Apr 14, 2022 | Sonoma wine tasting panel, Dysfunctional Family Winery, Hydeout Sonoma, rain, rosé, Sonoma, Sonoma International Film Festival, Sonoma lifestyle, Wine
This is where I try to convince you to be entertained for a few minutes with little bits of fun from Sonoma –
Blind Tasting: 2013 Napa Valley Cabernets and 2020 Sauvignon Blancs from 5 Countries
Many thanks to friend and colleague, Keith Casale, who helped launch this inaugural tasting event at the Hydeout Sonoma. Also, thanks to Lisa Lavagetto for the delicious catering effort.
Sonoma Int’l Film Festival – 25th Anniversary
Opening night of the 25th anniversary of the Sonoma International Film Festival. Here, in Sonoma’s art deco Sebastiani theatre, artistic director Kevin McNeely interviews the “Lost City” film’s directors, brothers Adam and Aaron Nee. This was the film’s premiere, featuring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum (with a hilarious cameo by Brad Pitt) and the audience were roaring in their seats. One of the very best events in wine country, the festival runs over 5 days, 7 venues, dozens of fantastic films, and endless food and wine.
The new leadership of the Sonoma Int’l Film Festival for the 26th year: L to R, Kevin McNeely (Artistic Director), Bob Berg (Chair of the Board) Jon Curry (Immediately. Past Chair of the Board), Ken Wornick (Vice-Chair of the Board)
Sonoma grapevine bud break – 2022
What a cliché – bud break in wine country. And yet it is truly the annual renewal of life after a welcome and much needed cold rainy winter.
Chickens
New arrivals – over 30 new chicks who will grow up to be egg producers of the team of Dysfunctional Family Chickens
Video – Hydeout Sonoma welcomes a new batch of very cute Dysfunctional Family Chickens
Horses
Five of us from Sonoma rode in the 75th anniversary of the Desert Caballeros horseback ride in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. 100 miles in 5 days, sleeping under the stars at night.
Video: check out this video of 160 horses riding into the Sonoran Desert
Weather
Rain! After two atmospheric rivers in late Fall, it seemed the rain would never return. But in early April, a series of storms rolled through Sonoma. Here, the Hydeout weather station was so shocked by it all, it displayed 10.24 inches rain in an hour. Repairs are in order. But still, rain in any amount is welcome.
Learn about and order our wines here: Dysfunctional Family Winery – rosé and red blends
May 14, 2021 | Dysfunctional Family Winery, Hydeout Sonoma, rosé
Sizzling sale of racy rosé – till sold out. See below and use the secret code!…
Less than 20 cases remaining of our crisp, racy, and delicious Dysfunctional Family Winery 2019 Rosé.
Marked down 40%, Half and full cases only, 6 bottles for $86.40, 12 bottles for $172.80
Simple order process using the SIZZLING discount:
- Click on link – https://www.sonocaia.com/shop/
- Select bottle quantity and click ‘add to cart’
- Click ‘checkout’
- Enter the discount code on the right: SIZZLING (all caps) and hit “Apply”
- Enter your basic customer info on the left and hit continue
- Choose delivery option “Pick up” or “Ship” and “continue”
- Complete the order
If you choose “pick up” we’ll have the wine ready for you here at the ranch next week. Or we’ll ship to you asap.
Order today before it’s all gone. Chill it or freeze it or put a few ice cubes in your wine glass and pour – anything goes with rosé!
About: This rosé was made in the classic French ‘saigneé style’ – ‘bleeding off’ the raw pink grape juice from a gorgeous tank of just-harvested red fruit – then cold fermented in stainless steel, lees stirred for a creamier finish, and then racked back to neutral oak barrels for settling and aging; all resulting in a wine that is a dark cotton candy in color, bright and racy and fruit forward, with a soft finish; perfect for warm sunny afternoons and summer poolside dining.
Blend: 65% Cabernet, 23% Syrah, 9% Zinfandel, 3% Grenache
Totem pole – a new ranch project
There is a Federally registered first-nations “Miwok” artifact site on the ranch. So, a new project – a totem pole.
Totem poles were monuments created by First Nations of the Pacific Northwest to represent and commemorate ancestry, histories, people, or events. We thought it would be fun to create a modern Sonoma version of a totem pole to commemorate the local ancestors who once occupied this land. Being careful not to appropriate and warp the native culture, we’re steering clear of traditional motifs and looking at alternate totem design ideas.
Another couple of hours and it’s starting to look like something that can be carved. Into what is the question? If anyone has ideas, please offer them up!
In and around the gardens – potatoes, lettuce, wild birds, and awards
The ranch veggie garden is in Spring mode and the first crop of ‘new’ potatoes are in…
…in just two small raised beds, over 250 heads of lettuce harvested and shared with friends and family. Seen here, the third and final heads of lettuce from the rather tired original roots.
Spring is definitely here when the trees, roof eves, and gutters are stuffed with tiny wild bird eggs…
SONOMA May 8, 2021 — Hydeout Sonoma has been selected for the 2021 Best of Sonoma Award in the Agriculture Cooperative category. Award winners include local Sonoma companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community.
Flashback – the terrible Sonoma and Napa fires of 2017 and 2020
Let’s hope we do not have to re-visit this ugly scene from 2017. But it is so darn dry out there already! Our weather station says we received only 11 inches of rain this season out of an expected 35 inches normally. Here at the ranch, we’ve cut way back on irrigation, let the lawn go brown, and doing everything possible to reduce aquifer usage.
Hoping for more of this…
…and less of this from the summer 2020!
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