And so it came and went like a fast moving wave. Our opening night of the latest unveiling of our Maverick’s Everest of the Sea Event on May 22nd, 2010 was epic to say the least. Over 350 people gathered as a tribe here at Longboard Vineyards. The Tasting Lounge was transformed into 3 areas of lounging, enjoying, laughing, eating and most importantly enjoying great wine. For Longboard Vineyards, it was the release of our 2006 Single Vineyard Roger’s Creek Syrah, with the amazing collaboration of Big Wave Rider and legend of Ken “Skindog” Collins. To get a feel of Kenny check out Surfline Greatest Wipeouts ever!http://www.surfline.com/surflinetv/no-category/ken-skindog-collins_39122 For the photographers, it was the release of their newest photographs coming from this season at Maverick’s.
The evening was relatively cool but that didn’t stop people from ordering Nellie’s Fish Tacos, and their enormous BBQ’ed Tamales Bay Oyster. Inside the door of the Tasting Lounge, people were gathered around the main bar to grab a glass of the new Syrah. The room had been transformed to bring color, light and energy to the photographs. All of the walls are covered with images of the unthinkable wave: Maverick’s. This wave is the closest and one the largest Big Waves in the World, located an hour south of San Francisco in the small community of Half Moon Bay. All the biggest of the big wave surfers have challenged themselves beyond words here on that wave. Our Barrel Room was made in the warehouse to showcase photography from Doug Acton, Frank Quirarte, Art Gimbel, Ed Grant, & Seth Migdail. As the evening grew on we began a documentary of this year’s Maverick’s Contest produced by Powerline Productions. To wrap up the night we had a raffle for the Saves the Waves foundation, where we once again gathered to serve what is important to us, to our ocean, and to this Earth.
One of my personal favorite stories of the weekend comes from our newest Kahuna Members, Dan & Donna Close . They happened upon our event mid day when Oded had brought his Original Woody in from the Vineyard. Dan happened to be wearing a San Diego Woody T-shirt. They immediately feel in love with the wine, the vibe and the photos. Signing up for the wine club and even buying the first photo of the day. They vowed to come back when the event began, and they did. I ran into them a few times amongst the madness, you could tell they had stumbled upon wine country gold. Great wine and a great event always make for the most memorable experience in visiting wine country. Maybe this luck was on their side, as they entered the raffle where they won not one but Two large photographs!!
This Event for me will be one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had so far with Longboard Vineyards, the people I’ve grown to know and love, the taste of the biggest and best that surfing has to offer. We have come from all walks of life but can look at a photo and share the same sense of emotions.
Most of the photos are still up here at Tasting Lounge, as well as the brand new 2006 “Skinny” Syrah! If you have been putting off your visit and haven’t it made it by, I would say its time, to enjoy the simplest things in life! Come see me and the crew!
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