It’s no secret we are suffering from a severe drought that has been mounting for three years. Luckily, wine grape vineyards are not heavily irrigated in comparison to other crops. We irrigate from mid-July until the end of October and use minimal water, 75% less than most crops.

2012 and 2013 were dry years with less than half of an average year’s rainfall. From April 2013 through January 2014, we received just one inch of rain. A normal year would likely see 18 inches in that time.

Finally, rain arrived! November brought us five inches of rain. Light precipitation continued in December. Then came the forecast of a major storm on December 11, 2014. 

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While some people think of wrapping presents as a chore, I relish it. For years, I have created my own Holiday gift tags (which became the impetus for designing the Hafner Vineyard gift tags.) In past years, many of you have received our gift tags. We thought it might be fun to share with you a template of gift tags that you can print and use this Holiday Season.

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There’s excitement in the air! It’s a mix of Holiday music, adrenaline and the deep satisfaction of knowing we’re sending pleasure to gift recipients and patrons across the country.

The post-Thanksgiving rush is on! With just three weeks until Christmas and Hanukkah coming even sooner, all the communication channels here at Hafner Vineyard are humming: phones, emails, our mailbox in Healdsburg...even the fax machine.

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This is the time of year when a tug-o-war occurs between “not enough time” and “wanting everything to be perfect”.

The calendar for the next five weeks is filling quickly and happily! Bill and I are hosting two gatherings around our table: a post-Thanksgiving lunch for family visiting from Missouri, and a traditional Christmas Dinner for 24 longtime friends.  Then there will be friends dropping by (read: “Surprise!”), dinners at friends’ homes and nights out at favorite restaurants. It’s a busy and fun time of year! 

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