I don’t know about you, but I am ready for this winter to be over. The older I get, the longer they seem to last. But just as night follows the day, spring will erupt in all its exuberant boisterousness, and soon. The signs are there. The irrepressible daffodils bravely rear their golden manes under the fir trees, the buzz of the hummingbirds make their triumphant return, and even to the un-trained eye it is readily apparent that the patio, after a winter of neglect, is in dire need of a pressure washing.
Chores. That’s what the end of winter means. Tasks all with the intended purpose of making you, our wonderful customers, feel comfortable, safe, and welcome, but chores nonetheless. Outside if an occasional (if I’m honest, almost nightly) foray into the tasting room to retrieve a bottle of wine, I’ve given the space short shrift. Herself has cleaned and sanitized every square inch of the thing in preparation and her efforts have not gone unnoticed. At least not by me since as I write this I am not anywhere near Oregon (my side job takes me to Texas this trip), and I’ve not had to raise a finger to accomplish this Herculean task.
We did manage to get some traveling in during our break. Mostly to places where one could not only see the sun, but feel its warm embrace. We spent a weekend in Tucson with some dear friends and a week in Mexico, which was very pleasant. If you’re ever in Puerto Vallarta I know, it’s very touristy and I cannot recommend going during any of the six weeks that make up the American Haj known as Spring Break. But if you pick the correct hotel, the children can be seen, but not heard.
I can heartily recommend the Naval Museum down on the Melancon and the Puerto Vallarta Museum of Art. It is an absolute gem. The food was amazing, the margaritas had tequila in them (who could ask for more?), and the Victoria beer was cold. The silver ran out early in the 20th century and the entire place survives on tourism. More than half the population speaks English (I am by no means endorsing the unfortunate American habit of being uni-lingual, but it is convenient), and we got about by taking the city bus and you may think you know how to drive, but you’re not a Mexican municipal bus driver. For twenty pesos you can have an experience more thrilling than any ride at Universal Orlando.
If you weren’t aware, the tasting room opens this weekend on Saturday, April the 15th. Tax Day. How fortuitous. Feel free to celebrate, or bemoan, the passing of this auspicious reminder of our collective civic duty. Anyway, we have decided to pare our hours back and we will not be open on Fridays this season. This will also, alas, be our last season. If anything, our gallivanting about during the recent winter has motivated us to travel even further afield. We plan on gadabouting like no one has gadabouted before. The world, as they say, is our oyster and we plan on shooting that bad boy with some horseradish and lemon before we’re too old to do so.
The upside, at least for you our valued customers, means that we have got to off load some inventory. There will be sales. Oh yes there will. As a matter of fact, how about we start with a case sale of 40% off our 2020 Pinot Noir? How you like them apples? A case of 2020 Dragon’s Lair for $200 a case? Sign me up! Yup, I knew you’d like it. And that won’t be the last sale of the season, not by a long shot.
But you don’t only have the Pinot to look forward to. As we speak, the Sweet Dragon Riesling is being bottled and we thoroughly expect it to be just as spectacular as any we’ve served in the past. We’ve plenty of the Dragon’s Kiss Rosé and so much 2021 Pinot Noir. You’re going to like the 2021 Pinot because it’s very good.
That’s going to wrap it up for me. I truly hope that this finds you hale, hearty, and full of optimism for the glorious spring that burgeons and the beautiful sun-drenched Oregon summer to follow.
Can’t wait to see you guys. I mean that.
Cheers,
Pete
Poet Procrastinator and Avoider of Chores Par Excellence