Every day, no matter what, we stop work at 10am for “Break”. Break is 15 minutes (okay sometimes 20) when everyone at the winery gathers together upstairs in our “break room” for a latte (for those who choose) and a quarter of a muffin or sticky bun from a local bakery. But Break is more than just a caffeine (and sugar!) boost. It’s a moment to share time together, a moment to connect, a moment to appreciate the simple things in life, realizing that work is not everything. In a world that is so fast paced (and only getting faster), Break reminds us the importance of slowing down and enjoying each other’s company.

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What the heck is “natural beekeeping”?! After a class at Shed in Healdsburg with Ariella Daly, Martin and I were sold on natural and sustainable beekeeping. It takes a holistic and hands off approach. We use a top-bar hive made from Bee Built in Oregon because they are deeply focused on reducing environmental impacts. A main difference between conventional and natural (or sustainable/organic) beekeeping is the comb. Natural beekeeping allows the bees to build their own comb as they would in nature, instead of living in pre-built plastic comb. It has been very fun learning about bees and their community. They are teaching us patience and reminding us that we share this land with many other species. 

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Choosing wine from a restaurant list can be hard and intimidating! We asked our friend and favorite sommelier Alexis Iaconis if she might have some tips about how to do that. Currently, Alexis is the Wine Director at Barndiva in Healdsburg and a sommelier at The Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa Valley. She is also studying for the Master Sommelier exam, so needless to say, she knows a thing or two about restaurant wine lists. Here she shares three tips on selecting a wine while dining out. 

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The Holidays are always an exciting time for us here at the winery. Orders fill our mailbox. Emails with gift requests stream in through the computers. The phone begins to ring constantly. It’s fun for us to help patrons select the perfect gifts for family, friends and colleagues. Through the excitement of the Holiday Season, we often discuss with each other which gift we would give (or want to receive!). We thought it would be fun to share which are our favorites and why. And we couldn't resist including which gift of wine we would want to unwrap. 

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I truly love the Holidays, the entire Holiday Season from Halloween to New Years. It’s not that I love the actual Holidays, but rather the joy and pleasure that the Holidays bring. Whether it is a simple lunch for 6 or Thanksgiving dinner for 24, I enjoy it all. To make each meal fun and entertaining, I make place cards with the name on the front and a secret on the back. Place cards help organize the wild crew that is my family. I thought you might enjoy a place card template to use this Holiday Season. 

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