Author Archives: PlumpJack

Hilary’s Hit List: My Very Own September Issue

Hilary enjoying a glass of Adaptation Chardonnay at PlumpJack’s newest winery, Odette Estate, located in Stags Leap

I was thinking about how much I have enjoyed my summer: the weather, my new house, my kids musical theater performance, logging many hours poolside watching the kids swim…Now that summer is wrapping up it got me thinking about what I love about September! I have compiled a list of some things that I look forward to every summer and some things are specific to this September:

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PlumpJack and San Francisco Welcome the One Love Foundation

PlumpJack Group will host the first West Coast event for The One Love Foundation, the nonprofit organization created in 2010 to honor the memory of Yeardley Reynolds Love on Friday, June 29th at MatrixFillmore.

PlumpJack Group and the family and friends of Yeardley Love, a University of Virginia lacrosse player who lost her life in a tragic incident of domestic violence, have banded together to bring One Love out West. PlumpJack President Hilary Newsom states, “Having two young girls of my own, this is an important cause to me. We are proud to support The One Love Foundation and honor Yeardley’s memory.”

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$200K Raised for Cancer Prevention at 13th Annual PlumpJack/LINK Golf Classic

Many thanks to everyone who participated in the 13thAnnual PlumpJack/LINK Golf Classic at Lake Merced Golf & Country Club. Thanks to you and our wonderful sponsors we were able to raise over $200,000 for the Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC). We were thrilled to have both old and new friends with us to celebrate the day and we would also like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all of the committee members, donors, volunteers and PlumpJack employees who helped make the day a huge success! To check out more pictures from our amazing day, click here.

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Top 10 in Tahoe: Things to Do & See this Summer

Photo by Tom O’Neill / Squaw Valley
It was hard to come up with a Top 10 for this blog post as there is just so much to do and see in North Lake Tahoe during the summer months. The PlumpJack Squaw Valley team wanted to promote their 20% off stays when you book before July 6th, and we thought what better way to get people excited about coming for a visit than listing our favorite things to see and do in our own backyard.
 
Top 10 in Tahoe for the Summer
  1. Bluesdays at Squaw
  2. FREE Outdoor Summer Movie Series at Squaw
  3. Bike along the Truckee River to the Lake
  4. Thursday Winemaker Dinners at PlumpJack Cafe
  5. Hike Shirley Lake to Shirley Canyon
  6. Sunrise or Sunset Paddle Boarding on the Lake
  7. Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival
  8. Float the Truckee River from Tahoe City to River Ranch
  9. FREE Concerts at Common Beach in Tahoe City
  10. 24th Annual Alpen Wine Fest
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Hilary's Hit List: Summer on My Mind

Horseback riding in Tahoe with my brother.

After my recent move from San Francisco to Marin, I am now able to enjoy an iced tea in the garden without a jacket and scarf. And as I spent the weekend unpacking memories upon memories, I started to reminisce about summer’s past, present and future.

I have fond recollections of lazy summer days swimming at the local pool, watching my brother play baseball, and fetching balls for my mother and brother as they played tennis. Most of my time was spent locally, but on occasion there were getaways to some far-off places that burn bright in my memory, like:

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Paul's Picks: The Perfect Summer Rosé

I’ve always loved the opening line “It’s summertime, and the living is easy.” What better time of year than summer to explore the great variety of rosés available at PlumpJack Wines.

Currently, we’re featuring more than 20 different producers of rosés from all over the world. Some of my favorites right now are the 2011 Tablas Creek-a delicious combination of Grenache, Mourvedre and Counoise from Paso Robles ($28.99); the 2011 Birichino Vin Gris-another sumptuous blend of Grenache, Rolle, Mourvedre, and Cinsault from Santa Cruz ($12.99); and the 2011 Ceago Syrah Rosé-made from 100% biodynamic-farmed Syrah from Clear Lake ($13.99). All three rosés share the same crisp refreshing fruit and bright acidity that you would expect from higher priced French rosés but come from vineyards right in our own backyard. They are the perfect addition to your next day in the sun.

If you ever need help finding that perfect wine, please feel free to leave a comment below or email me directly at paul@plumpjack.com. Or, feel free to visit me at the wine store on Fillmore street.

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Hilary’s Hit List: Why My Dad is Rad

Me and My dad, Bill Newsom, in New York City this winter

With Father’s Day right around the corner I thought what better time to share some memories of my own father, Bill Newsom.

My dad was the fun weekend dad who bought us hamsters, and more importantly replaced the hamsters when they inevitably escaped or inexplicably died. He took us on exciting adventures that built my confidence and gave me new perspective, like setting up a campsite in Yosemite; skiing down KT-22 at Squaw Valley, where my parents met years before; and river rafting excursions down the South Fork of the Salmon River.

I also vividly remember a trip to Disneyland where I fled in haste after not getting my Minnie Mouse doll on command. While I deserved those 15 minutes of panic looking for him, he certainly did not deserve the scare I gave him!

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Find The Hero In You- Burger for a Pint

We hope you can join us and Blood Centers of the Pacific tomorrow, Wednesday, May 16th for our Annual Blood Drive at Balboa Cafe Mill Valley. All donors will receive a complimentary Balboa Burger!

Also, Blood Centers of the Pacific will automatically enter donors into a weekly drawing for 2 tickets to the final day of the US Open Golf Championship held at San Francisco’s Olympic Club on June 11-17th! Besides complete access to the beautiful course to see the world’s best golfers in action, the lucky winners will

also receive royal treatment at the private Trophy Club!

To make a reservation, please visit www.BloodHeroes.com. Click “Donate Blood” and enter the sponsor code: “Balboa- MV” to schedule your live-saving appointment.

* Don’t forget bring your photo ID and donor card.

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Paul's Picks: Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet

It has been quite a while since I’ve picked a wine to write about, and it surprises even me that it would take a California Cabernet to get me going. The new vintage of Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet has just been released and, once again, this small Oakville producer is rocking my boat. Beautifully elegant, but at the same time powerful – the wine shines with precisely defined, concentrated fruit. It’s a wine you can drink now, but if you are one of the few that can put it in the cellar, it will shine with some bottle age. If you consider yourself a lover of the best Napa Cabs, this is a wine that shouldn’t be missed. Once again, very limited production and the price is the same as last year at $150 (well worth the price). If you are a collector, it comes in an attractive three bottle wood box.
Read more about Vine Hill Ranch from a previous post
from last year. Any questions, leave them in the comments section and I’ll be sure to answer or feel free to come in and we can chat in person.

Best – Paul

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