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Country Mouse

Costa Ventosa — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:45:59 +0000

A small cadre of volunteers and I braved the trek to Howard County (Merryweather Post Pavilion) to participate in the Wine in the Woods Festival. Wow, what a busy busy weekend. And getting out of the area was a pain in the...bottle...because Lady Antebellem was playing a concert a few hours after the winos cleared out. Needless to say, it was a complete and utter cluster.

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.

May Madness...

Costa Ventosa — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:54:40 +0000

You’ve heard of March Madness…well, we decided our May is crazy at the winery, ergo May Madness.

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!

Honey Bunny Bunny Honey

Costa Ventosa — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:24:12 +0000

I love saying Honey Bunny Bunny Honey. It just makes me smile.

And, Happy Easter, my wonderful winos and honey bunnies. xoxoxox

Technology=Pain in the Bottle

Costa Ventosa — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:04:52 +0000

My leg is asleep from sitting on this hard ass chair all morning. What should have been my day off has been a working day--on the 'puter, as my nephew used to call it.

See, when we have fun stuff happening at Costa Ventosa, I have to announce it in about a hundred locations:

Costa Ventosa Newsletter

Facebook

Costa Ventosa Website

Maryland Wineries Website

Buckingham Palace

OK, Buckingham Palace is a joke but the rest are true. Geez, I thought technology was supposed to make life easier! Isn't that what Al Gore was thinking when he invented the internet? HAHAHA

OK, events coming up:

April 15 (Sunday): Bottling Puckum Pinot Grigio 10AM to 3PM: We could still use volunteers!

April 29 (Sunday): Bottling Diana's Delight 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM: We could still use volunteers!

May 5 (Saturday): Amici Event (Wine Club Members Only) 6:00-8:00 PM

May 6 (Sunday): Wine & Cigar Pairing-- $12 per person--2:00 PM

May 6 (Sunday): Book Club--free--2:00 PM (Rise & Shine by Anna Quinlan)

May 12 & 13 (Saturday & Sunday): Dorothy's Delight Party, stay tuned for details.

OK, I gotta run...other computer work to do. Sigh.

Busy as a Bee

Costa Ventosa — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:45:07 +0000

Does it drive you nuts when people say (in a very feel-sorry-for-me tone) "Oh, I'm soooooo busy!" Well, I have to admit I get awfully annoyed. In today's crazy hectic world, aren't we ALL busy?

OK...wait for it...I AM SOOOOO BUSY!

Sorry, it felt good to let that loose.

The vineyard is almost pruned, thanks to my hubby the dirt guy. The winery is hopping, especially on Friday nights. Some weekends we couldn't fit another wino in if we tried. We're attending 3 festivals this year: Wine in the Woods, Pemberton, and MD Winefest (the big one in Westminister.) We've revived the book club and knitting club to mixed reviews, and we've started a new series called GO ME!

I sometimes forget to post all of the good stuff on this website, but am constantly posting on Facebook to keep our winos informed.

Speaking of which, information that is, our Puckum Pinot Grigio and Riddle Farm Riesling will be available in the next month or so. We're bottling the Riesling on Sunday and the Pinot on April 15. WE COULD STILL USE VOLUNTEERS FOR APRIL 15!

See, (feel sorry for me) I AM busy!

Stinks to be you Saturday...

Costa Ventosa — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:36:22 +0000

I mean this in a loving way but if you show up this Saturday (3.3.12) after about 2 PM or so you are going to be shit out of luck, we're closing early to host a big bridal shower...This event is so bittersweet for us...our dear friend and volunteer Laura, who passed away in January, will be with us in spirit...The bridal shower is for her future daughter-in-law, Nettie....so come early or don't come until Sunday!

P.S. We named the new wine Puckham Pinot Grigio.

Possum Point Pinot Grigio

Costa Ventosa — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:20:32 +0000

OK, maybe that isn't the best name for a smooth Pinot, but do you have a better idea? I mean really...many of you have said EWWWW to the Possum Point, but I'm plum out of ideas for a name....looking for something sassy/fun/catchy. Our other wines, as you know, are named Assawoman Bay Chardonnay, Riddle Farm Riesling, Tuckahoe Merlot...and of course Diana's Delight.

