Wine tasting and more

After our 7.45 am swim we drove out to meet Cathy & Kevin at the sherrif's office on Jamboree St!

From there we travelled to Temecula wine valley! As we pulled in to the parking lot at 11.30am we realised we weren't the first. You have to be there early on weekends to avoid the crowds. At the Ponte winery we were treated like royalty as C&K are members. Varoious wines were tasted and commented upon and we both settled on the Beverino a light sweet red that has to be served cold. Looking forward to tasting that at home. Snack at this tasting was deep fried slices of pitta bread!! Other wineries we visited were the Winston and the Longshadow ranch, where the motto was "Kicking ass and stomping grass"!!

There wasn't a hint of the snobbery you might expect from a winetasting. Warnings not to wear perfume were hardly warranted as we were greeted by the heavy scent of perfumed candles on entry to the Ponte winery store!! Many of the clients that morning had come by limo/hummer. Various hen-parties (bachelorettes) were descending on the valley as the morning wore on, and we met some of them again at the next winery, and the next!

A fascinating experience! Interesting to compare and contrast the different atmospheres of the wineries. Ponte wins the prize for the most sophisticated, best attention to the client and best wine!!

Mags gets a turn at carrying the box!

A spot of lunch was followed by a spot of retial therapy (Elsinore Lake Outlet Mall) and that was followed by a meal with the next branch of the McCarthy Clan - Mary, Eddie & Lauren. Great night was had, reminiscing and comparing notes- as well as meeting people we had never met before. The net widens! We've almost completed the jig-saw around the globe!

Mags with Mary's daughter Lauren

Aidan & Mary's husband Eddie