When I buy wine, I nearly always buy whites and nearly always from the same regions of the world -- ones that I know and love. Ed thinks I should be more adventurous and he is convinced that somewhere in Wisconsin there may be a vintner who has made a bottle of white that I will like. And so not surprisingly, when he read about a special event taking place at Bothom Vineyards today (just 35 minutes to the west of us!), he asked if I may be interested in checking it out.
I am interested. The event is their annual vintage car display. I think the deal is that if you have a vintage car, you can register it and display it. A lot of people come to see them. And I mean a lot! Like hundreds and hundreds. In addition, there is the wine. You could go to their tasting room and sample wines, or you could just buy a glass from their selection and walk around looking at cars with a plastic cup of wine in your hand.
Okay, that sounds like it could be fun. Not so much the cars, but the whole set up: a vineyard that has (if you read their website) gained some recognition for their wines, beautiful countryside, and people obsessing about cars. You'd go, right?
But first there are the farmette fields to clean up a little...
And a very very late breakfast to eat outside...
Shortly after noon, we set out.
I always enjoy these local escapades with Ed. We learn a little more about the people who practice their trade here and we see some more of south central Wisconsin. I was just a little curious though why he would flag this particular event since he does not like wine and isn't much into cars either. Turns out he may not like driving cars, but design fascinates him! Too, his father used to love learning about old cars and that interest sort of trickled down.
In other words, at this particular event, Ed was really into the cars!
And I was really into the grapes in the vineyards!
And neither of us was really into the wine, but that's because we bought one cup from the cart and it was just okay -- neither of us could finish it and we sampled nothing more. The tasting barn was packed and Ed and I do not go into crowded public places.
I have to say, the demographic at the car show was rather defined: white old men. With some women tagging along. I felt a little like being at a retirement home. (Not to gripe here -- we are, after all, ourselves members of that demographic, but still...)
We may go back to the vineyards on a day that's not devoted to a vintage car display. I feel we ought to give their wines a proper sampling. I mean, they really do have a fine reputation. Another time.
In the evening the young family comes for dinner...
...and it is just perfect weather for an outside meal.
And here's another thing to be said about the evening: everyone was in a great mood. Well, I suppose Sparrow had a momentary disappointment when his sister ate everything and with alacrity. "She beat me!" -- he kept saying rather sadly. It's not a competition, Sparrow. "Yes, but she beat me!"
My wee substitute camera died at this point and so I stopped taking pictures. I did manage a smart phone shot of Sandpiper while I was holding him, so I suppose you could view it as one of our selfie moments...
Too, my phone picked up a couch shot of those three...
And the evening rolled in and the moon rolled out and life felt so good...
With love...
