Planning Amazing Events like a Pro without out being a Pro
So it’s May and you have so much to do! Events are coming up fast. Whether you are planning a wedding, shower, bachelorette, birthday party, or any other amazing event, follow these simple steps you help keep you organized and smiling as your guest arrive.
Budget
I know! Don’t roll your eyes just yet. This is not the fun part, but it is essential and helps you set realistic expectations for what is possible. Ask yourself: how much money do you have to pay for everything? We are talking everything too: the venue, caterer, gratuity, colored napkins, soap for the bathroom, signs for the parking lot, you name it! Put it in your budget. An easy way to make a budget is to make a list of everything you want in one column. In a second column list what everything costs. Then take the dollar amount of what you actually have and start prioritizing.
Venue
A venue can make or break your event. A beautiful location goes a long way, but remember that a more practical location can easily be amazing with the right details added. There are so many venues out there it is important to research, research, research. Before you visit, map out your main goals and flow of your event. At the visit ask as many questions as possible. Just like in kindergarten, “there are no silly questions.” Many venues will give you handouts about their big details, but if you feel overwhelmed simply image you are at your event and walk yourself through each stage. How do you arrive at the event and what questions arise with this? Where do people park? Is there a valet option? How will your Grandma get up the stairs? What needs to be done for everyone to enter the way you envision? Take notes and when you are satisfied move on to the next stage of your event and repeat the process.
The venue will most likely be the biggest chunk out of your expenses, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s fun to think outside the box for wedding and events venues. Maybe your uncle’s barn will be perfect? What about the art gallery that you love? There are so many choices. Think about where you and your guest will best be able to kick back and relax, work within your budget, and research.
Eats and Drinks
You have a budget and you have chosen a date and a venue, now it is time to choose your food and beverage options. As a winery this, in our opinion is the most important part. Make sure the wine pairs well with the food you are serving. Bring the wine you like to your food tasting or vice versa. You don’t know what will fit best unless you try. Everyone has a different palate and preference. Your guest will adore you for your good taste and extra effort. We promise!
How Much Wine Do You Buy?
This equation is perfect as a general rule. Depending on your crowd some will drink more and some will drink less, but most importantly you as a host will not run out. The party is over when the wine is gone so don’t let that happen to you. Now you ask WHAT kind of wine do I buy?
Wine Ratios for the Seasons
People really do drink wine seasonally. In the summer, whites, sparklings, and rosés are more popular, while in the cooler months red wine is the favorite. The same is true for your venue. If the wedding is indoors and formal, people may choose to drink more sparkling and white wines to decrease their chances of spilling and staining their formal attire. Depending on your crowd, time of year, venue, style of event, and type of guests attending, you will lean more towards one varietal over another. As a general rule, the following ratios are a good start to include the basics and a sparkling wine for the toast:
Winter & Indoor Wedding or Event Wine Ratios
Spring & Outdoor Wedding or Event Wine Ratios
What Will Everyone Remember?
Weddings and events have so many moving parts and details. Most guest don’t even notice when something is not exactly as planned. Remember that as you are preparing for your event and the napkins are not folded perfectly as swans like you were hoping for, people will not know or care. They are there to celebrate and enjoy themselves. As planners we can bog ourselves down in details and forget about what is really important. . .
Joy!
People will remember the joy they feel at your event when they are surrounded by beauty, eating amazing food, and sipping on delicious wine. Take the time to find items that show your exceptional taste and bring joy to others. People are wow’d by quality and beauty. They are also wow’d by bubbles for some reason? We all love bubbles!
Let Heringer Estates help make your wedding or event as amazing as your dreams.
Marketeers at the Farmers Markets
Every week we are sharing why we love Heringer Estates wines with the community. It’s a fun job, but not an easy one! Getting to the early morning markets is hard work. When most people are just waking up in the morning thinking about coffee we have already had two cups of coffee, loaded our vans, driven to the market, unloaded our vans, set up our booths, and are probably enjoying our third cup of coffee with a smile. Our Farmers’ Market team is fearlessly lead by our dynamic Market Manager and Cellar Assistant, Brittany, who had a few words to say about her hardworking and fabulous Marketeers.
Meet Brittany, Market Manager, Cellar Assistant, and creator of the Marketeers!
Like any good story, you have a ban of jolly good fellows.
The Goonies 1985:
The Goonies 1985:
“The goonies never say die.”
The Sandlot 1993:
“Remember kid, there’s heroes and there’s legends. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Follow your heart kid, and you’ll never go wrong.”
The Marketeers 2017:
“Did you need to w(h)ine this weekend? Step into my booth let me help you with that.”
What is a Marketeer?
I started using the term “Marketeers” to describe our bonded Heringer Estates Farmers’ Market crew. As a small hardworking team, we support each other like family with a mission to share the wine we love with the community. Many people do not expect to see a winery at a farmers market and don’t associate wine as an agricultural product, but when you find us at the market we love to explain what we do and are as passionate as any other farmer there. Heringer Estates doesn’t just make wine, we pour love into our land and nurture the vineyards that produce our wine.
