Early Risers

PHOENIX-April 3 We got up at 5:00 a.m. to make certain we made it to Phoenix in time for our 12:00 lunch appointment. We were driving 70 all the way, but we were still one of the slowest cars on the road and the only Prius (just like the previous evening). Trucks would stream past us, driving at a wicked pace. Guess gas mileage isn't an issue down here. The speed allowed us to get to Phoenix early so we had plenty of time to change out of travel clothes and into "tasting" attire for our event at Caffe Boa, a restaurant that describes itself as a Euro-style bistro and wine bar.

We had lunch outside with some trade accounts, weather was perfect for this. We were a little disappointed with the light turnout, but the food was great and the wines showed well. Made a brief stop at My Wine Cellar nearby, a wine shop and tasting bar that does some great wine education programs and visited with one of the owners,

Kathy. Then it was on the road again for Tucson and our bottle signing at A.J.'s (a grocery store that has a great selection of wines and gourmet foods) that afternoon. Turnout was less than we hoped, but everyone loved the 2004 Alexander School Syrah so we sold quite a few bottles of this.

The highlight of the day was definitely spending the night at Hacienda Del Sol. We had a delicious dinner with a bottle of wine from one of our neighbors,Trentadue Dry Creek Petite Sirah (Victor Trentadue was also staying at the hotel and they were featuring his wines,something we should look into).