"Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read..." Francis Bacon
#HearHear! This week we've had a fabulous time visiting wineries and vineyards in Paso Robles, a lovely city with a bountiful heritage located in central California, for an extended birthday celebration for Hubby. Visiting with family, friends, and sampling the rich, vino flavors of the area made for a delightful road trip and a very well-stocked wine cellar back at the homestead, LOL. The vineyards have deep roots in this gorgeous region---an interesting factoid from the city's website:
Paso Robles’ growth as industry-wine-has a long history with the area. Wine grapes were introduced to the Paso Robles soil in 1797 by the Spanish conquistadors and Franciscan missionaries. Spanish explorer Francisco Cortez envisioned an abundant wine-producing operation and encouraged settlers from Mexico and other parts of California to cultivate the land. The first vineyardists in the area were the Padres of the Mission San Miguel, and their old fermentation vats and grapevine artwork can still be seen at the Mission, north of the city of Paso Robles.
Today, Paso has over 200 wine tasting venues. During our trip, our first tasting was at the Le Cuvier Winery, established in 1983.
From left to right, Chrisos XLB, Grenache, Petite Sirah, NV Pentimento and finally a lovely Zinfandel made up our tasting--each one accompanied by a perfect, little bite of deliciousness. Can you say #Yummeaux!
Our next tasting was at the Cass Vineyard in the hills of east Paso. The sandwiches and offerings were fab (I had the Figgy Piggy--prosciutto, fig jam, goat cheese on a toasted baguette--nom-nom-nom). After lunch, we climbed up the hill to their container, guest quarters, a unique way to spend the evening under the stars right next to the vines. For riding enthusiasts, they also offer a horseback tour of the vineyard.
The evenings were sparkling at the stunning Allegretto Vineyard Resort. The grounds were spectacular to roam with all kinds of nooks and niches to explore. This is one of my all time fav hotels, highly recommended!
It's fantastic to be out and about again, exploring this beautiful region, hearing the sounds of conversation and laughter in the background, and most of all, feeling those precious hugs! Wishing you a fabulous week! #Cheers It's Wednesday, time for #DearDiary:
The tales come alive with these gorgeous #BookTrailers!
Bibiana Krall has been on a creative roll the past few weeks producing trailers for not only the books in my cozy series, but also for the short stories featured in Tangled Webs (coming #LaborDay). The trailer above 👆 is for the short story, Hviske, set in the fjords of Norway. This haunted tale explores the darkness within us, and what happens when Mother Nature has had enough. This trailer, I think, captures the essence of the story magnificently!🤩
This trailer for Cast, Crew & Carnage: The Filming of Castlewood Manor, gives an exciting view of the behind the scenes action as season one filming of Castlewood Manor begins. The music rocks and I love the edgy Gossip Girl on steroids vibe! More trailers coming next week--stay tuned!
It's 'mur-dah most foul' this week from the writers of Twitter...
Author Verity Bright, A Very English Murder, A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery, Book 1, 5⭐
When Lady Eleanor Swift inherits the Henley Hall estate from her uncle, her days of worldly adventures may be coming to an end. As she explores the family estate--memories of her childhood and her exciting escapades flood back. Her circumstances have changed dramatically, but is she ready to settle down?
During a late night walk, Lady Eleanor witnesses a murder at the quarry next to her estate. When she gets to the site, the body has vanished! The local police don't believe her, her curmudgeon neighbor is perturbed with her queries, and a dashing bachelor seems bemused with her claims. With the help of an unlikely ally, will she be able to prove what she witnessed and expose the killer?
Author Bright spins a tale of mystery, deception, and a new beginning tinged with murder most foul. A cozy whodunnit with charm and wit---I'm looking forward to reading the next books in this series!
Next up in the #reading queue:
50 fabulous shows to watch this summer!
I hope you're enjoying your summer break! If you're looking for good books, author chats and beautiful scenery, look no further, the #BOOKEM channel on YouTube is here! See you soon!
Crowns and Kisses,
Veronica
P.S. Starry nights spent with friends and family---still grinning ear to ear! Rikkhe and Gemma definitely approve! 💖👑 #Cheers