The Magic before the Market
The Marketeers are a fun and hardworking few that enjoy foggy Delta mornings with the sun rising over the vineyards and owls hooting in the tall oak trees. It’s hard to describe how amazingly beautiful and serene the Delta is in our Clarksburg appellation at 6am, but it feels something like this. . .
This is the second best part of the job, and I highly recommend adding an early morning drive to your list of things to do in the Delta!
Why Marketeer?
The best part of our job is immersing ourselves into the community. We are surrounded by diversity at each market. Every market seems to have a personality that we have matched with some amazing Marketeers. The public and other vendors look forward to the smiling faces behind the white rope. We are inviting and interested in getting to know our customers old and new and the fellow farmers bringing their fresh, delicious offerings direct to you. Plus…we taste wine at a Farmers’ Market, who doesn’t love that?! We always look forward to storytelling with each other about our market mornings, we thought it would be fun to share some thoughts and experiences with you
Stay tuned! Farmers Market season is in full swing. Visit with our Marketeers and enjoy some amazing wine!
Written by Brittany Leininger
Heringer Estates partners up with Andie the Kitchenwitch!
Mother’s Day is this weekend, wedding season is here, graduation is in full swing, and summer is just around the corner! It’s a fun time of sunny day celebrations and in order to properly celebrate a great deal of fun pre-event pampering occurs. Heringer Estates has partnered with Andie the Kitchenwitch, of Sacramento, to bring you a complete gift box of natural pampering spa products, and wine!
The Kitchenwitch
We discovered and met Andie the Kitchenwitch at the Saturday Sacramento Midtown Farmers Market. As you peruse the craters section you don’t want to miss her with her energetic and positive attitude, and beautiful product line. Everything is arranged artfully next to rock crystals and plants, and every product has a purpose. “Body Care with Purpose” is one of Andie’s mottos with each and every bath and body product created using only plant-based and organic ingredients. She even grows many of the ingredients herself, in her own home garden. With a deep understanding of self care, Andie the Kitchenwitch uses her knowledge of plants, love of rocks & minerals, and intuition regarding human emotions & physical manifestations, to create a well-rounded, energetically-infused, plant-medicine product that is practical and affordable. Come and see her at the market! We are there too!
So what products did we include in the Pamper Me Gift Box? Only the best!
1. Sleepy Gnome Relaxation Roller
It’s time to R-E-L-A-X! This amazing aromatherapy roller can be used at any time either to wind down after a long day or calm your nerves before a big day. Composed of a signature essential oil blend of chamomile, lavender & vanilla in a base of sweet almond oil, and infused with quartz crystals, this roller can be applied to the bottoms of your feet, pulse points, or simply open the top to inhale deeply for good old fashion session of relaxation.
2. Enchanted Island Detoxifying Mask
Yes, please! Who does not love a great detox mask, especially one that takes you to an enchanted island?! This mask is composed of coconut activated charcoal, bentonite clay, and spirulina to treat your face to a mineral-rich detox and renewal.
3. Walnut Mint Foot Scrub
Also, yes please! We are on our feet all day and this exfoliating butter is great for repairing rough patches just in time for sandal weather. Plant-powered with natural, crushed walnut shells, peppermint, cardamon, and rosemary, give yourself a good rub and rinse for a refreshing start to the season.
4. Moon Goddess Bath Soak
A spa session would not be complete without an amazing soak. The Moon Goddess Bath Soak will reveal the goddess that you are with essential oils of chamomile, geranium, lavender, and clary sage in a base of Himalayan and Epson salts.
Add the 2016 Bubbly Rosé for the ultimate pampering session!
To complete this much needed and much deserved time of relaxation enjoy a bottle of the 2016 Bubbly Rosé!. This bottle of bubbly goodness is 100% Malbec sustainably grown and produced at Heringer Estates. Each gift box includes a fabulous sparkling wine flute as well. Add a bathtub, soft music, some free time, and enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy a million times!
Pamper You! Pamper with Friends! Give the gift of pampering! This box is really fun and created just for you!
Sparkling Brunch for Moms, Brides, and Grads!
May Is All About Mom’s, Grads, Brides, and Brunch!
The Heringer Estates Wine of the Month for May is the 2016 Sparkling Chardonnay! This wine pairs nicely with almost everything and since May is such a busy month with lots of family and friend gatherings, we have paired this sparkling wine with an amazing Blueberry Bread Pudding recipe.
This Blueberry Bread Pudding brunch/lunch/anytime dish will seriously impress your friends. It will make your heart long for more with every bite, and with some very simple and quick steps will not take long to prepare in the kitchen; so you will have more time to play!
Gather Your Ingredients
Spring is here and the farmers markets have berries! This bread pudding recipe can be made with various types of berries, but blueberries are our favorites. This recipe makes 10 to 12 servings.
