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BY LAURA NESSWith the arrival of November, the pace of life impossiblyquickens. How could it get any crazier, we wonder, as the impendingholidays drive us inexorably forward as if smacked by an invisiblewhip. Some vineyards will still be hanging fruit, awaiting the finalpick of the season, while others will be thankfully pressing off lastfermentations into barrel, ready to put a fork in the 2012 harvest,pop the cork and commence celebrating. It’s been quite a season,with great yields, good chemistry and outstanding flavors. We can’twait to begin barrel tasting after the wines get through malolactic.This year brought a particularly bountiful harvest to Loma Prieta,where they picked nearly seven tons of estate Pinot Noir, along withtwo tons of estate Pinotage. This high elevation site, at 2600 ft, is theonly vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains to grow both of thesevarietals. Loma Prieta also sourced another 23 tons of awesomelooking Pinotage from the Amarosa Vineyard in Lodi and the KarmaVineyard in Amador. Stay tuned for the Pinotage Release Party,December 1 and 2.Meanwhile, Burrell School holds its Fall Sippers Club party onNovember 3rd and 4th, and a Cellar Alumni Sale on November 23rdthrough 25th, where there are sure to be some fascinating oldervintages to revisit.Montalvo Yuletide preview, November 15, 5:30 til 8:30pmJoin Burrell School Vineyards, Loma Prieta Winery, Poetic Cellars,House Family Vineyards, Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards andGuglielmo Winery for a tasty kickoff to the holiday shopping seasonat the beautiful and historic Montalvo estate, all decked out inholiday attire. Preview an outstanding selection of unique vendorswith one-of-a-kind items, while bidding on the silent auction,enjoying fabulous appetizers from Pat Smith’s Extravaganza, andgrooving to the beat of Pentimento Jazz. This is rare chance to tasteall these great wines in one place. Tickets are $40. Reservations arerequired, (408) 961-5823 or msg@montalvoarts.org.passport to thanksgiving, November 17The Summit to Sea wineries welcome you to “Passport toThanksgiving,” on Saturday, November 17. All the wineries will beoffering specials on Pinot Noir, the ultimate holiday table wine.thanksgiving dinner demands pinot!There’s nothing like Pinot to make poultry sing – whether it’schicken, duck, turkey or all three in one! Have you ever doneTurducken? Give it a shot. It’s great with a stuffing of wild rice andcranberries, glazed with a combination of Tabitha’s Onion Jam andB&R Farms apricot red pepper topping, both available at PoeticCellars.And speaking of stuffing, add some of that Loma Prieta Pinotageto your holiday beverage menu also: it’s got the stuffing to hold up towhatever is on the menu, including lamb, ham or goose. Plus, it’s funto say, and it makes a great wine for toasting all those friends andfamily for which you give thanks, as you count your bounty ofblessings. May you and yours be rewarded with an abundance ofgood health and happiness this holiday season.WiNE COuNtRY tHiS WEEK | SANtA CLARA/SANtA CRuZ/MONtEREY COuNtiESNovember Brings A Cornucopia of Thanks Giving6-6-12WCTW S2S Ad-Julyvert. 3.75”w x 6.25” hLook for us on Facebook and become a Fan! 69