My birthday buddy.

It's my birthday and the fact that it is raining hasn't dampened my enthusiasm any.  Seeing as I already had my wellies on, after my and V2's morning walk, I had a quick glance at the Syrah vines to see if anything was going on.  Yes indeedy, bud break is happening - finishing pruning the Syrah this past Sunday wasn't a moment too soon.
Of course, the rain means that I won't be getting much done out in the vineyard today.  I am, however, determined to tie down the Cabernet vines I pruned yesterday.  So I'll don my rain jacket and hopefully not get too soggy wrestling with the wet canes, but other than that it is just too wet to get any actual pruning done.  I always try to be finished pruning by my birthday, but  Mother Nature hasn't cooperated with my plans this year.  Sigh.
Oh...and Happy Birthday John Toshack.
Vinogirl loves birthdays.

A very British birthday.

I'm having a birthday in my native time zone.  Birthdays at home are the best.  Whoo hoo!
Thud was as good as his word, in regard to his wine stash, and found something appropriately festive in his cellar for me.  The 2013 Hindleap, Bluebell Vineyard Estates Rosé sparkling wine, a Pinot Noir/Pinot Meunier blend, was a bit of a red fruit bomb.  Redolent with strawberry and Red delicious apple, the Hindleap was tasty and structured.  But, unfortunately, if I had one criticism it would be that I thought the wine was a tiny bit oxidised.
However, the real problem with this bottle of sparkling wine was the packaging.  No sooner had Thud removed the foil from the neck than the cork positively exploded from the bottle.  Not good, and the first time that either of us had ever experienced that.  The muselet had only been twisted, I'd estimate, barely a half-turn and was therefore totally ineffective at holding a cork in at high pressure.  Gave poor old Thud a bit of a start.  Still enjoyed the bubbles though.
Oh...and Happy Birthday John Toshack.
Vinogirl loves birthdays.

It's birthday time.

Ta da!  Another birthday, what fun!
I had a great day, thanks to Vinomaker.  A wine tasting at Reynolds Family Winery (interesting), lunch at The Oxbow (duck taco, followed by a passion fruit cupcake) and dinner at Eiko's (lots of sushi, yum).
At dinner, I took advantage of Eiko's Wine Wednesday wine list and enjoyed a very refreshing glass of Albariño; a 2014 Calavera Wines, Dragone Vineyard (Calaveras County AVA).  And a few sips of some other good stuff. A very agreeable day.
Oh...and Happy Birthday John Toshack.
Vinogirl loves birthdays.

Birthday: 2016.

I had the pleasure of having another birthday today, whoo hoo!  I turned 29, again - it's a birthday miracle!
Really good day; good pressies (even got a gopher trap), good food, good drink (including two bottles of bubbles) and good weather.
I did a tiny bit of work (in the vineyard); had lunch out (at the Oxbow); went wine tasting (Goosecross Cellars); did my favourite walk with V2 (down at the Napa River); had dinner out (Ca' Momi, Napa).  Busy, busy having fun, thanks to Vinomaker.

Oh...and Happy Birthday John Toshack.

Vinogirl loves birthdays.

Happy Bubbly-Birthday to me!

Started my birthday off in just the right way with pink bubbles, thanks to Vinomaker.  The bubbles paired nicely with some new pruning gloves and a new pair of Felco 6 secateurs.
Actually, rain woke me up which for me wasn't a particularly good way to wake up, but the day just keeps getting better.  Had a nice FaceTime chat with the family and a nice walk with Vinodog 2.  I have a few, fun things going on this afternoon and dinner tonight.  Fun!
Oh...and Happy Birthday John Toshack.
Vinogirl loves birthdays.

Happy birthday to me, again!

Yes, I'm having another one!  And as much as I have enjoyed my day thus far, I don't think I need anymore birthdays after this one.  Who exactly do I contact to cancel the annual anniversary of my birth?  Never mind, I'm just joking.
Oh...and Happy Birthday John Toshack.
Vinogirl loves birthdays.

Happy birthday to me!

Yes, yet again it's my birthday.  Whoo hoo!  I just love birthdays.
Vinomaker has already treated me to a couple of wine-tastings (over in Sonoma), lunch at the Oxbow Public Market (had a crab taco, it's Lent) and, as is now a tradition, a Kara's Cupcakes passion fruit cupcake...yum!
In my, not too distant, future I am assured of something in the bubbly department, of course, and an evening meal at an as yet unidentified eating establishment...thanks Vinomaker.  In my, quite distant, past I posed for this my first infant school portrait: the 5 year old Vinogirl looks like she knows something!  Hmmm...
Oh...and Happy Birthday John Toshack.
Vinogirl loves birthdays.

They say it's your birthday...

...We're gonna have a good time!  Yes, once again, it's the anniversary of my birth (thank you, mother).

Aren't birthdays great?  I had a bit of a lie-in this morning, and then the festivities began.  Over a leisurely breakfast, I opened my cards and my presents - jewellery (including the antique spoon-ring above) and bubbly. What more could a Vinogirl ask for?
Oh...and Happy Birthday John Toshack.
Vinogirl loves birthdays.

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday...

...to me. Whoo hoo! It's that time of year again. Aren't birthdays fabulous?

This morning, after I opened my pressies, Vinomaker treated me to breakfast at The Boon Fly Cafe, a part of the Carneros Inn complex on Highway 12/121 between Napa and Sonoma. Oh, fun! Then, fully stuffed with eggs, hash browns and sausages, we went exploring the Carneros AVA. The rain that had been forecast remained at bay until 4 pm, so I was very happy.

Tonight, dinner is at a downtown Napa restaurant, Oenotri, that we haven't tried before. More fun!

Oh...and Happy Birthday John Toshack.

Vinogirl loves birthdays.

Many happy returns to me!

Yes, I'm having another one...and I love it. Aren't birthdays great? Nothing is expected of me, this is my day to do exactly as I please. I don't have to prune, go to work, or cook. The Vinodogs are still insisting on being walked however, but it's just as well as I do need to walk off the passion fruit cupcake above. Yum!
Oh...and Happy Birthday John Toshack.
Vinogirl loves birthdays.

Happy Birthday, to moi.

Yes, today is Vinogirl's birthday. In spite of the fact that I am getting older...I...LOVE...BIRTHDAYS. Anybody's, not just my own.
It looks like Vinomaker invited 'The Widow' to my celebration. I think she might be a surprise guest, but I found her in the wine fridge so I invited her out for a drink. Let's get this party started!
First though, I have to put on my new, lime green Hunter wellies and have a wade through the creek with V2.
Oh...and Happy Birthday John Toshack.
Vinogirl loves birthdays.