At the moment Sean’s teaching schedule is packed, which makes it challenging for us to get away for even two days at a time. But this does not mean we’re not going to get away! oh no.

Because I’ve said it 100 times before, getting a change of scenery even if it is a whirlwind change of scenerey is so, SO good to do.

It helps when you have great friends you like to visit too, who also happen to live in beautiful, serene locations surrounded by vineyards. 

• So we took the Amtrak Surfliner train up North to Sab Luis Obispo this weekend. Highly, highly recommend this if you are wanting to see a glimpse of California, especially along the coast. In some sections the train goes right along the edge of the water, and it goes all the way South to San Diego too.
• Castoro Cellars in Paso Robles. One of my new favorites. There’s an interesting story about the Vineyard name. I’ll save it for you should you go. In fact there’s almost always a good story behind wine names and labels.  Turns out I like to ask a lot of questions and learn all about wineries. Must be the entrepreneur in me? I like to know all about busineses and bond with their brands. And the bottle I photographed was the best - Due Mila Otto. You can only get it in Paso Robles.
• Tasting wine with the Frantic Meerkat aka Kim. We are enjoying the Due Mila Otto
• First time trying wine straight from the barrel. Interesting to taste the difference between a new wine and one that had aged even a year longer. 
• Mincy, Sean and Kim on to Shale Oaks. {Mincy likes to keep his privacy so this is the only photo we have of him.} When I asked questions this time, I discovered that every detail from the construction of the winery, from the countertops to the water used to flush the toilets, to the organic wine making - all completely sustainable. It’s no longer enough just to be 'green' people- Sustainable is the new buzz word for businesses. And I like it.
• With scenery like this. I could probably live here.
• Vineyards seem to have incredibly sweet dogs on the premises. The first one was Roxie {by the barrels above} and the last one was Chris Brown. Do not ask the story about his name, because I don’t remember. We met him at our last tasting at Pasoport which specializes in you guessed it Port. Which was especially delicious and amazing when combined with cheese + quince. good times. good times.