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June 13 and 14 was the 2nd weekend of the annual Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association Vintners' Festival. Lori and I spent Saturday on the east side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, where we usually don't go at all. But it's a great drive from Santa Cruz over Hecker Pass (Hwy 152) to these wineries. I just wish we still had Lori's Miata to drive; then it would have been even more fun.
 The first winery we visited was Clos LaChance. Beautiful winery and grounds from the outside, and the tasting room inside was great also. This would be a great place for a party. No party when we visited though, just people both inside and outside enjoying wine, weather, views, friends and family.
 They have a few outside patio or courtyard areas where you can enjoy the wine. And in addition to pouring in the tasting room, they were pouring outside by the bocce ball court. (Rank must have its privileges, as Dominic, the tasting room manager, drew the outside pouring duty.) There was a great father-son bocce match going on, with the about-5-year-old son showing only occasional frustration at the difficulty of the game.
 We enjoyed some very nice views -- What could be more representative of the California coastal regions than rolling hills, vineyards and oak trees? -- from the bocce court area while we enjoyed the wine. Enjoyed the '08 Viognier: not too flowery on the nose or the tongue, but some good fruit. We also both enjoyed the 2005 Meritage, their Bordeaux blend, and both really liked the 2005 Whitestone Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. This should age a few more years (maybe another 5?) before it hits peak.
Nice way to start off a weekend of wine tasting!
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