Living in a place where great Pinot Noir is produced is an incredible gift but it can also be a challenge. I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world and can’t think of any place I’d rather be.
There are no stores within a short walking distance. A mile and a half down a steep hill heading west is Wild Flour Bread. Well worth the hike down and the climb back up helps to work off the calories from Sticky Bun.
A mile and a half down a steep hill to the East and I can buy fresh vegetables, fruit and other organic treats at Bill’s Farm Basket The walk back is a trek along Highway 12.
Notice the trend here, I live uphill so I drive a lot. Whole Foods, Safeway and Andy’s Market are a 15 minute drive into town (Sebastopol). This is hardship I can live with.
One of the things I didn’t think about when moving to this rural location is what happens if we need help?
My husband joined local fire department. The Gold Ridge firefighters are awesome.
That’s John in the middle of the front row – he’s the handsome grey-haired guy.
And what is you need to go to the hospital for an emergency. We are so lucky to have Palm Drive Hospital, a state of the art health care facility right in Sebastopol, in our own backyard.
The next closest hospital is a 45 minute drive. If you’re in pain or having a heart attack, that’s a long way. Palm Drive was there when my mother fell and broke her hip and again when she dislocated her arm. The care was fantastic. She was seen right and care for right away.
So when it came time to choose an organization to benefit from the Pinot Noir Summit this year, we joyfully chose Palm Drive Health Care Foundation in support of Palm Drive Hospital in the heart of some of the best Pinot Noir country in the world, the Russian River and Sonoma Coast. They serve our community with great facilities, doctors, nurses, and staff.
February has always been associated with the color red…Valentines, hearts and love.
The 
The day long Pinotcentric events begins with The Pinot Noir Showdown, a blind tasting of 40 top-rated Pinot Noirs. Attendees become wine judges for the day and pit their palates against the expert panel, tasting and voting on their favorites.
Studies have been done, articles written and discussions boards have been inundated with comments and opinions on how are wine competitions conducted, how competent the judges are, if the results can be duplicated, what scoring system should be used, should cores be negotiated, etc, etc, etc.
John and I have traveled to the Cincinnati to be the “guest stars” at a 
If you read my blog, you know that I am not a Pollyana. I call ‘em the way I see ‘em.