More pictures here...

More pictures here...

A beautiful day for the Wildflower Tour, 35 Cars attended the event, starting in Salinas going the back roads over the San Juan Grade road to the St. Francis Retreat and San Juan Bautista. A short sightseeing in the City of History and lunch at the German restaurant of Joan & Peter's. Under the guidance of an California State Park Ranger ( Sheryl) another highlight of the day, the 11 miles drive up to Fremont Peak (3169ft) with a breathtaking view and a lot of wildflowers. Only two cars came to the top parking lot, two members and a guest made it up to the peak.

Wildflowers beside the roads.

(Click on the picture for a higher resolution)

Thirty-seven PCA members, two dogs and 17 vehicles joined the Monterey Bay Region’s Sideways winery tour on Saturday, August 4, 2007.  Many regrets to those we had to turn away after the event filled up by the week beforehand.  And what a special tour it was!  After the usual oohing and ahhing over the cars at Margie’s Diner in King City, we headed off south on US 101. 


Meeting point in King City

Bill Reichmuth had arranged for a tour by Lockwood Winery owner and former County Supervisor Butch Lindley.  It’s a working winery that isn’t normally open to visitors, but Butch made an exception for the Porsche Club visitors.  Assistant Winemaker Mr. Sam Gomez (all of 4 years old)  entertained us while his father Larry explained how Lockwood is on the cutting edge of winemaking with its tropical whites and fruity reds; none of that buttery of heavy stuff.  Lucy the dog entertained us by licking the floor as wine fell from the barrel tasting of the 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – I don’t blame her, they were delicious.  Back upstairs, we tasted 2005 varietals and Butch raffled off souvenir corkscrews. 


At the Lockwood Winery

We found time to of course to buy some wine to take home and soon the string of 14 Porsches, one Mazda, one Jaguar and an RV (the Kuhlmann clan)  was back on the road.  We wound our way through the row crops and over the river to Paraiso Winery.  There we enjoyed views of the Salinas Valley while eating our scrumptious picnic lunches. Cathy and Bill O’Brien shared a special bottle of Scheid wine with all of us that they had received as a gift from the Porsche Club on their first anniversary on the 2006 wildflower tour.  Inside, Mireilla and Trena served us some wonderful Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and a really nice Rose of Pinot Noir.  It seemed too soon that we had to hurry our wine purchases, leave this beautiful setting and wind our way around and over the hill to Carmel Valley and Chateau Julien. 

Lunch at the Paraiso Winery

Thank goodness Bill did the route sheet and led the way, so no one got lost like the last two years….President Steve Taty had a hard time keeping up with the crowd, but he swears it was just because of the dog in the back and not his fear of driving his newly-remodeled 356 too fast!   While the Salinas Valley was hot (103), it was cool and comfortable on the Petite Chateau's terrace where we sipped Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and a special 85-year old blend of Merlots.  Parked among the vines and next to the historic building, the Porsches looked just like a magazine advertisement. 

At the Chateau Julien Winery

The cheese, fruit and nuts were a nice treat after the long drive and all that wine.  In the barrel room, Melinda and Barrie taught us about toasted oak and we toasted to our health.   With fond memories, souvenir wine glasses and of course more bottles of wine we parted company all too soon. Join us next year (we promise to reserve more spaces) when we travel to Santa Cruz County wineries! 

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(Pictures by Jürgen Ebmeyer, Wolfgang Leitenberger, Steve Taty & Rick Verbanec)

Many thanks to Debbie Hale and Bill Reichmuth for this great tour!

Pictures by Paul Scheffel