So we need something local with a P! Or G!

We have a new blend this year called Country Girl after one of my BFF's who passed away last month. That was easy and she would love it.

But Pinot? Geez....send ideas to cheers@costaventosa.com.

xoxoxo Keep warm.

Gearing Up and Winding Down

Costa Ventosa — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:03:43 +0000

OMG! We re-opened last Friday to a standing room only bunch of winos at our Wine Down Friday Party! It's our version of happy hour and needless to say, EVERYBODY was happy. AND...we do this each Friday from 6-8. Bryce Butler plays some cool Bob Dylan music, we have complimentary munchies, and discounted glasses of wine.

I'm still working on our calendar for this year but we have a date for our first Spice of Wine Food & Wine Pairing Event...it's going to be Thursday, February 23 from 6-8. The menu:

First Course:

Strawberry Bruschetta, Paired with Diana's Delight (Vidal Blanc)

Second Course:

Spicy Turkey Breast with a Strawberry Salsa, Paired with Independence Rose of Merlot

Third Course:

Beef Brasatto in Merlot Sauce with Mint, Paired with Tuckahoe Merlot

Fourth Course:

Chocolate Fountain & Dippers, Paired with Whaleyville Red (Concord)

The cost is $30 per person, and RSVP required since we only have a limited number of seats. Reservations can be made to Cheers@CostaVentosa.com.

Whaleyville Red

Fat and Sassy

Costa Ventosa — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:54:42 +0000

Being closed since mid-December has been wierd. On one hand, I have LOVED the freedom: riding my horse, visiting my family in Ohio, a short vacation, sleeping in. On the other hand, I MISS MY WINOS!

Yep, you read that correctly. I miss JT, Mary, Micki, Christine, Richard, Michelle, Jeff...and countless others who are not only my wonderful customers, but who have become friends.

But with that said I've been catching up on QuickBooks (like torture to me), perusing gift catalogues for the retail area, and cleaning the winery. I'm in the process of moving EVERYTHING out of the tasting room to deep clean and seal the floors to make them shiny again. We've also bought a fireplace--not the fancy schmancy built in we were hoping for--but a nice corner fireplace that will make the winery more cozy and homey. Course, for those of you who sit your bums on the couch all day and sip slowly on wine, there is another new feature coming in February: ejection seats to throw you off of our leather furniture.

Just kidding...Or maybe not...hmmmm. Maybe I'll turn the ejection seat off if you're drinking your fair share of wine and/or buy a case.

Our GRAND RE-OPENING is February 3. As always, our favorite musician and singer, Bryce Butler, will play for us. We'll have some eats, not sure what yet, and discounted glasses of wine.

If you miss me half as much as I miss you, visit me on Facebook. I post there sometimes when I'm bored or when QuickBooks makes me miserable, which is often.

xoxoxo

Falling into Fall

Costa Ventosa — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:44:41 +0000

Wow did we have a wild ride this summer. After I blogged in late July, we got rain rain and more rain. Hurricane Irene alone dumped 8+ inches on us. The next weekend was another 5 inches. And we all know how much the grapevines HATE rain...so they were grouchy all through August and September and as a result, our harvest was low. Boo hiss! There's always next year!

I adore this time of year. It's so crisp and bright and the leaves are so crunchy under my horses' hooves. Trail rides through the ever changing forest with Twinkie make me soooo happy!

Making wine makes me happy, too...and our 2011 Chardonnay/Cayuga Blend (Maybe called "Half Assed Jack"-LOL), 2011 Riesling, and 2011 Cab Sauv is in the tanks. We'll be getting juice/grapes in the next few weeks to make more Whaleyville Red and a new Pinot Grigio (our Pinot vines are too young to produce yet.)

In the meantime, come visit! We have Wine Down Fridays from 6-8 with music by Bryce Butler and complimentary lite fare. It's a blast.