Buy Wines from a Ventura Winery?

While reading the paper this morning, I noticed an article about a new wine tasting event here in Ventura. I thought it might be fun to check it out but I knew Ron was working on a big project so I said nothing. He stopped for lunch and saw the article. He tells me what’s going on and asks if I want to go? Of course, I say, with a big grin. Soon we headed out. Always better when it’s his idea! The winery is located in a warehouse unit. The reception area was nice. We were greeted immediately by one of the owners who gave us an introduction to Four Brix Winery. The name came from their travels and their love for four major wine areas of the world: France, Italy, Spain and California. These were considered their 4 sweet spots.  They chose brix since measuring brix is part of the wine making process. read...

Family Break Part 4

The day was becoming increasingly hotter and hotter.  This was by the far the hottest day I had experienced here.  As we drove to the next winery, we passed a couple of single horse drawn carriages being driven my Amish men,  saw an Amish girl in her blue dress and white bonnet on her bike and another young Amish woman jogging.  The country side was full of beautiful looking farms. Soon we were at our last stop.  This time the winery was a much bigger enterprise, Raven’s Glenn Winery.  It was big and to be honest, I didn’t like the look of it enough to take a picture of it.  What a little photo snob I am! We went inside and saw a very long tasting bar. They also had racks and racks of wine.  Ray and I went to the bar and Loretta and Rose decided to relax on the porch in the white rocking chairs. read...

Family Break, Part 1

I’d been visiting with family, playing with my great nieces, going places with my nieces and my sister, sorting through family photos,  attending a funeral, and visiting with high school friends.    Monday of my  trip  was a day to play a real tourist in Ohio! My cousin, Ray, (he’s really my step-cousin but I’m upgrading him to real family because I really like him!) is taking myself, Loretta and Rose (Ray’s mother) to go on some winery tours. When I had told my husband what our plans were for Monday, he chuckled and said “Well, that will be a waste of time!”  Guess he felt that Ohio had little to offer in the way of wines!  I was going to give Ohio the benefit of the doubt and tour some of the country around where I was born and raised and the best part was I didn’t have to be anywhere near the drama.  Selfish you say?  Hell, yes,  and that was what I needed, a break.  I had the morning to myself, got up, made breakfast, had a shower and was ready. read...