Is there a more gorgeous time of year than the Spring? Don’t get me wrong, my favorite season is Autumn, with all of the bronzes, oranges, reds and yellows. But Spring is just so…fresh…green…happy and cheerful.

And…the Vineyard is waking up! We have little buds on the plants and it’s only a matter of days before “Bud Break” when the leaves pop out and the vine starts producing next year’s grapes. YAY!

We have a few events coming up in the Winery that you should know about:

April 21 (THIS SUNDAY): Wine and Witch Hazel from 3:00-5:00 PM…Join us for a fun filled few hours of making a little herb garden in a pot while sipping wine...fee includes pot, soil, herbs, and a glass of your favorite CV wine as well as a lively discussion about pairing wine and herbs. Bring your favorite herb inspired recipe to share with the group. RSVP to Kathryn by Thursday, April 18…only a few spots left!!!

April 28 (Sunday): Vino Bing from 3:00-5:00 PM…The Wal-Mart Warriors and Marvel's Marvels are teaming up and holding a Vino Bingo (Wine Themed Bingo) to benefit the Northern Worcester County Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society.

Tickets are only $15.00 in advance and $20.00 at the door--enjoy 10 games of bingo, lite fare, auctions, 50/50, raffles and more! Tickets are limited to get yours TODAY! (Event is restricted to those 21 years and older) 

For more information or for tickets please contact Dj Thompson at 410-726-2748 or Jean Scott Holloway at 410-422-4337

May 12 (Sunday): Our Annual Mother’s Day freebie glass of wine to all Mom’ out there, whether you are the mama of a dog, cat, child, guinea pig or python (ewwww). Come to CV and say “Dorothy” (Dorothy is Jack’s mother) and we will pour your favorite glass of wine, on us.

Saturday (Feb 9) was our first official day back and the place was packed! I thought for a minute it was a July day with so many folks coming and going, drinking wine and eating cheese and crackers. What fun.

So we're baaaaack. Check out our Events page for stuff coming up...sign up for our newsletter over here -->> and like us on Facebook. Above all, come in and say hello and have a glass of vino with us. Ciao!

I took this picture in Italy a few months ago, and it reminds me that the sun is setting on 2012 and getting ready to rise on (or is it in??) 2013...and I wanna sleep in late and have breakfast in bed! Just kidding, what I meant to say is I hope your sunrise in 2013 and beyond is happy, healthy, and filled with lotsa wine.

We re-open the second weekend in February. Stay tuned for our "Reopening Party". xoxoxo

We've slowed to a crawl in the vineyard. Jack did prune a few vines today but only because he was bored to death in the winery. It was a sloooooow sales day.

Me, I'm in the process of making wine! We've got Whaleyville Red, Diana's Delight, Puckum Pinot Grigio, Merlot, and Riddle Farm Riesling in tanks. Fermentation is over and we're in the process of racking the wine. (Racking means moving the wine from tank to tank and getting rid of the sediment on the bottom...kind of like a filtering process.)

A few events remain:

December 8 (Saturday): Amici and Volunteer Dinner. YAY! Lasagna, Italian Wedding Soup, Antipasti Salad and Chocolate Fountain. Our treat to thank everyone for their support and love this year--if you are an Amici or have volunteered. If not, it'll cost you $20. RSVP.

December 15 & 16 (Saturday and Sunday): Vendors and soup and chili and...of course...wine!

We close at 6:00 PM on December 16 for the season. Stock up! :)

Yep, I'm crabby. And wet again. The dogs won't go outside with out me for fear of blowing away, I guess. So I have to go out with them and say, "Go outside, do your business, good dog" when I really want to say, "I wouldn't want to pee outside in the wind and rain either."

The grapevines are underwater. Luckily all of the grapes we wanted to pick are in. The leaves were just starting to turn a pretty yellow color. Don't think there will be any leaves left after all of the blowing hither and yon.

I'm grateful that we still have electricity...hopefully my mood will get better with chilled wine! :)

You see, I've been in Italy for the last two weeks and returned a day ago. I know, hate me for a minute...you done?

