Yarnival: A yarn fair

Yarnival - You are not alone if you have never heard of such a 'thing'.   I found out that Boeger winery in the foothills was holding a Yarnival event.  Intriguing, right? . . . and it was an experience.  Those who love dying and spinning yarn, this is for you, but if you knit or crochet you can definitely find some hand-crafted and spun yarn for your projects.

It was interesting to see how they dyed yarns and then would take the fiber and sit and spin it.  I never really thought about how they made yarn, but have read a bit, in passing, about spinning.  Personally, I thought spinning was a "lost" art, though it seems to be making a come-back.  And why not?  If you own sheep, llamas, angora rabbits or other animals with such fur coats, then why not use the fibers to make your own yarn.  Having the ability to control the type of dyes you use and the skill to spin it makes knitting or crocheting your own projects even more unique and rewarding.  Granted spinning yarn is time consuming, but it's a hobby and an art.

Besides the vendors and yarn, you could make your way to the tasting room to taste some red or white wines.  There are a few snacks and cheeses in the tasting room for purchase and home-baked doggie treats too.  It's a dog-friendly winery, just be sure that you have your dog on a leash, pick up after it and it is well-behaved.  I love finding dog-friendly wineries, but that can change if dog owners are not responsible.  Boeger winery is also on the Western edge of Apple Hill and all the orchards, but it wasn't apple season yet, so I didn't bring home any apples.

Christmas in Wine Country

There are so many places and events in both Napa and Sonoma County during the holidays.  This Christmas we decided to attend the Napa B&B Holiday Tour, which features local B&B's, artists/musicians, restaurants/chefs, and wineries/breweries.  It is worth the money to attend and have a taste of local foods and drinks as well as touring each B&B.  The money from the tickets go to local charities which I think is a great idea.

 

I loved the decorations and entertainment at each B&B, some B&B owners even told you about some of the history of their building.  You couldn't get any better. 

The food was delicious as well as the different tastings of wine and beer.  I loved being able to sample the wines and find out which ones you liked (or least liked in some cases).  Even the two breweries were great.  Artisan or local breweries (depending on who you talk to) are the best!  No huge commercial beers in cans here, please.  And don't worry about driving, there are buses to transport you to the B&B's that are too far apart to walk and the rest are within walking distance.   Everybody was friendly, helpful if you had questions and just a pleasure to meet.

 The stain glass in many of the B&B's was stunning, but then I love stain glass windows. 

Next time you are looking for something to do around the holidays take a look at the events locally or other areas and find something new to try.  If you decide to try this tour please click here for details.