March 13 - Loring Wine Company - Lompoc CA - 3:00PM to 9:00PM

Check out the following PDF for more info and updates: BerserkerFestII Info. Please double check to be sure you're listed and the info is correct. Please email me at Brian@LoringWineCompany.com with any updates or corrections. I'm also still waiting to hear from a few people. We also have room for more people!! Don't feel like you can't sign up now just because you hadn't already. We've gots lots-o-room!!

Please mail your check for $60 per person made out to Loring Wine Company to 1034 W. Aviation Drive, Lompoc CA 93436

The Hitching Post is on board to do all the catering, serving, and clean-up. And we'll be sure to have vegetarian selections for the non-carnivores. Given that it's such a large group of people and that I don't want to exclude anyone, we'll let the professionals do all the cooking/cleaning and we can just relax, eat, and drink!

Here's what Hitching Post is going to prepare:

Grilled Corn and Cheese Quesadillas - some with duck and some without
Grilled Gulf Shrimp with Cajun Slaw
Pork Ribs
Top Sirloin "mini" sandwiches with smoked tomato pesto and Frenh Fries
Grilled Mushrooms
Beef Kabobs
Veggie Kabobs
Lamb Kabobs
Grilled Potatoes
Salad + Grilled Garlic Bread
Coffee
+ provide all the staff to do all the cooking and clean-up. Also provide all the trays, warming dishes, plates, utensils, napkins and other stuff we would need for food.

We have all of the necessary stemware, so there should be no need to bring anything other than yourself and some wine. As far as wine theme goes, I think that the diversity of the crowd would preclude doing a single theme. But Humberto and I are suggesting that if you can't decide, lean towards SLUTTY REDS.

Additionally, there will be other "events" for you to take advantage that weekend. PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON ATTENDING ANY OF THESE.

Saturday 10AM - Vineyard tour and tasting at Clos Pepe. If you haven't visited with Wes before, you're in for a treat. Definitely one of the more interesting and detailed vineyard tour you'll ever have. Plus, Wes might let you play with his sheep. But not how Peter Cargasacchi does.

Saturday Noon - Open house at Arcadian.

Saturday 11AM - 5PM - Open House at Pali Wine Co (right next door to our place)

Sunday - 10AM - Vineyard tour with Peter Cargasacchi.

Here are some maps / directions:
Overall Map and Directions for Events
Map and Directioins to our winery from points north
Map and Directioins to our winery from points south

Looks like we have some serious interest in having another Berserker Fest, this time in the Central Coast of California. I'll start this post to banter around ideas. Obviously, I will work on my end to get a deal on the Flannery dead critters and will do my best to help coordinate from afar. Also will do my absolute best to be in attendance again.

Saturday, March 13, 2010 @ Loring Wine Company

As of Wednesday, 8/26/09, there are 131 people interested in this event. Being that we are over six months away, I understand that quite a few people will bail for various reasons and through atrition, we will likely get down to the ideal number of guests that we are holding fast to...100. Having said that, any interested parties moving forward will be wait listed and won't be added unless the confirmed number drops to under 100. If we do not get to that magic number by year's end, then I will make the executive decision that the first 100 paid deposits will get in. I hate to be a hard ass on this, but I have to respect the Loring Wine Company and the generosity that Brian is displaying for us.

Details:

1. Main courses will be from Bryan Flannery---Pork, Lamb & Beef grilled by your's truly.
2. Apps & sides will be taken on by a local catering outfit.
3. We will have some circulating staff cleaning up behind our sorry butts.
4. The venue would need to be vacated at midnight to allow for cleanup, etc. (After party will be planned).
5. Suggestion is to bring multiple bottles or a large format for the wine(s) you choose to share with the group.
6. The guest list will be firmly held at one hundred people based on deposits received once a line has been drawn in the sand.
7. I will work with Loring to see what the catering, cleanup crew, etc. will run and fold that into a projected amount for the Flannery. Once we have a rough estimate, look for a deposit amount here in the OP.
8. I am open to suggestions for helping improve the over all experience from the masses. Por Ejemplo: If Full Of Life Flatbread would like to provide some snacks, I am not adverse to that at all.