All kidding aside, it was a trip beyond words. The beauty of Italy is stunning, its' people sexy (in the City) and adorable (in the Country), its' food--especially pasta--melts in your mouth, and its' wine...DIVINE.

We visited 3 wineries and found out that we don't do much differently than they do in Italy. Making good wine is all about dedication and attention to detail...and having good people to sell the wine makes all the difference. As always, I'm so grateful to the many volunteers who keep us going...especially those who were "Winery Keepers" over the last 16 days.

So now you understand the Pasta, Wine and...oh, Scarves...well, suffice to say I had to throw out more than one clothes item so I could fit in the scarves I bought. 

Ah, the joys of farming.

Not a soul I've talked to knows what Best In Class is. So let me explain this way...if you've ever watched the Westminister Dog Show, you know that they have several "classes" of dogs, like the Hounds, Sporting, and Toy breeds. One dog is chosen to represent those specific categories, and then the last round of competion is all of the Best In Class compete for Best In Show.

Clear as mud, huh?

Well, anyway, our Puckum Pinot Grigio won Best In Class for white wines in MD and our Riddle Farm Riesling won Best In Class for sweet wines in MD. Both also won Gold Medals, as did our Diana's Delight. Our Tuckahoe Merlot won a bronze.

GO US GO US GO US!

Anyway, I'm counting my blessings today as I sit here on my couch, looking out over my garden and beyond to the wheat field. Hoppy, my yorkie, is panting as usual because she is hot blooded and just a bit fat. I know, I stink as a mama, she shouldn't be fat. But back to the subject at hand...I'm so happy to be a country mouse. 

Yes, I grew up in the suburbs and yes, I went to school in Columbus, OH and yes, I lived in cities over the years...but there ain't nothing like the Shore and God's country and farmers in tractors and people who use less-than-good English.

So, Howard County: I thank you for a good event, I was able to make some money for the winery and I was able to get more than a few Weight Watchers activity points, but THANK GOD for Whaleyville MD. 

We have a BUNCH of events and such:

May 3    GO ME! Series…Learn how to make CAKE POPS and a CHOCOLATE BOX for Mother’s Day. $15 per person for materials, a glass of wine and to take some finished goodies home. 6-8 PM RSVP to Kathryn  as we have a few seats left.: cheers@costaventosa.com

 May 4    Guest Pour….Relay for Life…Jean Holloway’s Team!

May 5    Stingrays and Cinco De Mayo! YAY YAY YAY! Join us to hear the Stingrays, a great band from Talbot County…4-8 PM…Free before 6:00 PM after then a cover charge of $10 for Eats and the Band. AMICI (WINE CLUB MEMBERS) ARE FREE all day!

May 6    Wine & Cigar Pairing, 2-4 PM, small fee but I forget what it is right now.  Try 4 wines & 4 cigars.  RSVP to Kathryn at cheers@costaventosa.com

May 6    Del Libro (Book Club), 2-4 PM…Discuss Rise and Shine by Anna Quinlan…no fee, just show up!

May 13  Dorothy’s Delight Party for Mother’s Day…For all Mother’s out there: mention Dorothy’s name (she’s Jack’s Mom) and receive a free glass of wine. 

May 24 Spice of Wine Dinner….YUMMMMM…International Spice Event. $30 per person, 4 courses paired with Costa Ventosa wine. Limited seats, RSVP to (who else?) Kathryn at cheers@costaventosa.com. Dinner:

Mexican Chili Chicken with Noodles; Paired with Diana's Delight (Vidal Blanc) 

Tarragon Turkey with Pasta; Paired with Assawoman Bay Chardonnay 

Korean Curried Beef with Jasmine Rice; Paired with Tuckahoe Merlot 

Strawberry Crisp: Paired with Independence Rose of Merlot

May 27 Bottling Whaleyville Red…still could use a few volunteers! RSVP to Kathryn at cheers@costaventosa.com 

May 31: Close for the summer. We’re exhausted. JUST KIDDING! We’re open all summer!