Stories about Wine...

So Saturday we took an official day off. It was much needed (more for Bryce than me) because last week our church hosted Vacation Bible School and Bryce and I both helped throughout the week( see entry below). After the big cook-out Friday night, we were exhausted! This was all on top of B preaching in Pasadena the Sunday before as well as preaching at the Spanish service this past Sunday.

We went to breakfast at a great French bakery downtown and chatted about life and marriage over coffee and fritatas. Afterwards we headed to Fashion Valley in San Diego to do some shopping, though didn't purchase much, and after deciding that the internet connection on the new Apple phone was way too slow, we made our way back North and stopped off at Orfila Vineyards.

Wine Story #1: Earlier Bryce had printed coupons for free wine tastings, so we enjoyed several tastings of delicious vinos while witnessing a wedding in the front part of the vineyard. It was lovely. We started chatting with the woman serving us and when I asked her how long she had worked there she boldly stated: 3 months. She went on to describe her relationship with the company and how she barely knew anything about wine, but was slowly learning. So, it should have come as no surprise to us when we asked her what her favorite white wine was, and she confidently replied, "I like the Riesling because it tastes like you're not even drinking wine!" Bryce and I laughed about this comment the whole way home. Apparently this woman was confusing her chardonnay with cough syrup, but who are we to judge? After all, they do say that wine is an acquired taste...

Wine Story #2: Now this is not so much a story as it is a write-up, but I had to share info for this new wine bar with others because if not it would be sinful. Our friend John from church plays with a jazz trio and invited us down to The Cask Room to hear them play last night. I don't know what was better, the music, the atmosphere, the baked brie with chipotle jam or the wine- all very rich! It was a great evening and we left wondering why this hidden treasure of a wine bar has yet to be discovered. I was wondering this still today, and after doing a bit of research realized that it has indeed been discovered-at least by San Diego Magazine: www.thecaskroom.com. Thank goodness, because it was one of the best wine bars I've been to. Large wine barrels, candles and dim lighting give the bar an intimate, cozy feel. Leather couches with pillows join a few pub tables to provide comfortable seating as well, and allow friends to mingle while coffee tables in between love seats hold their wine glasses. The owner, Mike, will allow you to taste any wine you wish, and at the end of the evening let us linger after giving us the remains of opened bottles. We both tried the red Zinfandel, which we joked about while walking to the car, because we both grew up thinking that zins were a sort-of half-par wine-not sure where this notion came from-perhaps that is just white zins? Needless to say, we enjoyed the red zin, and contrary to our friend behind the counter at Orfila Vineyards, we were glad that it tasted like wine.