Interested:


Tex & Kristi
Loring
Brent Clayton
Mike Dildine
Josh Pitcl
Frenchie
Dan Kimmelman + 3
WetRock
Leenda
Yoni & Shilo
Dave Smig
Mr. & Mrs. Mac And Cheese
Ed Gonzales + 3
Major Franks & Carrie
Rob MacKay + 1
The Croatian Cuddler
Father Saxon
Bulkin
King Cab Pobega
Leah Amir
Larry Schaffer
Brian London + 1
Fu Manchu + 1
Glenn Levine
Joe & Cynthia Dulworth
Gutting
Jay Carroll
Brett Little
Gene Keenan + 1
Larry Stein + 1
Jeremy Hannah + 1
T-Bone $ Sara
Ted Erfer + 1
Jane Benjamin
Clem Nieto + 1
David Whitworth + 1
Kriss Reed + 1
John Tomasso + 1
P-Rob & Rebecca
Milos Cam-Robb + 1
Mike & Dana
Glen Murlin
Kara Van Corbach
Berto
Will & Molly
Bruce Weimer
Paul Hiyake
Peter Kelly + 1
Mark Hubbard + 1
Gregg Greenbaum + 1
Robb Winn + 1
Larry Schaffer
Poppy + 1
Jason Hagen
Kevin Rehberg + 1
Paul Lin
David Wright + 2
Eric Rayburn + 1
Brian Buzzini
Lisa Lovullo
Steve Albrecht + 1
Patt Hsu
Ken Rudman + 1
Scott Jameson + 1
Veronica Castro + 1
Al Osterheld
Zhi Hu + 1
James Nurthen + 1
James Dietz + 1
Sean Reed
Mark Franks + 1
Brian Grafstrom + 1
Mark Pecken
Paul Soals + 1
Leslie Mead + 1
The Carg + 1
Nancy D + 1


Waitlist:
Ken Zinns
John & Kimberly Cabot
Faryan Amir-Ghassem¡
Paul Burns
Paul Ketlehut + 3
Marshal Gelb + 1

What is the timing for those ITB with regards to crush/bottling/etc?

prob jan/feb

I would be in for this one! Feb-March would probably be best for me, but I might have some work things happening and can't honestly expect a clear picture until Nov-Dec.

I find Jan to be a bit hectic, things seem to get more under control after the Super Bowl.

Just to close the loop on Big Sur. Here is an example of the type of Inn available along the coast: http://bigsurriverinn.com/index.html. This place has 20 rooms and could be booked in advance for next Summer for a reasonable rate. Any spillover could be accomodated in near-by Inns.

The CHALLENGE in Big Sur would be grilling. Those that know the area are aware of the fire dangers here (two big fires last Summer). The Big Sur Inn has an outdoor grill, but talking them into letting us utlize it is another thing (I wasn't able to just now - but I only gave it a half-hearted try).

Big Sur is isolated. No wineries around (obviously), but there are several world class restaurants in the area (Post Ranch, Nepenthe and Ventana are the most well known).

Carmel or Carmel Valley are other local possibilities. Asilomar (http://www.visitasilomar.com/ might be a consideration.

I'm not convinced that Paso isn't a better choice, all things considered, but I'm happy to investigate any of the above if there is interest.

You can count me in for Jan or Feb.

Mike, while I LOVE Big Sur, it's not exactly as accomodating for a big group, even if we do have an Inn to rent out. That makes it more of a retreat, as we don't have ready access to groceries, food, etc, plus, an area in some sort of wine country gives us opportunity for winery visits and smaller parties in the days before/after the 'main event'.

Todd - All true.

Los Olivos/Santa Ynez area works as well....but if we do SLO/Paso then I can try and pull on my connections out here to get us some perks...

