People often say to all of us here: “You have my dream job!” They explain they would love to taste wines and walk the vineyard on a daily basis. Working close to the land in a beautiful agricultural setting strikes a chord with them. Being part of a small team that makes fine wine and gets it directly to patrons is a desirable occupation. The most pleasurable part of the job for many of us, however, is our interaction with you, our patrons. And a great example of this are the delightful photos patrons send us and post online. 

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I started taking photos with a “big girl” camera when my children were in high school. I was pretty sure I could do a better job capturing the personality of my kids than the folks hired to come to the school or a local professional photographer. It is really just a hobby, but I am lucky that it has become part of my work at Hafner Vineyard. Taking photos here has been fun and interesting. I have been perched up very high on a pallet of the forklift and have gotten down in the dirt (frozen blades of grass).

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Cooking wasn’t always easy. The first meal I made for Dick as a married couple 61 years ago was a disaster. I overcooked the lamb chops, burned the yellow squash and Dick had to teach me how to make rice. So the next night we went to my mother’s for dinner. Thankfully for my family, I’ve expanded my repertoire. Spiced Olives are one of those! They are a simple, easy hors d'oeuvre to share with family and friends. 

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Why paint, why watercolor? The answer for me is both simple and complex. The simple answer is… Scott, my boss, liked my pen and ink drawings, but he felt that color would add to the illustrations. When I went to the art supply store, the watercolors were in front; oils and acrylics were in the back. The saleswoman explained that watercolors require only paper, brushes and paint, whereas with oils and acrylics there was a whole list of items I would need, plus the cleanup seemed daunting. Watercolor was less complicated to me, so a watercolorist I became.

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During Spring and Summer, friends often visit and ask about our favorite day trips in Sonoma County. There are many to choose from! Sonoma County is incredibly diverse, reaching from the Mayacamas Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. I frequently suggest an excursion to the coast because it is one of our favorites.

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