Many history books paint the incorrect picture that until Marshall picked up a few flakes of gold at Coloma in 1848, gold mining was unknown in the United States. But this is far from true. In Southern California, at…
Skinner Winery: New Vines from Family Roots
It was 1842 and James Skinner, his wife Jessie and his oldest son, James Jr., stepped off a boat into the United States. Thirty years old at the time, Skinner had been born in the Scottish town of Kettle in…
2012 Best Microwinery, Red – Hoyt Family Vineyards
Hoyt Family Vineyards 5929 Kanan Dume Road Malibu, California 90265 310-457-3832 “We were quite excited when we found out about this award,” said Carol Hoyt, winemaker and owner, with her husband Stephen, of Hoyt Family Vineyards in Malibu, California.…
2012 Best Microwinery, Other – Rancho de Philo
Rancho de Philo Winery, 10050 Wilson Avenue, Alta Loma, California (909) 987-4208. Generally when one thinks of microwineries in California, the image is often that of a small retirement business, producing a small amount of wine from a few acres…
California Golden Winery 2012 – Chacewater Wine Co. & Olive Mill
Chacewater Wine Co. & Olive Mill 5625 Gaddy Lane, Kelseyville, California (707) 279-2995 Ten for ten plus: ten wines entered in the 2012 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition and ten medals received, along with four Best of Class awards…
Armistice Day 1945 – A Childhood Memory
I was seven and my grandfather held my hand as we walked the few blocks to Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena, CA, the city were I grew up. I believe it was Armistice Day (now Veteran’s Day) in 1945, but because…