Lets train

I have been so busy this week getting ready for THIS weekend that I haven't posted about what we did LAST weekend!

LAST weekend Kevin & I had the opportunity to go to the ZAP wine festival in San Francisco and pour wine for our brother in law's wine. You see, our brother in law Mike, (Kevin's sister's husband) lives out in Lodi & has 10 acres of wine grapes. For almost 10 years, he has been selling his grapes to other wineries & making "family" wine. A few years ago he got serious about making wine & decided it was time to not just make a family wine, but to start his own label, McCay Cellars.

In 2010, his first 4 bottles were released (they were made with grapes from 2007).
His innagural year was such a hit & his Jupiter Zinfandel was named one of the 2010 Top 100 wines by the San Francisco Chronicle in December and a few weeks ago, his Truluck Zinfandel was given a Double Gold by the San Francisco Chronicle. This is HUGE in the wine business, especially because this was his innagural year and because he is from Lodi (as opposed to Napa)

Because of these prestigious awards from the SF Chronicle, he gets to attend several wine functions. Because he is a family winery & does this on the side, he has no staff.
(Kevin's sister Linda, Kevin & Mike)

That is where we come in! Last Saturday, Kevin & I, my sister Elyse, Kevin's parents, Kevin's brother & our sisters in law headed to San Fran to help Mike out with this event.
The event was held right on the Bay at Fort Mason.
When we first got there, we saw a HUGE line wrapped around 3 buildings.
Turns out Matt Damon & Ben Affleck are filming a movie in SF soon and it was a casting call for extras!
It was SO much fun!
There were over 100 wineries there and over 7,000 people wine tasting.
Kevin & I got the 3 pm to 5 pm shift of pouring wine, so we got there earlier to walk around & taste some wine!
When you first walk in, you get a wine glass & a loaf of bread! These guys were in tux's handing out the bread. Hysterical!
I am happy as a clam....if you know me, I love wine & I love bread!
My sister Elyse & I:
Then Kevin & I had to work our shift pouring wine for people.
It was fun, but also a little nerve wracking because sometime we would get the media or wine specialists asking us questions about the wine, where the grapes where grown, what type of barrels & corks were used, etc.
The event started at 11 am, so there were a lot of funny people we encountered.
We saw a lot of purple teeth! (Some people when the drink a lot of red wine, their teeth turn purple. True Story.)
After the ZAP event was finished we headed out to Scoma's for dinner.
It is a delicious Seafood Reastraunt right on the water at Pier 39.
Scoma's is SO good! It was my first time there.
I got a really "healthy meal"....Fettucinni Alfredo with shrimp & salmon.
Oh my goodness it was heavenly!
After dinner we headed to the one and only "Buena Vista"
It is the home of the original Irish Coffee.
Walking inside, I felt like I had stepped into the 1940's. It was AWESOME!
The bartenders are busy, busy, busy.
They make about 30 Irish Coffee's at once & just line them up on the bar.
I got the Frangelica Irish Coffee:
It was a such a fun way to spend a Saturday! I love going to San Francisco. It is such a great city!
Good food, Good wine & Good times with Family!

This weekend is one party after another.
Tomorrow morning I am hosting a Bridal Shower for my younger sister, Rebecca.
Sneak Peak of the shower:
And, we have our neighbor's Chinese New Year Party.
Sunday afternoon is the Superbowl (rooting for the Packers) which we will be watching at my parents house for a combo Superbowl Party/Birthday Party (Rebecca's birthday is Monday).

Do you have any fun weekend plans?
Hope your weekend is more restful than mine!
Happy Friday!