With all the rain we had this winter, JUSTIN is looking absolutely beautiful. There is an abundance of wildflowers around every turn, especially California Poppies, Lupines, and Mustard.
In many areas, our cover crop is as tall as the vines!
Pretty flowering tree overlooking our Chef’s garden and Cabernet Sauvignon vines. If you peek out the side door in the tasting room, this is the view you’ll get to see!
We are pleased to announce that “She Said YES!” won the JUSTIN Most Memorable Moments contest! As a prize for having the best story, Jen and Dave Schelling will be joining us for a stay at the JUST Inn, Dinner in Deborah’s Room, couple’s massage, a private barrel tasting, and more!
The winner was chosen by votes from the public - our Facebook fans! (Read my older post for a more detailed reminder of how the winner was chosen).
Tell us about your “Most Memorable JUSTIN Moment”…
We had visited 6 wineries that day but none of them felt right to me, then we found Justin for the first time and I knew this was the place where I would make my move. I saw the white gazebo that looked perfect. Justin was preparing for a wedding that day and for some reason there was a very quiet moment where I needed to act fast. I got down on one knee and asked Jen to marry me. She said “YES” Just-in time because the wedding party was beginning to arrive.
As amazing as that Justin moment was, it was not my “Most Memorable Justin Moment." That moment came 6 years later when we came back to celebrate not only our wedding anniversary but that fact that Jen was cancer free after being treated for stage 3 breast cancer. Almost an entire year of chemo, radiation and multiple surgeries to get through and we were incredibly blessed to make it to the other side. We decided to spend a weekend in the Bordeaux Suite and enjoy the incredibly serene surroundings of the Justin Winery to appreciate the journey we had been through and remember the place where Jen said “YES.”
In addition to this story being an example of the ultimate JUSTIN experience (wine, dinner, and a stay at the inn!), a cancer survival story is a very fitting choice if you know the history of JUSTIN Winery – and Justin Baldwin himself. Justin is also a cancer survivor and founded cancer support community The Wellness Community of the Central Coast, which is one of the charities that JUSTIN Winery supports the most.
Thank you for sharing your incredibly moving story, and Congratulations, Jen and Dave! We look forward to hosting you!
We’re getting into the holiday spirit here at JUSTIN, and for me, that means shopping! In fact, I was able to find a gift for everyone on my list just by browsing our tasting room…
The Wino
This one is easy – JUSTIN wines make the perfect gift for everyone! For the beginning wine drinker, choose your favorite varietal and a JUSTIN logo glass. Use ribbon to tie one of our Sommelier Corkscrews to the bottle, and your novice is ready to go! For the more seasoned drinker, we offer several holiday three-packs. From ISOSCELES verticals to “The Art of Blending” (SAVANT, JUSTIFICATION, and ISOSCELES), there is a three-pack for all tastes…and the best part is they’re all ready to gift in a wooden JUSTIN wine box.
The Foodie
We have a huge selection of jams, local olive oils, balsamic vinegar, fine cheeses, crackers, baking mixes, chocolate, even cuttlefish ink pasta – and you know if it’s JUSTIN, it’s top-shelf! From the most beautiful embroidered napkins to salt pigs and salad servers, let our staff help you pick out the perfect fixin’s for a classic holiday gift basket.
The Outdoorsy One
It may be chilly now, but come summertime the outdoorsy one on your list will love grilling up a storm over our JUST Grilling Chips (French oak, wine-infused chips made from barrels that used to hold JUSTIN Wine). While grilling, be sure to keep the sun off your face with a JUSTIN Logo hat.
The Pup
Here at JUSTIN, we are big dog people…and we know your pup is just as spoiled as ours are! We carry locally-made dog treats, JUSTIN Wine Dog Society collars, leashes, and sweatshirts, and of course the book Wine Dogs 2, featuring our own wine dogs, Sunny and Francios.
The One Who Has Everything
For some people (or that special someone!) only the best will do. The JUSTIN Experience Package includes two nights at the JUST Inn, a wine paired dinner for two in Deborah’s Room, en suite couple’s massage, access to personal trainer and spa facilities, and a private educational tour and barrel tasting. $1450/$1160 Wine Socitey; call 805-238-6932 x 3223 for availability.
For even more ideas, flip through our official holiday catalogue. To order, visit the tasting room or call the Wine Society at 805-591-3200.
Have you always dreamed of spending a night in the lap of luxury at the JUST Inn? What about savoring a five-course meal at our critically acclaimed Deborah’s Room fine dining restaurant alongside Justin and Deborah Baldwin, or attending a private barrel tasting with one of our Certified Sommeliers? If you have the best JUSTIN story, you have the chance to win all of the above!
Here at JUSTIN, we are always receiving letters and photos from our loyal fan base....like George Sheth, who rented out the entire JUST Inn for a family reunion (that's him and his family above, with Justin and Debby Baldwin). We love hearing your JUSTIN Moments, and we think the rest of the world should get to hear them, too…so we are hosting a JUSTIN Moments contest!
There are just four easy steps to enter:
The Moment with the most votes wins! The winning Moment will be featured on our Facebook page, Blog, Twitter, and website, and will be published in the 2011 Spring JUSTIN Times.
Click here to see the entries we have received so far – there are some GREAT stories!
The deadline to submit your “most memorable JUSTIN moment” is January 31, 2011.
Our summer garden is in full bloom! Lemon cucumbers and new potatoes have been regularly harvested for the past three weeks. We have just picked the first of our cherry tomatoes, and should see a huge wave of tomatoes over the next three weeks. We planted twenty-nine different tomato varieties, so our chefs will have a great selection to work with!
Our peppers and tomatillos are about 3 weeks away, and we have harvested the first of our White Wonder watermelon. We are awaiting radishes, muskmelons, and pumpkins – they should be coming in for harvest over the next month.
Map of the JUSTIN Garden (click to enlarge)
Something else we are excited about is an upcoming series of cooking classes, which will run on the last Thursday of each month from September through January. The September class, entitled “Gourmet from Garden to Grill,” will take place on September 26 and will include a tour of the garden with our Estate Gardener, Chris Jahns. The day’s harvest will be used to prepare side dishes to complement Chef Will Torres’ famous BBQ!
Chef Will’s Heirloom Tomato Salad, with homemade cantaloupe sorbet, Happy Acres Casatella di Capra goat cheese, and local olive oil. Pairs perfectly with JUSTIN Sauvignon Blanc.
Come taste the fruits (and vegetables) of our labor in Deborah’s Room, our fine dining restaurant. We offer a great bistro-style lunch on weekends, and offer intimate dinners nightly. To make a reservation for lunch or dinner or to sign up for “Gourmet from Garden to Grill” or any of our other cooking classes, please call 805-238-6932 ex. 3224 or e-mail innkeeper@JUSTINwine.com.
