Did you know that wine tasting & floral design go hand-in-hand?

I learned that this weekend as Pam Bell from Dragonfly Floral patiently coached a group of twenty visitors through the design of a Mother’s Day bouquet, while Pete from Notre Vue Estate refilled our wine glasses with exquisite tastings of Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, and a white blend. 

Sitting on the tasting deck, overlooking the pond swimming with geese and goslings, we learned how to trim, set, and arrange our flowers.

What does “sur lies” aging really means?  What is “malolactic fermentation”?  Do you know that there is methoxypyrazine in your Merlot?  What glue is used to hold barrel staves together?  Where does the color of a red wine come from?  Hint: Not the juice!

What a night! We celebrated Valentine’s Day with a night of romantically inspired dishes paired with our Estate wines, prepared by renowned  Chef Austin Perkins.

Photos from our Harvest Celebration Dinner at Notre Vue Estate Winery & Vineyards. We were fortunate to have such ideal weather as we dined lakeside enjoying Chef Brian Anderson’s deliciously prepared four course meal paired perfectly with our estate wines.

On my latest journey, I focused my lens on the Windows of France!  The hidden secrets behind the windows – the architecture, the lighting, the people and the whimsy captured my soul! 

Springtime in Paris, something I’d always wanted to do and last year I was able to spend three weeks, taking a National Geographic workshop and cooking classes at Le Cordon Bleu. 

Last August, my husband and I and three other couples went on a sojourn to the picturesque state of Alaska. Our journey began in Sitka, ending in Juneau.

What a great harvest! Harvest at Windsor Oaks Vineyards & Winery 2013