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We just wanted to share with you some great news from the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition!  All 10 of the wines we entered won awards (a Clean Sweep!), including the White Sweepstakes which was the “Best White” of the show for our 2020 Viognier.  We also won Best of Class for 2020 Grenache Blanc, 2020 Roussanne and 2020 Picpoul Blanc.   Here’s a post by wine writer Mike Dunne (SF Chronicle/Sacramento Bee):   “Several intriguing storylines emerged from the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, which concluded its four-day run in Cloverdale today. None of them may be more significant than the showing of Acquiesce Winery & Vineyards of Lodi. Consider: More than 5,800 wines from throughout North America were entered, broken down into almost 200 classes, evaluated by some 50 judges. Acquiesce won a perhaps unprecedented four best-of-class awards. And these weren’t small classes. The Acquiesce Picpoul Blanc was up against 41 other white varietal wines. The Acquiesce Roussanne was up against 19 others. The Acquiesce Viognier was up against 52 others. Remarkably, all four Acquiesce best-of-class wines were nominated by judges for the sweepstakes round, which included 13 other white wines, including a classically rich Chardonnay, a spirited Sauvignon Blanc, a peachy and spicy Riesling, and a lychee-lined Chenin Blanc from Mexico. With four candidates in the lineup, Acquiesce not only was competing against that strong and diverse field, it was competing against itself for the top award. Nevertheless, the fragrant and mellifluous Acquiesce 2020 Lodi Mokelumne River Viognier ($30) emerged as the competition’s best white wine. No longer should Lodi be seen as the land of only hearty red wines.”   Mike Dunne’s review of our Best White Wine of the Show – Viognier: “Acquiesce Winery & Vineyards 2020 Lodi Mokelumne River Viognier: Susan Tipton’s masterful hand with white grapes traditionally associated with France’s Rhone Valley was recognized with remarkable consistency at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competitions. Four of her white varietal wines topped their classes, with her mellifluous 2020 Viognier going all the way to win the competition’s award for best white wine on the strength of its honeysuckle perfume and tuneful suggestions of peach orchard. It outdistanced 16 other nominated whites for the top honor in the final round of voting.”   And our Best of Class Grenache Blanc: “Acquiesce Winery & Vineyard 2020 Lodi Grenache Blanc: A variety most at home in France’s Rhone Valley, Grenache Blanc is gaining adherents in California, thanks largely to the gumption and imagination of Susan Tipton of Acquiesce in Lodi. She appreciates food-and-wine pairing to an extent that is exceptional even in California’s winemaking community, and as a consequence styles her wines to shine at the dinner table, which her Grenache Blanc will do for its refreshingly citric flavor, steely structure and dry and snappy finish. Whatever fresh seafood is on the plate, this Grenache Blanc should be in the glass.”   And our Best of Class Roussanne: “Acquiesce 2020 Lodi Roussanne: Lodi, long celebrated for its husky and brash red wines, nowadays is showing that it has the climate, soils and gutsy vintners to turn out white wines of alluring nuance and zest, including the Tiptons of Acquiesce, who with imagination and flair are raising Lodi’s profile for astute whites based on traditional Rhone Valley varieties, including this golden and elegant representative of Roussanne.” And our Best of Class Picpoul Blanc: “Acquiesce 2020 Lodi Picpoul Blanc: In France, Picpoul Blanc is so celebrated for the piercing acidity it brings to blended white wines it fondly is referred to as “lip stinger.” That ardent acidity is evident in the Acquiesce, helping offset the richness of its swelling suggestions of lemon creme brulee, honeycomb and lime. Bring on the mussels, oysters and clams.” This is one of my favorite wineries to go to. Other places I love can be found at https://travelsandescapes.net/2020/10/19/freixenet-spanish-cava/

As 2022 begins, are you ready to fly again? If so, here are some must-do things you should know before you go through TSA screening.

You are all packed, have arrived at the airport with plenty of time, standing in the TSA line, and ready to fly again. What do you have in your pockets?

You have taken out your loose change and your phone. You are good to go. Right? Just as you walk through the scanner, it beeps. What? You forgot about the keys you were going to put in your carry-on bag.

To be sure you are ready to fly, empty your pockets. Take everything out and place it either in a bin or in  your carry-on bag.

If  you do not have pockets,  great. Just remember to take off your belt.

Another item you will need to pay attention to is your laptop. If you are not TSA PreCheck, you will need to remove it from its case. Likewise, if you are not TSA PreCheck you will need to remove  your shoes and place all liquids in the bin.