Ingredients
1 (16 oz) French bread loaf, cubed
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, cut into pieces (thin/small)
3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, divided
8 large eggs
4 cups milk (or half-and-half)
½ cup sugar
¼ cup butter, melted
¼ cup maple syrup
1 (10 oz) jar blueberry preserves
1 (8 oz) carton heavy whipping cream
Garnishes: creme fraiche, fresh mint leaves, or edible pansies
Prep the Night Before
- Arrange half of the bread crumbs in a 9 x 13” greased pan to create the bottom layer
- Layer the cream cheese pieces evenly over the whole pan
- Add 1 cup of the blueberries as the 3rd layer
- Top with remaining bread crumbs
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk (or half-and-half), sugar, butter, and maple syrup
- Pour over bread mixture pressing bread cubes to absorb the egg mixture
- Cover and chill 8 hours or over night
Bake in the Morning
- Bake, covered, at 350° for 30 min
- Uncover and bake for another 30 min or until lightly browned and set.
- Let stand 5 min before serving
- Stir together remaining 2 cups of blueberries and blueberry preserves in a saucepan over low heat until warm to make a sauce
- Serve blueberry sauce over bread pudding
- Garnish as desired
Brunch!
And bravo! It’s time for brunch! Pair this delightful dish with the 2016 Sparkling Chardonnay. The citrus and green apple in the Sparkling Chardonnay will tickle your tongue with the sweet and savory flavors of the bread pudding. You and all of your friends will adore every bite and every sip!
Try the Heringer Estates Wine of the Month Gift Box!
Each box includes a bottle of the 2016 Sparkling Chardonnay, 2 sparkling wine flutes, and the delicious Blueberry Bread Pudding recipe.
This recipe is brought to you by the Heringer family. With a big family and a busy farm, this dish has been a family favorite for holidays and (you guessed it) brunch!
written by Cara Gregor
2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Results
The results are in! See how Heringer Estates did in the competition this year and try some new wines.
2015 Embrace Red Dessert Wine
Heringer Estates 2015 Embrace is a red dessert wine with wonderful characteristics of berry pie, chocolate, and a velvety texture that embraces your tongue like a warm blanket in the winter. This wine has been fortified with Heringer Estates grape wine spirits and is available in a 500ml or 187ml size.
2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is a recent classic of Heringer Estates. When you sip this wine it first dances on the tip of your tongue with majestic cherry, blueberry, and cranberry flavors. Then, with a lovely balance, the wine coats your tongue like warm chocolate and finishes with a medium, dry finish.
2013 Petite Sirah
This Heringer classic rises to every expectation and then takes it a step further. Dark chocolate covered berries delight the tongue with every sip. Heringer Estates 2013 Petite Sirah’s extraordinary deep, opaque color foreshadows the crushed black peppercorn and herbal tea flavors on the finish.
2013 Tempranillo
Aged in French and American oak for three years, the 2013 Tempranillo begins with fresh cranberry aromas and a hint of leather. Flavors of dried currants and cardamom lead up to a nice medium tannin on the finish.
2013 Purple Thread
Each vintage of the Purple Thread is unique from the vintage before and composed of the best performing wine grape varieties of the year. Heringer Estates 2014 Purple Thread is composed of Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, and Primitivo. A bold, red wine that is rich and sophisticated with a velvety dry blend of ripe blackberries, vanilla, caramel, and clove.
2013 Row Series Petite Sirah
The 2013 Petite Sirah was harvested from row #36 and has been aged in new American and French oak barrels. True to its varietal character this vintage expresses wonderful aromas of rich berry, anise, and chocolate with robust tannin and a spicy lingering finish.
2013 Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo wine loves the fog and our Clarksburg appellation has the ideal foggy morning conditions to help Nebbiolo thrive. The 2013 Italian vintage has aromas of cranberry, leather, and rhubarb pie with a light body and a soft lingering finish.
2016 Sparkling Chardonnay
The 2016 Heringer Estates Sparkling Chardonnay is the second vintage of sparkling wine produced by Heringer and is a burst of bubbles, summer, and happiness. This lovely wine will delight your senses with a burst of green apple, ripe honeydew melon, and bright, crisp citrus fruit.
2016 Bubbly Rosé
This awesome rosé will tickle your tongue with bright flavors of fresh berry, sweet vanilla, and flower petals. A dry finish on a sweet wine pairs well with pool and garden parties, afternoons, sunshine, and friends. It’s fun and it’s PINK!
Try these amazing award winners and enjoy!
Malbec – A Long Journey into Greatness
Mmmm, Malbec. Known for being fruit-forward with big, bold flavors, velvety texture, dark, rustic, and majorly drinkable with its overall balanced structure. Who doesn’t love Malbec? Though it may seem like this big grape was born with greatness it actually has a long history of being overlooked and underappreciated. So how did Malbec emerge as vinous nobility? Turns out all it took was a little travel and whole lot of sunshine.
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Spring in the Vineyards: Budbreak & Barn Restoration
Spring is bringing us more than bud break to the vineyards this year!
Every spring our pruned vineyards burst forth with new life as the first baby buds reach out and greet us with the warmer, longer days. Bud Break is an exciting time, filled with anticipation, hope, and wonder. Our young budding vines are not the only things being refreshed and starting new this spring. Papa Steve’s Heringer Heritage Barn restoration project has started and is scheduled to open summer 2018. The 130+ year old Great Western Horse barn has been
