We are in Holiday mode with wine gift orders coming in via the internet, by email, over the phone and yes, even by fax. People enjoy giving wine because it's sure to be used and enjoyed. This time of year is always filled with hustle and bustle at Hafner Vineyard with all hands on deck. We thought it would be fun to share with people what Hafner patrons gave as gifts last year during the Holidays. Then we also share our favorite Hafner gifts to give and why.
We are honored that our wine is part of Thanksgiving traditions whether it's dinner with an immediate family or a large feast with extended family and friends. As families grow and evolve, we enjoy hearing how our wines become part of your evolving traditions. Here we share a few photos and stories. We wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving and invite you to share your photos and stories with us.
Every year, we host a party at the winery called our Next Generation Harvest Party. It is a way to introduce our wines to the next generation of Hafner patrons. Last Saturday, we welcomed 130 Next Gen-ers to the Grove for a fun afternoon. Next Gen-ers tasted various wines, sampled local and homemade snacks, played corn hole, shared their stories on the communal table and even learned about wine.
Although we have 96 acres of vineyard planted, we have 150 acres in the hills that we leave for the wildlife. This was a decision made by Grandmother and Grandfather and one that successive generations have continued. We know critters are around, but they sure keep a low profile. The best potential sightings are either early in the morning when we arrive to work or later in the evening. When we do spot a wild animal, we feel like we’ve won the lottery. It is an honor for us to share this ranch with them.
As many of you know, we have a longstanding internship program which began in 1985 when a friend of a friend asked me if I would host a French enology student. As former interns in Burgundy, France, Sarah and I understood how impactful an internship could be…so we said “Yes” and hence our internship program was born. Now, 39 years later, we welcomed our 39th intern – Victor Le Grix de la Salle to the winery and into our home.
