People Pouring at Pinot Paradise – Part 1

Creative and mildly mobile decorations greeted tasters with a colorful shoutout.

This is a picture story of the wine makers and managers who make Santa Cruz Mountains wine-growing appellation wines. They are a hearty independent group who took the wine–making path less chosen. Each year in late-March these winemakers gather at Villa Ragusa in Campbell for Pinot Paradise, a bacchanalian festival where Pinot Noir flows freely and  about a dozen restaurants serve up tasty tid-bits to accompany and compliment the wines.

I wandered about these folk, many of whom are on the local Discovery Map and on www.DiscoverLosGatos.com, and tried to catch folks unposed (with a couple of happy exceptions) as they worked their magic on more than 500 merry revelers. The following photos are definitely worth at least a thousand words.

More to come in a couple of days.

Here’s a special shout-out to the client wineries shown below:

• Burrell School Vineyards & Winery
• Thomas Fogarty Winery and Vineyards
• Cinnabar Winery
• Regale Winery and Vineyards

That's Dave Moulton, co-owner of Burrell School, on the left wielding an empty bottle. He also wields an organizer's wand over Pinot Paradise each year, with great and wonderous effect.

I couldn't sneak up on Anne and Julie Krolczyk. They greeted me with smiles and a magnum of Thomas Fogarty's best.

I like meeting and speaking with wine makers and grape farmers. Pinot Paradise is a great place to meet and greet these folks, like George Troquato, winemaker for Cinnabar Winery.

Larry Schaadt, owner of Regale Winery, in the midst of pourers, bottles and tasters, prepares the next vintage for sampling.

Tagged as: Burrell School Vineyard and Winery, cinnabar winery, Dave Moulton, Pinot noir, Regale Winery and Vineyards, santa cruz mountains wineries, Thomas Fogarty Winery and Vineyards