Since we sell nearly all our wine direct to people at home, we are always trying to cultivate new interest and bring in the next generation of patrons. As the first member in the third generation of Hafners on staff, I was tasked with finding a creative approach to do this. We came up with the idea of hosting the Next Gen Party. It is a fun afternoon with wine, homemade snacks, activities and lots of mingling.
I have been living in Bordeaux studying for my Masters in Vineyard and Winery Management. While I'm here, I have had the opportunity to see a number of our former interns. Some of them are working in the wine industry, while others visit Bordeaux for vacation. I've enjoyed dinners with them, worked for one and even run into another on the streets. Alexander Valley can feel far away, but anytime I see one of them, I feel instantly at home. It's been very fun to continue the friendships with them - some for over two decades.
The Holidays are busy here at Hafner Vineyard so Mary, my wife and co-founding partner, always planned a Holiday lunch for the winery team...in January. Carrying on her tradition, we gathered last Thursday to have a glass of wine (or two), enjoy a warm fire in the potbelly stove on a cold, wet Winter day and have lunch together. We always enjoy spending time together as the Hafner Vineyard Family and sharing stories of the Holiday excitement. It's a moment to take a breath and appreciate the hard work that we all accomplished throughout the year.
The concept of food and wine pairing can be intimidating, but in reality it can be as complex or as simple as you want. I prefer to have it be simple. That is why I thought it would be fun to create a "Food and Wine Pairing" Cootie Catcher. It includes eight different pairings that we often enjoy in our home. In this article, you can download your own cootie catcher, cut it out and hopefully put it to good use. I thought it would be fun for Holiday gatherings or as a stocking stuffers. Enjoy!
Every few years, I create a new watercolor for our Holiday Offering that we send to patrons in the beginning of November. Each painting depicts a different scene from the winter celebrations such as a bountiful Holiday table or a festive front door. Throughout the year, I worked on a new watercolor that is featured on this year's Holiday Offering. It is a painting that reminds me of the Holiday Season, fun, laughter and family. We hope you've received yours and enjoy it. In this blog, I share my inspiration for the winter cabin watercolor.
