Harvest Festival 2006

Wow, we were here at Rancho Sisquoc for another Harvest Festival! Glorious. Mostly it was a glorious because yesterday it rained and last night was very drizzly (I know, I was photographing the Santa Ynez Valley High School varsity football team romp 35-18 over the Santa Maria Pirates in that mess.) But today, while cloudy, it was decently warm and dry. Alicia was working full bore organinzing the booth, wines, decorations as well as booking the musical entertainment for this event (see below.) It is always nice to arrive and find that things are ready to go and folks have been recruited to pour and discuss and pour some more. Alicia (our Sales/Office Manager), Carolyn Boone (boss' daughter) and Dan Cassara (boss) manned the table: pouring, greeting, discussing, laughing, recommending the new releases, sampling a few mystery bottles, revealing where the best food booths were hiding, directing to the outdoor plumbing, and generally seeing to the guests' needs. Yes, a glorious day for sure.

As I've mentioned often, Casa Cassara is a family affair: everyone participates ... well everyone who hasn't just had a new daughter [See image on right] (or gotten married and moved away (that's Danielle and Kimberly for those not familiar.) Bennie (the Patriarch), Bridget (boss' wife), Matt (son-in-law), Cathy Krska (GM's bride) and likely some I missed all pitch in one way or another. There are virtually no hired hands other than Alicia and Brian either pouring or assisting.

There were two bands playing across the grand lawn at Rancho Sisquoc: The House Red Band and Lady Blue and the Roadhouse Daddies with Donna Greene . Both groups have a gorgeous lead vocalist backed by several pieces as you can see. Both were excellent. While I didn't see any couples dancing to the tunes, the little kids were dancing and giggling and having a grand time.

Peyton Mackenzie Thacker,
b. 10/6/2006, 11:45 am.

And speaking of the non-winery booths, The Far Western Tavern from Guadalupe was cooking lovely thick steak on what looked to be oak coals and serving it up in chunks. I took a picture and made the chef fork over a piece ... cooked to perfection and tasted wonderful. Marna was raving about the eats from The Willows at the Chumash Casino Resort. This not to take anything away from all the other wonderful eateries that were represented ... there were grand meatballs and other delicacies but I didn't get a chance to sample them.

We were pouring a number of new releases ... 2005 Riesling, Santa Barbara County, 2005 Rose Wine, Santa Rita Hills, 2005 Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Ynez Valley, 2005 Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, 2005 Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills (100% Pinot Noir blend). In addition, Brian was offering a barrel sample of the 2004 Syrah, Colson Canyon Vineyard.

Well, it was a grand day. People seemed happy to see one another again and taste the wines, eat the food and listen to the music. There are a number of new faces, names and wineries here this year. I need to mention Kalyra Winery, a friend of Casa Cassara, who have newly signed to sponsor the Kalyra-Griffen Women's Bicycle Team, following in the wake of the Firestones, as I will be photographing them beginning the first of the year.

Dan Cassara, owner, swirls the Pinot Noir, Estate and is looking very, very pleased about it, too!

Review by Dwight McCann, photographer and friend of Casa Cassara.