The roses are blooming and my feet have dried out; time to run
through the South Valley Wine Auction that benefited the Morgan
Hill Unified School District Cross Country, and track and field
programs.
The roses are blooming and my feet have dried out; time to run through the South Valley Wine Auction that benefited the Morgan Hill Unified School District Cross Country, and track and field programs.
Friday night, the Morgan Hill Community Center was packed tighter than a newly corked merlot on the bottling line. Happy and well-coordinated wine drinkers and food lovers did their best balancing acts, holding a small, plastic hors d’oeuvres plate with a nifty wine glass holder attached, and seeking out conversation with friends and refills.
Teriyaki albacore skewers from Rosy’s at the Beach were a hit with Mike Rusch and Pat Campbell while I bee-lined toward Maurizio’s rotelle de parma (flat pasta layered with mortadella meat and mozzarella cheese, baked in tomato cream sauce). Of course, Trail Dust BBQ served their well-known barbecue ribs and pulled pork with that delicious, tangy sauce poured over the top.
The international contingent was in the crowd with Bethan Bath, originally from Wales (and also a native speaker of that easy language, “can-I-buy-a-vowel” Welsh), Bernard Mille of Belgium, and Julia Nichols of England. Nichols and Bath, friends for more than 20 years, are longtime residents of South County but have not yet mastered the local dialect (famous in the phrase, “They must be processing the mushrooms today”).
Thirty wineries poured generous amounts of the fruit of the vine. Each was tasty and unique, but I found the velvety texture of Martin Ranch Winery’s 2003 Syrah something that made my eyes roll around in my head. Owners Thèrèse and Dan Martin say their vineyard has fully matured, and production is full-speed ahead. An invitation to visit their Redwood Retreat Winery extends to anyone wanting a beautiful drive and a wonderful tasting at the end of the road. Check out their Web site at www.martinranchwinery.com. Be careful when your eyes roll around your head; it’s kind of spooky.
Famed scientist Gary Whiteaker of Sakata Seed America found the perfect present to give the president of the company on his upcoming trip to Japan. Down the hall from the wine and food, local artists displayed and sold works of art. Whiteaker found a small painting by local artist Katherine Zander of what he believes are Sakata-developed profusion zinnias of an All American Variety. That should impress the boss. Gary also wants my readers to know he thinks aqua fitness is the best-kept secret in Morgan Hill, and he’s never got hurt doing it. Yes, this can be a forum.
Speaking of cross-column cooperation, Martin Cheek, the other famed South Valley Newspapers columnist, loaned pictures to us of the Henry Coe back-country trek held this past weekend at the state park. According to those that ventured into the back country, the hills are resounding with the abundant growth from the rains, and the fish merely jumped onto the bait mid-air at the usually difficult-to-access lakes. (That’s a good thing for my husband – not many know about his lack of angling skills. Oops, now they know.)
John Rosica of Boy Scout Troop 799 brought a trailer full of hoofed animals (mostly horses, with one mule) to venture further into the back country. Organizers of the event expected nearly 1,000 people to enter the south gate of the state park. It was announced this is the last year longtime Coe ranger Barry Breckling will be on hand as the resident ranger. Breckling’s retirement is on the horizon.
Ciao for now.
