Hidden Gems FOUND on the Sierra Oro Farm Trail in Butte County!

Posted on October 15, 2016 by Jamie

Last weekend, I headed up to Butte County (think Chico, Paradise, Oroville area) to participate in the Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend! (30 Dollars for the Passport Weekend Festivities! or 35 purchased day of Event!) The Sierra Oro Farm Trail has been an annual tradition for the past 11 years that highlights the areas Farmers and Wineries.  The annual passport weekend has these farmers open its doors to the public for amazing TASTINGS and tours throughout the weekend! The Farm Trail is opened UP year ROUND!

Sierra-Oro-Farm-Trail

During the weekend, my first visit to this area of California, I found some new hidden gems that NEED to be told to the world: This post will HIGHLIGHT the Farmers in the area and little shops I just adored.

As I drove out to Butte County, this city girl, went rejuvenated throughout the weekend being amongst the farm fields and small town life, and highly recommend it to anyone!

Chico:

Maisie Jane’s California Sunshine Products:

Open year-round: M-F: 9am-5:30pm Sat: 10am-4:30pm

Maisie Jane’s, which started as a high school project for Future Farmers of America, is a small country store in Chico, CA that offers a variety of products.

Maisie Janes was one of two lunch spots this year on the trail offering a boxed lunch for just 10 dollars. Completely new to the passport weekend.

lunch

BUT, it wasn’t the lunch spot that GRABBED me, it was all the vendors surrounding Maisie Jane’s that grabbed my attention.

Such as: 2 English Ladies and their delicious Lemon Curd, Lime Curd, and Dressings and Vinegraittes. Trust me, they’ve stayed in my mind since I sampled their products!

And of course Maisie Jane’s was also sampling their delicious Almonds, and Almond Products such as their Almond Butters, Caramel Corn, and more.

TJ Farms:

October: M-Friday: 2pm to 6pm; Sat-Sun: 10am-6pm

tj-farmso

As I walked up to TJ Farms, I stumbled upon their pumpkin patch!  Memories of past falls filled my head.  Definitely a fun fall outing to pick out your pumpkin, try various jams and jellies and mustards (Kiwi Mustard!)

They even had slices if Pumpkin Pie available for purchase and other food options! And a fun play area for the kids.

CSU: Chico College of Agriculture:

Hours: M-Fri: 8am-5pm;  Meats Lab: Thurs-Fri: 8am-5pm

My first stop on the trail was to Chico College of Agriculture!  The college students pulled out all the stops too with 6 different visits to sites on their campus!  The Beef Unit, and the Dairy Unit were in close walking distance.

Cattle

While there, see the animals in action: Try some String Cheese, or Beef Jerky, and enjoy learning about Agriculture along the way.

Paradise:

Noble Orchards:

Seasonally: July-March, Mon-Fri: 10am-5pm; Sat-Sun: 10am-4pm

winesap

Photo Credit: Noble Orchards

If you are like me and crave apples during the fall then a stop at Noble Orchards is a must!  Just one of the orchards that still remain, in an area, that had tons back in the day!

If you’ve never heard of a WineSap Apple, this is also a must stop!  A new apple variety for me, but after tasting, I became a huge fan, along with many others on the Trail that weekend!

Oroville:

Harvest Hill Famly Farms:

Hours: October: M-F: 1pm to 5pm  Sat. and Sun: 9am to 5pm

Throughout Butte County, if there was one place I’d recommend to come to for Pumpkin Picking, it’d be Harvest Hill Family Farms.

Not only will you find your perfect pumpkin, you’ll get inspired by Fall Decorating!

harvest-hill-farms

Lodestar Farms:

May-Dec. Friday, Saturday: 12pm to 5pm

lodestar-farms

There were no shortage of Olive Oils on this Farm Trail (keep in mind, Corning, CA, just miles from Chico, is the Olive Capital of the US!)

And a stop at Lodestar Farms should be on the must visit Olive Oil places to visit while in town.  I really enjoyed tasting through all of their oils, and was pretty keen on their citrus oils of Lemon and Blood Orange!  Perfect for Chicken (Lemon) and Brownies (Blood Orange).

Of course, nothing’s better than an awesome Olive Oil, Balsamic, and yummy bread!

Wagon Wheel Market:

Daily: 10am-7pm

wagon-wheel

Recommended Lunch Stop:  It was the 2nd Lunch Spot offering to Passport Holders on the Trail.

However, bring a cooler with you, and be sure to stock up on their homemade sausages (they had samples available for us, and I am still dreaming of their Cheddar Filled Sausages!) This will be a must stop for me every time I come out to Oroville!

Mt. Ida Mandarin Ranch:

Hours: Nov-Jan: 10am-5pm

Although, the Mandarins aren’t ready until November, the Mandarin Ranch still invited Passport Holders out to their property to enjoy yummy treats overlooking their beautiful Mandarin Trees.

mandarin-tree

Of course, it only made me crave for Mandarins even more!

