First Crush featured in Detroit Examiner

by: Chris Kassel, Detroit Examiner
August 9th, 2010 12:26 pm ET

First crush; remember her?  Or him?  (Or it?—stuffed animals count.)

Mrs. Terrace’s kindergarten, the Rossi twins, can’t recall their first names—they no doubt rhymed—but  what I do remember is that they sported those virginal little white patches that ophthalmologists use to treat wonk eye; one wore hers on the left eye, the other on the right, and it was the right-eye twin that got to me.  Who knows why—does anybody really understand pre-school sexuality, or, for that matter,  post-school sexuality?

All I know is, to this day I have a thing for one-eyed women.

By the very nature of the love beast, a first crush can only happen to you once in a lifetime, but out in California, the term takes a different spin.  A pair of Paso Robles wine fanatics, Becky and Lowell Zelinski, had such a knockout personal experience with winemaking a few years back that they decided to take the show on the road.  Lowell, with a doctorate in soil-plant-water relations from the University of California Davis (who knew such a degree even existed?) and Becky, with a degree in communications from California State University Bakersfield, have both the smarts and the people skills to get the job done.  It also doesn’t hurt that they have a vineyard management company called Precision Ag, and thus, access to numerous vineyards up and down the Central Coast—an area that accounts for 15% of California’s wine grape production.

 

California Wine Month

September is California Wine Month, and that makes it a fine time to enjoy a glass of California wine and a visit to wine country.  September is harvest time in California and California Wine Month celebrates the state’s ideal climate for wine, beautiful wine country landscape, our talented and ingenious winemaking families, our celebrated lifestyle and cuisine; and our commitment to sustainability and the environment.

2010 is the sixth consecutive year (proclamation pending) that California Wine Month will be celebrated in September.  California wine is important to California's economy, as the state is the fourth largest wine producer in the world, makes 90 percent of American wine and is responsible for $18.5 billion in retail wine sales in the U.S.

(I wish they all could be) California Wines

Music by Brian Wilson
Words by Becky Zelinski

(Read the words while you hum the tune to California Girls)

Well West coast wines are hip
I really dig the wines they share.
Santa Barbara wines with their earthy taste
They knock me out when I’m down there.

The North Coast growers’ Pinots really make you feel alright
And the Napa Cabs with the way they taste,
They keep the tourists warm at night.

I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all would drink California wines…

The Central Coast has the sunshine
And the grapes all get so ripe
I dig a Paso Zin or a Big Syrah
The Chardonnays are out of sight! 

I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all would drink California wines…

I wish they all could be California
(Wines, wines, wines yeah I dig those California wines)

September is an exciting month! This year it marks the beginning of harvest, as well as the beginning of the end of the growing season for the Paso Robles wine industry. As harvest begins, wine grape growing gives way to winemaking.  It’s definitely the most exciting and beautiful time of the year here in wine country, and one you surely don’t want to miss.

And with First Crush, you don’t have to miss any of it.  From taking you into the vineyards to pick, crush and stomp wine grapes at our first Harvest weekend of 2010, all the way to the Meritage Wine Bar to learn about terroir and tasting with Paso Wine 101, First Crush has something for everyone.

September is also California wine month. First Crush, along with lots of Paso Robles wineries are offering special deals and activities commemorate this month-long celebration. Check out all of our great events, deals and specials, and join us this September to pick, drink and be merry!