It’s been quiet here at the winery the past week.We had our first snow and the temps have been in the 20′s and even down to the ‘teens at night. Mostly we have been prepping for the Holiday Season, repairing and hanging lights, bottling wine, and sprucing everything up. We’re also hosting a Gingerbread House Competition at our culinary school and restaurant, Pairings, and lots of folks have been taking classes and coming by to work on their cakey homes.

I’m in NYC visiting family all week and going around meeting up with all my mixologist friends. It will take me all week to catch up on what’s going on the the cocktail world. I missed all the fall cocktails and hope to try a few before the winter ones come onto all the menus. With luck I may still be able to sample the fall creations.

I have a few bottles of wine from the winery for family, and a few bottles of our new hard cider for friends and the bar crew at a few of my favorite cocktail bars. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s reactions. I’ve also been planning a reunion with friends from back as far as elementary school and the neighborhood where I grew up, as well as friends from college and my early 20′s. It should be an evening of carousing and good, loud, fun; as we catch up on the latest. One friend of mine who I have known since 5th grade is a Lt. Colonel in the Army Reserve and has been called back to active duty for his third tour of duty. So we are going to give him a wet and wild send off as well. I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving, and have a fun weekend!