Gift giving. It’s a fun challenge (and sometimes overwhelming) to find just the right gift. We are always honored when patrons trust us with the job of sending joy on their behalf. We are even more delighted when patrons give Hafner wine year after year. Over 90% of patrons who give one year, give Hafner wine again the next year. We are deeply humbled by that. Thank you! We wanted to share some messages from our patrons and the reason they give Hafner wine.
Penmanship... you either learned it in grammar school or you are of the generation who did not. I’m of that generation who had to learn it. I thought it was unnecessary, but during my time at Hafner Vineyard, I have used it a lot! With every gift of Hafner wine that our patrons send, we enclose their special message to the lucky recipient. I handwrite, in cursive, each of those messages. Every Holiday Season, I see sweet notes from parents to adult children and longtime friends to each other. Other notes make me giggle as our patrons often have a good sense of humor. Read more to see some highlights from this year... so far!
As many people know, the Kincade Fire broke out in Alexander Valley and is close to Hafner Vineyard. We are monitoring its progress and will post updates here daily as we can. Thank you to all the first responders who put their lives in harm's way to protect our community. We are so grateful to everyone who has contacted us and expressed concern. We are deeply humbled by that.
A fun thing happened this Summer. In the course of two weeks, we heard from a dozen different patrons who all wrote with the same question: Did we know that John Lescroart, the celebrated mystery writer, had woven Hafner Chardonnay or Hafner Cabernet into his books? Yes! We did! We are honored that John and his wife are longtime patrons of Hafner Vineyard, as are their parents and their adult children. I took this opportunity to ask John a few questions about his career as a mystery writer and why Hafner made its way into certain scenes. Here's my interview with John.
Last week found me on my semi-annual trip to Los Angeles to work with wine directors and sommeliers. 3 days, 26 restaurants, 452 miles. What did I hear? Consistent praise about the quality of Hafner wine and appreciation for Parke’s winemaking philosophy which favors balance and finesse over power and punch. These wine buyers are scouting for wines that complement their chefs’ cuisine, rather than competing with it. I also heard about the value Hafner wines offer. My favorite quote? “Hafner overdelivers quality for the price.”
