More Than Just A "Plain" View...

Saturday, May 22, 2010
The Plains, VA
Wine and Arts Festival
Pouring Wine for Fabbioli Cellars

The drive to The Plains, VA was half freeway and half driving through Virginia's lush green countryside. The greenery was a warm welcome away from the busy city. I could not wait to step out of my car and breath in the country air, to take the fresh clean air deep down into my lungs that are sadly used to (but not enjoying) the city exhaust from the cars and buses I walk passed each day... Stepping onto the grass I, instead, breathed in the humid air that felt like a damp blanket around my lungs...rain was on its way...

Rain boots. Why didn't I order that pair a month ago? I needed them today, and the next day....

The festival was nestled on a flat grassy area with soft rolling hills that seemed to hug the angelic horizon, and dip down around the white tented grounds. Deep green trees filled every visible inch of the hills. While the hills I grew up with in California were dotted with trees the natural beauty reminded me of the small town I grew up in...

Doug C. and I arrive at the same time and track down our table. Paula is busy setting up and we follow suit. Another fellow Fabb-friend, Stacey, came to help us out. The wine tasters trickled in around 11:00 a.m. as we took our places. I settled in at the far right corner, Raspberry Merlot on ice, opened and ready to WOW the taste buds of Virginia wine lovers. The pace was even and balanced with couples and groups waiting patiently for their turn to taste. Everyone was in good spirits. Some began to buy their bottles and find a (dry) spot on the grass around the tents. Smart people brought plastic laying it down on the ground and their chairs on top.

Clouds continued to roll in dark and heavy, looming over as if laughing at all the happy wine tasters until they spilled their heavy rains around noon and continued to pour for a few hours. Once the rains started everyone those on the grass made a mad dash under the tents. Before we knew it we had two-three people deep, wine glasses ready sneaking between shoulders and arms as I rattled off about our winery and what they were about to taste...wondering, do they care? Will they remember? I'm sure they're like, "Blonde lady, just say the name of the wine and pour please, thank you!" Actually, there were times I had about 15+ wrapped around my corner and they listened intently and I discussed each wine, and the blends, history and where to find our winery.

As the rain continued, the grass became more like a swamp. I wore my favorite black sparkly Converse, which changed to a funky shade of murky brown. Stacey had to head out early so it was just Paula, Doug C. and I braving the sea of wine lovers. Literally, everyone was soaked. I will never understand why so many women wear white to a wine tasting? One girl did get a wine drop on her arm and her friend was ready with a traveling Tide pen, I just about fell over smiling to see her jump to her friend's white sweater rescue!

Sunday, May 23, 2010
The Plains, VA
Wine and Arts Festival

Sunday. Back in the car bright and early for another day of wine tasting fun. Paula was busy setting up and I jumped in to help get the tables looking fabulous. Sundays are usually the quieter of the two business weekend days.

These days it is easier to forget who introduced me to Fabbioli's last year, since he well, for lack of better explanation broke my heart. I took it upon myself to look for a part time job and emailed the winery asking if they needed a demo girl. Fabbioli Cellars needed more than a demo girl, they needed a DC wine representative. Broken heart aside, time heals, his loss is my gain. Thanks to him introducing me to the wine, I am part of the Virginia wine industry and have met wonderful people and friends both at the winery and along my wine sales path. Paula is one of these friends. We have more fun working behind the table and she has taught me so much about wine!

Rain. Again and felt more than yesterday. Personally, rain has never stopped me from going to a concert or outdoor event. Doug Fabbioli, winemaker and owner of Fabbioli's, came to help Paula and I behind the table. At one point he broke a box down for me to stand on since the swamp was quickly turning into quick sand. The cardboard helped at first until the ground began pulling it further under and me with it....

After the festival the three of us caravanned to an Italian restaurant in Haymarket. For such a small town we were shocked at the wide range of Italian fare on the menu taking us longer than normal to decide on what to eat. The food was impressive and well needed after two days of working hard.