Bangor:

Calolea Olive Oil:

Hours: By Appointment

calolea-olive-oil

This family pulled out all the stops on the Farm Trail!  As they opened their doors, they had an amazing salad, and soup waiting for you, along with an Olive Oil Cake that paired perfectly with their Strawberry Balsalmic!

And, of course, you could try their different Olive Oils while there.

Live music was playing on the patio along with seating pointing out towards their Olive Trees!  A fun afternoon stop.

Beyond:

Sohnrey Family Farms:

Monday-Friday: 7am-5pm, Sat-Sun: 10am-4pm

Although I got no pictures at Sohnrey Family Farms, stopping into this little shop off 99 South made my day so worth it!  Finding a variety of Almonds, Fruit Spreads, and coated almonds such as Mint Chocolate, Jordan, Yogurt, and Lemon Creme.

Gift Boxes are available in the weeks ahead (Great Holiday Ideas!) of their Almonds, and goodies found throughout the store.

Lavender Ranch: Briggs, CA

M-Thur: 8am-4pm, Fri-Sat: 10am-2pm

I don’t know about you, but I love the smell of Lavender!  And the Lavender Ranch is a beautiful property.  As you walk out of the car, the instant smell of Lavender hits you.

lavender-ranch

At the Lavender Ranch, lotions, bath salts, soaps, and more are available for purchase!  Also, GREAT gift boxes are available for the upcoming holidays!

Pedrozo Dairy & Cheese Farm: Orland, CA

Hours by Appointment

pedrozo-cheese

If you love cheese then a stop at Pedrozo Dairy & Cheese Farm was a must.  As you walked up, a variety of their cheeses were available to sample along with Mac n Cheese that was available to purchase.

As new kittens ran around the farm, visitors were given tours of the Dairy Farm, and welcome to meet their new baby Calf.

 

This closes my post on my new finds throughout Butte County!  A post next week will come out about the wineries in the area.

Please note I wasn’t able to cover everything on the Farm Trail or Passport Weekend.  Highlighted above were some of my favorites!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Now Authors: Kathryn and Craig Hall: A Perfect Score

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Jamie

Disclosure: I received a copy of “A Perfect Score” for review purposes.  All opinions are my own.

If you’ve ever been to Napa Valley, Hall Wines, is quite memorable as you’re driving along Highway 29 heading into St. Helena.  Their giant Bunny Statue, what many refer to as Bunny Foo Foo by artist Lawrence Argent, stands out, hopping among the vineyards outside of Hall Wines.

But, what stands behind Hall Wines is a couple, (Kathryn and Craig Hall) with a passion.  A passion for making GREAT wine, a passion for Napa Valley, and a passion for art and design.

Today, September 13, this couple, has now entered into the word of Authorship as they release their first book, “A Perfect Score.”  I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a copy and read it before its release, and let me tell you a few things:

a-perfect-score

If You’ve EVER wanted to know A Story of How a Couple got into Winemaking then this book is for you.  Because Kathryn and Craig, were completely honest in their book, about their start, about their struggles, and the hardships they even went through as they developed their wine, their brand, and their course of getting to the Perfect Score.

If you’ve ever BEEN to visit Hall Wines or Walt Wines in Napa or Sonoma, then, you need to sit down to read this book, and to read their story, read their humble beginnings, and then sit back in awe, as you sip on a bottle of their wine.  It’ll make you only want to appreciate their wine a whole lot more.

If you want to experience a real good love story, then, sit back to read this book.  It’s not just a love story about Kathryn and Craig Hall, but it is a love story of wine, and the process of winemaking, and really, the process of pursuing your passion, with the love of your life, by your side! Because, lets be honest, Hall Wines, and Walt Wines exist because of both Kathryn and Craig working together, as a team.

BUT: For me, this book was so much more than their story.  Sitting down to read “A Perfect Score” brought out a flood of memories of visiting Hall Wines, Tasting at Walt Wines, or attending one of their annual events such as their Cabernet Cook-Off.

It made me realize, how much of an impact, in their 20 year journey within Napa Valley, how far they truly have come in the Industry, how their ideas keep evolving (they’re Authors now!), and really, how serious they are about their business, and what THEY are doing in Napa Valley.  They get an idea in their head, they don’t just let the idea mull around in their head, they actually follow through with it, and the rest of us get to prosper from it!

But, truthfully, at the end of this book, it only made me appreciate Kathryn and Craig Hall even more.  You could see their personalities shines through in the book, but, not only that, make you wonder what they’re going to do next.  So, what do you think it’ll be?

Final Thoughts:

A Perfect Score was a fun read, especially for any person that has been to a tasting at Hall or Walt Wines during their Wine Country Travels.  Or any person that has come in contact with Kathryn or Craig Hall over the years.  The book tells their story, of their beginning, and really, the tale of HOW it all began, not to mention, their journey to the Perfect Score.

 

 

 


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My First Lodi Winery: Oak Farm Vineyards!

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Jamie

Disclosure:  We visited Oak Farm Vineyards on our Friday Night Excursions into Lodi during the 2016 Wine Bloggers Conference.  This is my experience along with the beginning. All opinions are my own. 