Before you get ready to fly again, it would be a good idea to look into TSA PreCheck. If you fly often, the $85 cost for five years is absolutely worth it.

Did you know there are some items banned from bringing on airplanes? I am not sure why you would think you could bring fireworks…but you cannot. You also cannot bring a gun into the cabin. You may check it, with the appropriate paperwork obtained beforehand.

If you are ready to fly again and want to bring your favorite large bottle of hair conditioner, you cannot. You can place it in your checked luggage. All liquids in your carry-on bag must adhere to the 3-1-1 liquids rule. This means liquids, gels, and aerosols can only be in containers that hold 3.4 ounces or less. These then need to be placed in a single quart-size resealable bag.

TSA has a website which details items in case you have questions. When you get ready to fly again and do not know what is permitted, check out https://www.tsa.gov/travel/travel-tips

Finally, before you get ready to fly again…do not forget your ID. It seems like a simple thing to remember. Last month we were standing in line in TSA PreCheck.

The man in front of us could not find his ID. After a couple of minutes, he was escorted by a TSA agent to another area. I am not sure what happened or where he was taken.  We were only delayed by a short time. I am sure he was delayed a lot longer.

For more tips on flying check out https://travelsandescapes.net/2021/12/16/couples-trip-on-a-budget/

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the world’s largest rotating tram car.

Recently, we rode this amazing vehicle through the sheer rock cliffs of Chino Canyon to the top of the wilderness of the Mt. San Jacinto State Park.

First some facts and history… It all started in 1935 when a young electrical engineer, Francis Crocker, decided he wanted to get to the top of Mount San Jacinto. This 10,834 foot peak still had snow during a heat wave on the valley floor.

Many issues, delays, and WWII postponed his plans until a new tram bill was passed in 1945, creating the Mount San Jacinto Winter Park Authority. By 1950 private funds had been raised by selling bonds, land had been acquired for the Valley Station, and technicians had designed the tramway. Not one cent of public money was used for the construction or the operation.

Construction was a challenge for the engineers. The first tower is the only one that can be reached by road. Helicopters were used to erect four of the five supporting towers. They flew 23,000 missions during 26 months of construction. Men and materials needed to erect the other four towers and the Mountain Station at the top all came by helicopter.

At the top of each tower is a 16’ x 16’ yellow helicopter pad. This allows access to the towers in times of maintenance for the Tram. Tower one is the tallest of the five supporting towers. It is 227 feet and is the only one accessible by road.

Completed in 1963, the challenges in building earned the label the Eighth Wonder of the World. Twenty-five years later the Tramway was designated an historical civil engineering landmark.

In 1998, the Tramway started an ambitious project that would modernize the old tram cars and update the facilities. In September 2000 the world’s largest rotating tramcars made their debut.

Since 1963 over 20 million people have traveled the 10-minute, 2.5-mile ride. Beginning at the Valley Station elevation of 2,642 the ride ends at the Mountain Station elevation of 8,516 feet.

In 1965, I rode the old Tramway car to the top. It swayed slightly as we passed by the breathtaking rock sides and dipped at each tower. It was exciting, exhilarating, and a little frightening. The valley floor was about 100 degrees and the top was over 60 degrees colder. We didn’t stay long at the top.

Two weeks ago, I rode the new Tramway rotating car to the top. Once again, it’s mind-blowing to see how close the Tram car comes to the sheer rock cliffs. Rotating slowly gave us great views of those cliffs, the San Jacinto Mountains, the valley floor far below, and the enormity of the towers.

There was no noticeable swaying, until we passed one of the towers. Then, it was slight. Not at all like I remembered from 1965. This ride was smooth.

With windows open along the top of the Tram car, the breeze coming in dropped significantly as we rose toward the top. Sweaters or jackets were definitely needed, especially on the side of the mountain facing the valley floor. Winds whipped around, making it seem colder than the 43 degree day at the top.

We spent some time wandering a few trails, exploring the observation decks and the natural history museum, and just marveling at how on earth Francis Crocker even thought of this idea.

Comparing my two visits, there were some things I enjoyed about the first Tram. It was a new venture, it was exciting, and I had never done anything like it. Having said that, there are more things I liked about this Tram. I appreciated it more, especially the difficulty in constructing it, and spent more time marveling at how an idea like this even took shape.

If you are in the area, The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is an activity well worth your time.

Note: Tickets can be difficult to purchase during busy times of the year. Check the website https://pstramway.com/tickets/.

If You Go: The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is located at 1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA.

For more trip ideas and travel plans check out https://travelsandescapes.net/

Have a Great Year in 2022!