up some surfing with a local when we went to Hawaii a couple of years ago. We had fun surfing North Shore (just a little inside break at Haleiwa). It was like riding a bike for Mia, and I had no trouble getting up and riding a few waves myself.

Then we took a vacation to Mexico, rented a house on the beach, and a couple surf boards. Mia was able to grab her board and surf the beach break whenever she wanted. This trip, I figured out that surfing was a lot of work. I preferred watching all the surfers while sipping my Corona’s on the beach.

Last summer we finally took up our friends (Lea and Annamarie) offer to join them at Lake Berryessa for some fun on their boat. I haven’t been tubing in years, and I forgot how much I love it!

Mia took some hard ribbing about not wanting to ski. I mean look at her mom on the Chesler label! But when the wakeboard came out, and she watched how easy Ryan made it look, she was ready to give it a shot.

Did I mention she’s never wakeboarded before? She got up the first time, road around for a while. Fell, and got up first time again and road around going in and over the wake. I guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. - Skippy

Yep, here it is, what you’ve been waiting for! The famous Skippy Tostada recipe. This is a brunch meal for sure. You won’t need lunch if you eat this for breakfast.

First you need to cook the pancetta, and chop it up.

Then grate three cheeses (Motz, Cheddar and Monterey Jack) on your tostada.

Then add a layer of beans. (These are Yellow Eyes which add a nice sweetness to the tostada.) I make a different pot of beans every couple weeks, so we always have them on hand. I get heirloom beans from Rancho Gordo, all their beans are awesome!

Then stick it in the microwave until the cheese is melted and the beans are hot. Add the chopped pancetta to the top.

Add a fried egg to the top, and grate Cave Aged Gruyere on top of the egg.

Add sliced avocado.

Add fresh pico de guillo and roasted salsas, and Tapatio sauce, and devour! - Skippy

Everywhere I turn, every blog I read, all I have been hearing about is Bud Break, Bud Break, Bud Break.

All the wineries are talking about it too.

I don’t really understand why it’s such a big deal. Well, I suppose it is a big deal, maybe I just don’t understand why so many people would advertise or write about their Bud break.

Don’t get me wrong, I used to buy the stuff by the case. I called it my ‘lawnmower’ beer.

I grew up a Bud Girl. Which wasn’t easy, since my Step-Dad was a Miller Man. Ah, the good ole days, taking turns dissing each other’s brand with discriptive possible orgins of each other’s favorite golden liquid.

I love beer. I’m an avid beer drinker. I used to hate wine (before I met Mia), which made it difficult, or embarassing, at fancy dinners. Picture everyone at the table having a nice glass of Cabernet with their prime rib, while I’m having a good porter or stout (if I was lucky and the place had a good beer - Moonlight Brewing’s Death and Taxes).

During weekend brunches, when everyone else was having a Bloody Mary, I was having a Tomato Beer.

When I first got into the wine business I was relieved to hear the old saying, “It takes a lot of good beer to make good (great) wine”. Maybe this was the place for me after all!

So, with that, I might as well jump on the band wagon and share our Bud Break stories as well.

Currently we are on a ‘Big Tasty Brew’ kick. No one is allowed to return from a store without a few “Big Tasty Brews” (22 oz’s!) in their bag.

Some of our current tastings:
Anderson Valley’s Deep Enders Dark Porter
Bear Republic’s Hop Rod Rye
New Belgium’s Lips of Faith Dark Kriek
Eel River Brewing Acai Wheat Berry
Rogue Ales - Brown, Kells, Morimoto
Moylan’s Paddy’s Irish
Redhook’s Double Black Stout

Anyway, you get the idea. If it comes in a 22 oz bottle, it’s making it’s way home.

Happy Bud Break! - Skippy

The Chesler label has a pretty good following. It’s a picture of Mia’s mom, Eileen Chesler, waterskiing. It makes people smile.

Sometimes, it’s not only what is in the bottle, but what is on the label that connects people. We hear stories from people who grew up waterskiing, their mom’s that did competition waterskiing, and old Chris-Craft boats. Occassionally there is a lover of old cars, that is attracted to the style of font used for ‘Chesler’.

Once in a while, when we are at tastings someone asks, “Is that you on the label Mia?” I guess it’s because there is such a resemblance, and in today’s world you can make a picture look older than it really is. They are always surprised to hear that the picture is really from the late 1940’s. Look at those ski’s!

The picture was probably shot from another boat, (there were at least three boats in the water that day) and it must have been planned, since in other pictures Eileen had on her bathing cap.

That’s her doing a shore landing.

The photo’s were taken by Allan Jackson.

He was well known for the photo he took in April 1945 of American and Russian soldiers shaking hands at the Elbe in Torgau, Germany.

I’m sure they are celebrating this weekend in Torgau as they do every year.

We have other pictures of ‘Ches’ (Eileen) taken by ‘Jackson’ that capture the moment as well.

Day 3. More Cincinnati (with a sneak into Northern Kentucky first) and then to Dayton.

First, to The Party Source in Bellevue, KY. You’d guess it was a big store by the name but you might not guess that they have quite the selection of fine wines, with upstairs perfectly temperature controlled storage, and a dedicated tasting room to evaluate vendor samples. Brian and Tony, very professional in a comfortable, casual way.

The Sauvignon Blanc sample bottle we had was unfortunately corked, but Jeff had more samples at his house so I got to check out the cool neighborhood that he and his wife and daughter live in.

