Out with the Winos

I got the early flight out of Munich, so that I could join my friends on our annual trip to the winery Christmas festivals. Once again a long flight in coach, but a lighter than expected headwind got us into SFO early.

From there I met Lynn and crew at the David Bruce winery where we tasted a bit, and then moved on to Byington winery. Both wineries have annual Christmas festivals with wine tasting, music, food, and such on the first December weekend. It was a nice holiday festive atmosphere. They have holiday music, hot mulled cider, and some good eats. You can wander through the cellar areas and taste more wine than they usually have. The trip to David Bruce has become an annual event since one of our friends, Greg, lives near the winery and we can do all the wine tasting we wanted and then crash at his place. Thanks, Greg.

I hate Greg. Well, I shouldn’t say that. I mean – I’m just jealous of all that he has – youth, good looks, success. He is a couple of years older than me – went to Stanford and is a VP of something or other and has worked at a bunch of silicon valley start-ups. He bought a house in the Los Altos hills a few years ago. He paid cash, I’ve been told. He drives a bright red convertible Porsche – among other things. He survived the dot com crash better than most, and seems to have saved most of his investments from the current downturn.

Lynn was at the festival with Jim (her other half) and Stacey (her sister). Stacey will be driving back to L.A. tomorrow. Lynn told me that I should help Stacey get a more educated wine palate. She still seems to have a taste for sweet wines, but then she’s still a kid. I hate to try to get anyone to change their tastes. Good wine is wine that you like – the same goes for food – and just about everything else in life. And there is no accounting for taste. Anyway, I did have a nice time flirting with Stacey. She is so cute. To bad about the 8 hour drive between us.

As we were leaving the festival, Jim invited me to go windsurfing with him next weekend if the weather is good. Be serious. December, and the weather might be good?!? To someone from Hawaii? I didn’t say that, of course. I agreed to watch the forecast.