AWS National Conference, California

California 2016

I came to talk at the American Wine Society National Conference in Costa Mesa at the beginning of November. First we took the opportunity to spend 4 nights in Las Vegas, Nevada, 2 nights at Grand Canyon and then visited Jerome, Arizona and the Temecula Valley Wine region on the way back to San Francisco and the Conference.

Peter at Callaway Vineyards, Temecula Valley California in 2016. I was looking for the sign I stood in front of in 2002 but that was no more . Below is my 2002 picture at Callaway

Peter May at Callaway in 2002

\presenting South African Red Blends at AWS Conference

Prsenting South African White Blends at AWS National Conference 2016

Pouring

View from Cosmopolitan Hotel Balcony - Daytime

View from hotel balcony, over Bellagio's  Dancing Fountains at night

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

Jerome Arizona, State's oldest restaurant

Crystal Cove Beach, we came here before the start of the conference for a walk in the sun, and I paddled in the sea.

Oslo Court - Caroline's Birthday

To Oslo Court in St John's Wood tocelebrate Caroline's Birthday.

Peter, Caroline, Brionnie, Joan

Budapest to Amsterdam on Viking River Tours

Two weeks river cruising with Viking from Budapest to Amsterdam

Viking Skadi moored at Budapest at start of cruise

Constantly updating counter in Vienna railway station showing number of Wiener Schnitzels consumed

 

On battlements of Burg Wurtheim

German night on board with special dinner and local band. Three of us wore our German jackets. Peter Fegan (right) and I bought them during the trip,.Gentleman on left, whose name escapes me, hademigrated from Germany to Ontario where he grows onions.

Lunch at The Chesterfield with Brionnie and Caroline

Toby, Brionnie, Peter, Joan

Brionnie & Peter

Brionnie & Caroline

Toby in the bar

1 June 2016 - Lunch at The Chesterfield Hotel, Mayfair, with Brionnie, Caroline and Toby

Criccieth and Pale Hall

Caroline Peter & Joan in the bluebell wood behind Caroline & Stuarts rented house

Peter & Joan with Estate Manager Stuart (right) and gardner James in front of Pale Hall 

Elliot, Stuart, Peter & Amy, Dan and Joan on Porthmadog platform

Joan & Dan in front of Criccieth Castle

Pale Hall http://www.palehall.co.uk

Boscobel House

To Worcester on the trail of my ancestors, the Penderel brothers who saved King Charles after the battle of Worcester by hiding him in priest holes in their home, Boscobel House, and most famously in an oak tree while Parliamentary troops searched the woods.
 

 The motif is the Royal Crown in an Oak Tree.

Boscobel House

Charles spent part of the day in a hut on this mound at the end of the garden.

The Royal Oak

The origanal oak was torn to pieces by souvenir hunters after the restoration, this is the current 'Royal Oak', planted from an acorn of the previous, which in turn was a descendent of the original. At the time the oak was just one of many in a thick wood that surrounded Boscobel House.

The five Penderel brothers and the descendents in perpetuity were granted a Royal pension after the restoration. Some current day  descendents still receive the annual payment, but not me.










 

The Cape Winelands

Gordons Bay, was our Cape home,on the far side of the bay, under the cliff for sevral weeks in January and February 2016

 I can see Waterkloof winery from the balcony of our apartment and from here you can see Godons Bay
 

Peter in Waterkloof's biodynamic vineyards

Waterkloof use horse power: here taking harvested grapes to the winery.

 Waterkloof are trying out the new concrete 'eggs' for fermenting wines.

Vintage festival at Beaumont Winery

Inside Beaumont winery

Lunch on the veranda at Neethlingshof  winery with a glass of Pinotage.

From here we can see hoppers of newly harvested grapes being towed in by tractor which backs them into the  destalker at the winery door. 

Beyerskloof is another must, for the obvious reason!!