On to the Dilly Café to taste with Chuck Warinner and Burke Morton. Excellent beer and wine selection here with tasty food to back it up. Jeff and I ended up having lunch here, mainly so I could try the Great Northern Porter that they just put on tap. Yummy.

We stop in to taste with Andrew Cecil (good luck with the new gig in Texas) at The Oceanaire and then we’re off to Dayton.

Jeff asks, “So, have you seen the Big Butter Jesus?”

“Pardon?” I query back, not sure that I heard the question. I find out that I heard correctly the first time, and tell him I haven’t. Catholics don’t really do that kind of Jesus…at least not when I was going to parochial school.

After I see it I email Tracy on my crackberry, “I just saw the Big Butter Jesus and you should be jealous.”

Now, I think I get the idea behind Twitter. It would be great to tweet about that. It is worth doing a google search on it, not just to see the image, but there is a great song on YouTube as well.

When we get to Dayton, we visit Arrow Wines and taste with the crew.

Then we head to the Dorothy Lane Market, where we do a winemaker dinner at the cooking school.

The food was great and the wines showed beautifully. A more enthusiastic crowd is hard to find and I think I ran the pen out of ink I signed so many bottles. Thank you to everyone there for a wonderful event.

Jeff and I drive up to Columbus that night to be ready for a presentation at the Vanguard Wines Sales meeting the next day. Then I’m headed back to Cali. - Mia

Day 2. Next, Cincinnati. Well, Cincinnati with little trips over the border into Northern Kentucky.

Today I ride with Denise Sullivan of Vanguard Wines for the first day of Ohio.

Despite it being only her first month at the job, Denise is already a pro at wine sales AND she wins the clean car award, narrowly edging out Jeff Hickenlooper, a veteran of Vanguard, who I rode with the next day.

Denise took me to see my buddy Steve Dinnerstein of the Piazza Discepoli in Glendale and I also got to meet Marty Piazza at the Madeira store. These guys really know their business and I appreciate that.

Big shout to Kevin Isaacson at Hugo Restaurant; had fun tasting with you.

Lunch at Mesh; thanks Chandler and Kyle.

She took me to Jungle Jim’s for the first time; amazing. Big wine retail, an acre of produce, big gourmet grocery, cooking school (Denise still teaches there, BTW).

This is a picture of me with my Jungle Jims vest from a year ago. I was given this vest by Drew, of Vanguard, because he won it with a Selene Merlot at a Merlot taste off. Drew knows how much winemakers (especially me) love vests! Only fitting that I finally got to visit. Get there if you are near Fairfield, Ohio. Say hi to Ed Vinson and Todd Wiggs when you go.

Just over the river into Kentucky is Boutique Restaurant. Stephen, I’m coming there for dinner the next time I’m in Cincinnati.

The gang at Micro Wines kept me busy with the kind of questions you get from other winemakers, not retailers. Most in-depth information about the wines they sell.

I finish up this day with a winemaker dinner at Trio Bistro;

Thank you Gregg, Patrick, and Michael for a great time. - Mia

I just returned from a sales trip to Kentucky and Ohio. It was fun.

I’m a California girl at heart, raised with Catholicism (slightly lapsed now). So, it is a wonderful experience to go to other places with different sensibilities than I’m used to on a day to day basis.

It doesn’t take long before you realize it’s the ability to enjoy fine food and drink that can bring it all together.

Day 1. The Kentucky Derby. It’s a big deal. Bigger than Christmas, I’ve been told (by more than a few).

My more complete understanding of Louisville began with schooling on pronunciation. I’ll admit, with some embarrassment, to not even being able to spell Louisville or Kentucky.

I didn’t realize how much trouble I was in until I was sitting in a bar at Midway Airport, Chicago, next to a University of Kentucky alumni.

You know, just trying to make some small talk about sports on TV like any good road-warrior, when the topic of final destination came up in conversation.

So far, I think I had impressed him, not only with my knowledge of NCAA women’s basketball, but with the book on the starting pitcher for the Cubs in their rainy, cold home-opener. I was obviously in-formed.

All was lost when he heard me say I was going to ‘Looy-ville.’ He told me a few of the other interesting, shall we say, pronunciations. (I stopped counting at twelve.) Hey, my nose is bleeding here! I’m not going to let a Tennessee native who went to Lexington, Kentucky for college… well, he did open my eyes.

The person I really owe it all to though is my ride-with salesperson, Tim Stratman of Vanguard Wines. A native of Louisville, Tim was able to make the fog disappear.

“Lou-wa-vul. Say it again with me,” Tim says, “lou-wa-vul. Got it?”

It’s hard on a Californian, so I understand any trouble you have with it, but once you get the proper pronunciation, you begin to get it all. I had such a blast.

Thanks to all. Tim, for a great sales day that was a bunch of fun as well.

Evan Comer, of Prospect Party Center, you are a very good and humble taster with a great selection of wines.

Will Pullem, of Theater Square Market Place, great location and great store full of everything.

Justin Horn and Bill Derham, of Liquor World, it was fun tasting with you both and thanks for your support.

Monty Hornback of Limestone Restaurant (lunch was great) and Chris Zaborowski of Westport Whiskey and Wine, thanks to you both.

And a special thanks to old friend Michael Bonadies of 21C Museum Hotel and his beverage director at the hotel restaurant, Proof on Main, Benjamin Smith, and general manager, Brooks Reitz, a couple of great cocktails and delicious meals! - Mia