Last Thanksgiving was a bit crazy. Not only was I getting ready to celebrate my 50th birthday (and my twin brother's) we found out on the Monday of Thanksgiving our Thanksgiving Day restaurant reservations had fallen through.
That meant that I ended up hosting two pretty big celebrations in three days. I won't go into details here (you can read about it in my post The Unexpected Party. This Thanksgiving was a lot more low key.
This Thanksgiving I spent celebrating with family. There were just five of us. Ok seven if you count the little dog and the 20 lb turkey! Pretty small considering the crowd that was there for last Thanksgiving but it was no less rewarding.
It was nice because it gave me an opportunity to reflect on a year of friends both old and new. This past August (as you can note from my series on my trip to Sonoma, I had the real privilege to meet and work alongside three BBQ masters, Chris Lilly (from Big Bob Gibson's BBQ), Dr. BBQ (a mainstay on the professional BBQ circuit) and Pete Seghesio.
Not only did I learn a lot about the BBQ, I really had a chance to get to know more folks in the wine business. Here's what I'm discovering -- I really like these folks. The Seghesio team are incredible people. From Pete and Cathy to Dave Meserli, Brandye Alexander, Dana Macaulay, Tony in the tasting room and so many others.
I'm really honored to call them friends not just acquaintances.
This fall I had the unexpected opportunity to not only meet some new friends but visit the great folks at Seghesio's sister vineyard in San Luis Obispo, Chamisal Vineyards. You can read about the visit in my post A Special Day at Chamisal Vineyards. They're part of the reason for my reflections on my friends. Our Thanksgiving meal featured the Chamisal's Morrito Pinot Noir.
This incredible wine was the perfect pairing for our turkey dinner. Because of Michael's gracious tour, I can still see the view to the ocean from this little morro. The particular terroir of this particular part of the vineyard is distinct.
It's more volcanic type rock than other parts of the vineyard and the hill is steeper. This produced a wine that begins with a hint of strawberries and then ends with full on cranberry and the Chamisal spice. But more than the perfect pairing, it reminded me again of that special day with my new friends Michael, Alyssa and Andrea (who came in special even though she was recovering from an early fall cold).
So as we enter the holiday season, I just want to say thanks to my old friends and my new friends. So to all those mentioned and to Bill Frick (Frick Winery), Nicole and Katey Bacigalupi (John Tyler Wines), Brooke at Chamisal and Nancy Santiago and Chistine Kyle from Pine Ridge Winery, a Giant Thank YOU.
You have made this a special year. Not only do you all make fabulous wines but you're some of the best people I know.
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