Wine is the Elixir of Life. And other cliched sayings

The plan all along for today was "wineries."  The implied contract was that I didn't whine about it. (I've got a million of 'em, so don't flinch).

I am afraid I was ruined years ago for wine tastings by the movie Sideways.  That Miles thinks he can get that last note of broccoli in that pinot is...well, fucking funny.  So is his sidekick Jack's tasting: "yup, wine." Gulp gulp.

It didn't help that we started Sunday night at Belhurst Castle with a server who made Sideways seem real:  he did the description -- "a cheeky little wine with buttery notes with hints of lemon and grass" -- in a dead monotone.  Think the teacher in the Wonder Years.  This might not have been bad, but I got to hear him to do it three times.  In monotone.

But our full day started better at Ravines, where we are club members.  Judy, the pourer, was very chatty.  It's always good to know a lot about the biography of someone you will never meet again.  But this running monologue, interrupted by mentions of the wine, included her overpouring the glasses and giving more tastes than the standard 5.  In fact, there had been extra already when she realized that the sparkling had been opened and we must taste that!

This stop included tasting next to a very nice young couple from Philly.  They just got married on Friday.  He is a CPA, she a doctoral student in history.  Since it's our anniversary trip, there was kizmet.

I was "promised" we wouldn't go far from Geneva -- Ravines was actually almost in sight of our house (here's a pic to show the view from the portico, Ravines is just over the grape fields to the right)

So, a handful of miles down the road.  Most notable here was that the staff all seemed to be college students.  They were mildly chirpy and did a good job of explaining and pouring.  There was, oC, a view of the lake.  (more on this later)

Our newlywed friends recommended Weimer, another 10 miles down the lake.  Here I saw a phenomenon I'd never seen before: my wife used the spit bucket.  I asked if she was filling it for Miles for later (again, a Sideways reference) but she just wasn't a fan of their wine or the server.

We went back through Geneva, stopped for a healthy lunch of ice cream and donut holes, and continued to V-something.  Again, disappointment with the wine and server, but the view right on the lake was great.  And watching the sparrows eat cracker crumbs on the back porch was amusing.

Finally, as 4 o'clock neared we ended at Zugribe.  Named after the founder and owner.  Whose name is Fred.  Whose son, the wine maker's name is Fred.  They have a wine called 4 Freds.  so, OC, I called the pourer Fred.  :). Small amusements.

Fred did a good job.  K ended up buying 3 different varietals (see,I pay attention!) there.  Making a total of 8 for the day.

Then, after going back to the room and changing (okay, there was a nap in there, watching so much wine tasting is tiring), we went to this place for dinner.

The two of us often wonder on these trips how crazy people with money are.  You know, I
ve got lots of money, so lets build a mock Italian villa on the shore of Lake Seneca.  Built in 1910, that's what Geneva on the Lake is.

The restaurant specializes, as so many do these days, in local ingredients.  Like wine pourers, this is imminently mockable.  "Hand-picked corn from the field nearby...". The filet walked in this afternoon...etc.

We shared the caprese salad ("local fresh tomatoes")

 There was a peach sorbet for amuse bouche between (hand picked locally)

Then K had the filet, but I had the scallops ("fresh from the lake outside")

Then a walk outside in the dusk to see the back garden (the "cement pond") --

And I didn't even mention the obnoxious guy at the next table who everyone in the tiny restaurant could here actually read the two women at his table the history of the building, as well as tour guide for the rest of the area.  ):  ah, well...

In all, a good day.  No crashes, good food, & it seems we made it to our anniversary another year. :)