Crap - new fire in Santa Cruz Mountains...

[MonkeyFunk]

On local TV now.

50-acre fire in Bonny Doon, but growing very quickly and expected to get to 1000 acres soon. Some structures already destroyed, 1400 people evacuated.

[Oeditpus Rex]

1. Just turned on KRON

I've been up that way — Empire Grade, Ice Cream Grade. It's freakin' gorgeous. :(

[Shakespeare]

2. FUCK. I love Bonny Doon.

One of my favorite wineries. :-(

Is the winery and/or vineyards actually involved?

This is not going to be a good summer/fall for north OR south in our state. x(

[MonkeyFunk]

3. don't know yet

I don't think Bonny Doon actually has any vineyards there, just the winery and tasting room.

In fact, I'm not sure Bonny Doon actually has ANY vineyards. They seem to buy their grapes from a variety of growers all over the state.

[Shakespeare]

4. Edited: they have 125 acres of vineyards in Monterey county, near Soledad.

I know they buy some grapes from other growers, but they're quite proud of their biodynamic efforts in their own vineyards (going back to 2004).

Here's a press release with more info:

https://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com/uploadedFiles/Pressrelease607demeter.pdf

[MonkeyFunk]

5. Yeah, that sounds familiar now

I think they're down south. It's a little too cold for grapes to grow well here.

[Gormy Cuss]

7. That's one of the reasons that they named two of their low end wines "Big House" red and white

It's a reference to Soledad prison.

They do have a tasting room in Bonny Doon.

[MonkeyFunk]

8. ah! That's it!

Soledad!

Thanks. I knew it was some town down there in the hot lands... couldn't think of it. Yes, Soledad.

We love the Big House wines :D

[Gormy Cuss]

10. Big House red is always on our wine shelf.

Lots of great flavor at a good price.

[MonkeyFunk]

11. Yup

we like the white, too, but usually have the red on-hand. We can usually find it for $8 or so.

[Beaverhausen]

13. They had a fire at their location in Paso Robles a few years ago

damn.

[Blue-Jay]

6. Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLhUh3B8DmU&feature=related

One of my favorite Scottish folk songs.

Back on topic: I hope they get the fires out soon. It's a beautiful area.

[MonkeyFunk]

9. I hope so too

there's a lot of really beautiful stuff up there and conditions are pretty bad. Really hot, low humidity, wind.

[MonkeyFunk]

12. 300 acres now

here's a rough copy of the map they just showed on the news