Oak Farm Vineyards will always hold a pretty special place in my heart.  It was the first winery I ever visited in Lodi, CA.  It was also during their Grand Opening Weekend, almost 2 years ago!  After this year’s visit, I realized, that this winery, will always be the place I stop back at, to see how the vineyards in the front have grown, to see how the Winery has transformed, or stayed the same over the years, and to remember, the very beginning!

Oak-Farm-Vineyards

And, it’s great to find a place like this, where a true connection is formed!  Because, this property, is one of the oldest in the Central Valley, and has a lively history:

Oak Farm Vineyards, located at the end of DeVries Road, was home to William DeVries and his wife Cornelia Crowe. William purchased the property in 1860, and at the time, the area was called “Elkhorn Township”, DeVries was a well wheat farmer and raised cattle, he even became Justice of the Peace and was responsible for enforcing the law.

The ranch was known throughout the San Joaquin Valley as one of the most magnificent and beautiful pieces of property within the state.

DeVries was an enthusiastic lover of trees, particularly of oaks, and on the home ranch, he never allowed a tree to be cut unless it was a menace, newspapers reported upon his death. The beautiful colonial style home was built by William and his second wife Mary Jane in 1876.

The Panella family has truly renovated this property, to bring it back to its roots, and to honor the history that lied on this property.  And with keeping with tradition, they, too, have not taken down any of the Oak Trees, teaching the Vines to grow around them including the beautiful 430 Oak Tree that lies to the left of the White House, and what their Logo is based off of.  Oak Farm Vineyards is the perfect name knowing the lineage and history of this property!

Oak-Tree-Oak-Farm

(The 430 Oak Tree with the Oak Farm Vineyards Logo on their Wine Glass)

When I first pulled up to their winery, my jaw hit the floor to how beautiful it truly was.  You could instantly tell all the thought and details they put into building their winery and tasting room.

As you walked up to the tasting room, your eyes were instantly drawn to the little White House on the right.  And then dreams of living there flashed through your mind.  Luckily, owners, Dan and Heather Panella actually do with their 4 children!

little-white-house

(These Vines were just baby vines during Grand Opening Weekend!)

So, for this 2nd Visit, this time, escorted by Dan and Heather Panella along with Winemaker Chad Joseph, we would hear a little more history of the property, and see all of the grounds surrounding it:

We started our tour with a visit next to the Tasting room, where our glass of Albarino was about to be poured for us.  On this warm, hot, summer day, the Albarino was quite refreshing upon greeting!

Sauvignon-Blanc

After our glasses were filled, we walked out, along the vineyards directly in front of the White House.  These Vines were Cabernet Sauvignon, just a few short weeks away from harvest:

Cabernet-Sauvignon

Once we got to the end of the row, a quick view looking back towards the Tasting Room and Winery:

Oak-Farm-Vines

We then rounded the corner and saw the 430 Year Old Oak Tree, in which the Winery was named after.  They told us how they’ve been renovating the property to restore it back to the ranch and layout that it once had, back in the 1800’s.

And also, told us about the Cemetary, that was found upon the property.  The previous owners never knew about it when they had purchased the property, but, once they began digging, they discovered it.

They’ve done a great job of protecting the cemetary, and even dug up a bit of history on who lies there. But that is a story to tell on behalf of the Panella family, it’s a good one!

Cemetary

We then walked around the backside of the White House, where we discovered a Chicken Farm and a beautiful Rose Garden:

Chickens

After frolicking around with the Chickens, we found the Private Tasting Room where a beautiful bar stood: A bar that was in Dan Panella’s parents house for several years, but then became apart of the Private Tasting Room.

This Tasting Room is utilized for Group Tastings, to deter the big groups from the main Tasting Room Area to give everyone a special tasting when visiting the winery:

Tasting-Bar

One last walk through the Barn, which is completely restored and ready to host special events, Wedding receptions and more: They were getting set up for the Wedding that was taking place there the following night:

Wedding-Barn

It’s a pretty spectacular venue, and they’ve done a GREAT job restoring the Barn.  Has it’s own Bar Area, Storage Area, and plenty of space for a dance floor!

We then headed back to the Winery to take in the Tasting Room, refill our glasses with other wine options such as: Sangiovese, Tiovoli, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Old Zinfandel, Barbera, Albarino, Chardonnay, Fiano, or Cortese. After refilling our glasses, we talked with Winemaker Chad Joseph for a little bit as he discussed the wines, and a bit of his history as winemaker:

chad-Joseph

Then we sat down for dinner, a meal prepared by Chef Michael Midgley of Midgeley’s Public House out of Stockton, CA, perfectly paired with Oak Farm Vineyards Wines: Sauvignon Blanc (they have quite a following!), Barbera, Zinfandel, and Fiano.

Chef-Michael-Midgeley

Of course, the perfect end to a wonderful evening at Oak Farm Vineyards: Sunset!

Oak-Farm-Sunset

A huge thank you to Oak Farm Vineyards and the Panella Family for hosting a wonderful evening of Good Times, Good Food, and Good Wine!  I will always look back to your Winery with fine memories, and this winery, will always be a must visit for me every time I come back to Lodi!


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