Many thanks to Tony Ennis and Chevy Garza for putting together the 2019 Corvettes of Bakersfield Wine Run To Paso Robles this past weekend. As usual, we had a great time with 9 Corvettes caravanning in addition to 6 “tin” cars, quite a bit less than the normally 20-30 Vettes that attend. The three wineries we visited this year were Jada Vineyards and Winery, Brecon Estates Winery and the Derby Estates Winery.
Jada is an old favorite with the Corvette club with their beautiful scenery and an upstairs patio overlooking the vineyards (and our Vettes). The daytime weather was still cool in the 60’s and the wine flowed freely as we went from one sample to the other.
Our next stop is Brecon Estate Winery with a beautifully landscaped tasting area and a large patio. We enjoyed their wine and then later had our lunch break at the picnic tables down a grassy walkway. It was a very wonderful and relaxing atmosphere and the weather had warmed up to the gorgeous 70’s.
Our last stop for wine tasting was the Derby Estates winery. The building was originally built in 1922 as a warehouse and processing plant for the Paso Robles Almond Growers Association. The building went up for sale in 1936 and was owned by several businesses and associations where it became, eventually, in disrepair. It was in purchased by Ray and Pam Derby in October 2010 and completely renovated. Ray and Pam were retirees in Paso Robles who let their hobby of growing grapes and making wine become an obsession. A special thanks goes to Danny, our bartender, who gave us many an illustrious story of the making of the wines and of the landmark building. While most of our crowd drove off to check in to our motel to get ready for our barbecue, Danny enticed a few of us stragglers to tour the building and view the winemaking process. Danny was very hospitable and engaging and very proud of his work at the Derby Estates winery.
As we arrived to the Best Way Inn to check into the motel, our barbecue caterer, Big Ed’s Bar B Que and Catering from Bakersfield, was already preparing our delicious meal of ribs, tri-tip, chicken, rice and salad. As the evening wore on, we struggled through our raffle in the now windy cold, chilly air. We appeared to look like the homeless, bundled up under blankets, trying to get through the evening. Generally we stay up till very late at night but as soon as the raffle was over, we all turned in early to our warm beds.
Thanks to Gregg Brott for this awesome video of our Corvettes of Bakersfield Wine Run. Click on picture/link to watch video: http://web.photodex.com/view/2ppw47x4/?watch-2ppw47x4
For hundred of more pictures, Click on our Flickr Page link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/158760832@N02/albums/72157711156455766
