 |
| Mark Twain top center, not Colonel Sanders! |
On May 30th, 2015 I had the pleasure to attend the re-dedication of the historic Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma and the debut of the Wine Tool Museum. The event had all the earmarks of a JCB production: Fabulous food and wine and along with a serious element of history and reverence for the place in history Buena Vista Winery holds. The day unfolded around a splendid garden party with actors in period costumes and can-can girls that brought the era back in focus with period music and performances.
The sense of the past was palpable, although I originally mistook Mark Twain for Colonel Sanders. But it was a hot day and I blame the heat waves for the identity snafu. I realized my mistake when I asked Mr. Clemens for his secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices and got a blank look in return. “Aren’t you colonel Sanders,” I asked?
“My dear, I am Mark Twain! Samuel Clemens if you will,” he replied.
Ack! My Bad. But it’s an easy mistake to make about a guy in a white suit and string tie.
This video below captures all the speech highlights and general atmosphere of the day.
The Wine Tool Museum
The Wine Tool Museum hosts one of the largest collection of original implements and machines along with an interactive sound, light and motion show that traces the history of the industry highlighting the tools and original devices that made large scale production of wine possible.
If you visit on a hot day, it’a welcome timeout from the heat, a cool refuge in which to sit and reflect. Afterwards you can taste a few of the current vintages.
Preserving History
The final renovations are now complete at Buena Vista and it’s well worth a visit for both history buffs and wine-lovers. It’s remarkable to consider the effort that was taken to restore the winery to its original visage. No expense was spared to address all the necessary structural issues and turn the property from sagging to sensational, and make the original building a living legacy to the history of wine. Cheers to JCB and his team for preserving a piece of California history and injecting it with new life and purpose.
Long live Count Agoston Haraszthy!
+++++++++++++++++++++
Wine Tool Museum details:
Museum Tours daily by-appointment at 11 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM
Tours are $10 per person, and include a wine tasting.
See more at: http://www.buenavistawinery.com