Agreed - it's much like SLO/Paso, and even closer to Socal. Either place would work, and the alternate for a future one!

Start rubbing up close to the locals and see what you can offer up. Try to keep it clean.

Whereever, Whenever...I'm in. (Much to Todd's dismay.)

Yeah, but I can deal.

Figures you'd come in with a Shakira line.

As an ITBer I can say that 10/18 will likely be out as well as 2-3 weekends before and after, so that pushes us into thanksgiving and december.

Jan/Feb would be alright, at that time it just depends on the actual weekend as to whether we are busy with our typical winery duties.

I have many friends on the central coast that I would love to see again, so count me in +1 for Jan/Feb timeframe.

Since it's after the holidays we will also try to make it down thatta way. We haven't taken a couple days off together in 8 years, this sounds like a good reason to get away.

Count Mr. & Mrs Mac N Cheez in da house

I'm game (+ 3). Maybe we can get a group together to visit SQN the day before

FYI - Unified Wine & Grape Symposium is 1/26 - 1/28 in Sacramento, followed by ZAP in SF on 1/28 - 1/30. You'd lose a lot of ITB folks then.

This will be a no-brainer for me.

Count me+1 in.

I could even host a mini-fest at my place near Santa Cruz before that, perhaps this fall. My place can do ~30 people and we have lots of grill space available. I'm 1/4 mile from the Scotts Valley Hilton.

I was just going to mention that, as well as last year, Frank Murray had his Falltacular the weekend before Unified. That was a helluva week and a half for me.

Count me in!

I'm in.

Me too.

If I can get a weekend parole discharge from Mommy Dearest count me in. Dates needed for me.

Please add my name to the list of interesteds

Wow, Pobega!! A right coaster coming by?

Should we bring the cage used for The Todds Deathmatch so that Jack and Pobega can fight it out?

Mike and I are good . No cage necessary.
If he wants to rant, I'll just pour.

It's worth the price of admission just to watch those two go at it live.

Wrong, we have kissed and made up.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/ecw-t ... /891765008

I believe Jack and myself have a lot more in common than a few computers and some fiber optic/satellite transmissions could ever tell.


If the sched works out. All date dependent.

There's nothing like meeting someone face to face. When I met Freakmount at FFII, we had a great conversation and I found a new respect for his point of view.

OK, let's realistically look at the last weekend in February in Paso or there abouts.

Lent? I may still come for the company and Flannery's. Someone has to be sober (even if it's me).

I'm in. Works for me

Mike, The Giants only play in the Cactus League in Scottsdale in February. The games don't count so you don't have to drink.

How's the weather? Would it be better to wait until mid March?

What is this Lent you speak of?

May West: Hey Big Boy, why don't you come up and visit me sometime?
Male: Ms. West I would so much love to but it's Lent.
Mae West: Well, when you get it back, I'll be waiting.

We would have to get a read on that from the Paso contingent. Here in Carmel, February weather often sucks (have you ever watched the AT&T Pebble Beach golf tourney?).

If mid-Feb. works best for everyone, however, we should do it then. It would afford me the opportunity to feel morally superior to the rest of you heathens!

Is it not possible to simply give up Lent for Lent?

Sounds good to me! And it's closer to home

Paso?!?!? Come ON folks - you GOTTA make it a little further south!!!!!

Perhaps I can even convince Mr. Ostini to partake in the festivities?!?!?!?!?

As far as timing goes, Jan is full of ITB events, including ZAP, Unified and Family Winemakers IIRC . . . so we'll just have to plan AROUND them (-:

I'm definitely game! Keep me posted!

Cheers!

Uh oh. Schaffer me Saxon.... a friggin Minion.

February in Paso sounds good. I'm in +1.

I would also recommend avoiding Lent - starts Feb 17th

I also recommend avoiding Lent. Have for 40 years.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, make it in March ;)

Hebs know not from this Lent you speak.

March is also better for me.