SPRINGTIME INVOCATION: When Easter Week appears on the horizon many blessings pop up, hither and thither, marking the passage to spring and fruitfulness and fine weather and general renewal. Some of the most famous seasonal blessings involve beasties. And while we've all admired the stories of horses queuing up next people holding snakes and cats and chinchillas, there are other blessing-sweet events we can get behind. One, in particular, is especially tempting, if you like wine, a vineyard on a beautiful early spring day, and wine. Oh, did we type "wine" twice? Well, darn it, we did. We speak of the annual Blessing of the Vines at South Coast Winery in the Temecula Valley. It's part of the warming-up season and a fine way to lend some inspirational words to the twisty branches that'll soon hold grapes again. Surely the vines hear and are so inspired to grow, grow, grow? You can see for yourself, if that's the case, on Sunday, March 30.
TOAST AND FESTIVITIES: The afternoon starts with a complimentary toast at 4 p.m. An officiant will head out into the surrounding vines about 25 minutes later, to say the fruitful words, and then the festivities begin. Festivities which are family-nice, by the by. Jazzy tunes, a dinner featuring brisket and chicken breast, and at-the-winery fun, like tractor rides, fill out the schedule.
THE COST? It's $45 a person. Call it an excellent way to welcome spring among the vines, and to sip something frosty and pale as the sun sets over the gorgeous T.V. However you define blessing, that sounds like a mightily good spot to be in, wine, vines, and a spring evening.
