Family

When I paint I am ageless, I just have the pleasure or the
difficulty of painting.
::: Francis Bacon :::

CIA "Vintner's Hall of Fame" induction dinner 2008

We had another exciting visit to the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone this past weekend for the second annual induction dinner for the Vintner's Hall of fame. My bas relief portraits of last years class were unveiled and 8 new members were inducted. They included: the late Ernest and Julio Gallo; Paul Draper, CEO of Ridge Vineyards; Miljenko "Mike" Grgich, whose Chardonnay was tops in the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting; and wine expert Darrell Corti, whose Sacramento store has helped put countless wines and gourmet products on Americans' radars. A separate category of "pioneers," who have been dead 10 years or longer, will include John Daniel Jr. of Inglenook; Napa Valley vintner Louis M. Martini; and Livermore vintner Carl Wente.

Here is a shot of the Maynard Amerine relief display.

While on a tour of the facilities we were offered a few truffles........

The sculptor and 2008 inductee Miljenko "Mike" Grgich

Sneaking in a little golf with my brother at Eagle Vines Golf Club in Napa.

"Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible
things before breakfast."
::: Lewis Carroll :::

Regards, LJN

Preparing for dinner....

I will be heading out to Saint Helena, Ca later this week for the second annual induction dinner of the Vintner's Hall of Fame. Last years dinner was incredible. This year they will be inducting 8 more vintner's:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/18/WIO4UGJ38.DTL
I look forward to creating a new set of portraits almost as much as the dinner! (Escaping this weather won't bother me much either)
Regards,
LJN