Our first outing in over a year, thanks to Covid-19, and we couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season. We have both received our vaccinations and after the recommended two-weeks, we decided to hit the road to check out a local Harvest Host and just make sure the camper still worked.
So we packed up the dogs, put enough food in the fridge for an overnight trip and headed 45 minutes north to the Idle Hour Winery & Kitchen in Oakhurst, California. Unfortunately, as soon as we arrived, we realized that the winery was closed for tasting as there was a private dinner event taking place.
So we parked the trailer, then sat in the parking lot for a few minutes, feeling like we were awkwardly gate-crashing a party we weren’t really invited to, before deciding to just head home and try again another weekend. However, when my wife mentioned to the owner that we were going to head out, and it was honestly no big deal and we only lived 45 minutes away anyway, she absolutely insisted that we stay. So we did.
And that’s when the real party started…
On the winery grounds, there is also a small wine bar / beer garden so we headed down to check it out. The bartender was very helpful and friendly and even though he couldn’t offer a formal wine-tasting, since that was done at the winery proper (where the dinner was taking place), he suggested some wines and we settled down next to the firepit for our own informal tasting.
Shortly afterwards, we were joined by a lovely couple for the rest of the evening. We were given the pleasure of an impromptu guitar performance and several songs, and the wine kept flowing. More people joined us as the evening grew later, including the owner herself and several of the staff.
Almost everyone around the firepit had been vaccinated against Covid-19 and the sense of normalcy was thoroughly enjoyable. For the past year, we have been working from home, ordering groceries to be delivered and avoiding even our own children and parents in an effort to stay safe and healthy. Yet this friendly outdoor gathering of strangers around a firepit was so refreshing and just “normal”.
We stayed long into the night, talking, sharing stories, sampling the excellent wines and enjoying the company before heading to bed. In the morning, we headed over to the kitchen for Sunday brunch, which was fantastic. And then a trip through the winery shop to stock up on wine and other essentials before leaving.
Overall, an excellent winery, friendly people, great wine, good food and wonderful hospitality. Even the parking lot for the camper (which overlooked a small river), had plenty of room for the dogs to explore. We also joined the wine club, so there’s a good chance we’ll be at one of the upcoming wine dinners in the near future!
Overall, well worth a visit, especially if you’re passing through on the way to or from Yosemite National Park.