The Accidental Winemaker
I never dreamed that I'd be a winemaker! Several years ago, we came to California with our small herd of horses to escape the Florida summers. While my wife was fully involved with the horses, I became interested in the vineyards around our ranch. Met some good people, got interested. And now, in 2020, we've bottled the first of grapes that I helped source and blend, wines that have my input with the assistance of master winemaker, Steve Clifton.
Hopefully, you will enjoy drinking these wines as much as I've enjoyed making them.
Kent Mitchell
Wine Day Derby
With National Wine Day coming up this month, Rona again decided to throw her version of a party - another horse event at the ranch. After she snuck in last month's "Unicorn Day Derby" while I was out of town, at least I'll be there for this one. Like always, super fun, casual day for local trainers and riders to come enjoy a show environment with low stress, good friends, BBQ, and maybe some wine. WINE50 May 14-16 gets a 50% discount on all orders. And this month we're benefitting the Coastal Carolina Wildlife Rehab (NC) - 40% of all proceeds for the month of May will be donated to them.
In other exciting news, our wines are now being poured at The Alisal Guest Ranch! We're so excited as we enjoy walking down for Sunday brunch and we overlook the Ranch from our back patio.
May 1, 2021 at 12:00 AM
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Texas Wildlife
I headed to Cook's Branch Conservancy for some family Foundation work last week and Rona flew in to meet me to spend a few days visiting family and friends in Houston and Austin. Apparently, it wasn't enough to donate money to wildlife rehab, Rona had to save a critter on her own.
While waiting for me to pick her up at the Houston Airport, she noticed a group of people entering with lots of yelling and cell phone videos going...at which point a tiny baby opossum ran into baggage claim. Without missing a beat, Rona scooped the baby up in her scarf, contacted Wild West Wildlife Rehab in Amarillo (last month's donations) for a contact in Houston. With lots of questions from the LA Professional Rugby Team, I picked up Rona and her new friend and we headed to the Woodlands Mall (opossum still cradled in a scarf), grabbed a pet carrier, food, and some soft snuggly things and headed to Cook's Branch for the evening.
After a night of snuggly the pet carrier (opossum was unhappy unless nestled next to Rona's heartbeat), we headed to Friends of Texas Wildlife in The Woodlands and dropped off our baby. There they plan to introduce several of the same size to each other, make sure they are fit and well-fed, and then they'll be released back at a 5,000 acre preserve. Not a bad rescue!
Apr 21, 2021 at 10:18 AM
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National Unicorn Day? Who Knew?
Apparently this is happening at our place this weekend! I left Rona alone for a few days and suddenly there are jumps everywhere, banners and flags up, and bunches of kids, ponies, people and horses descending on our place to celebrate "National Unicorn Day". Use Code UNICORN50 and get 50% off your order. Free shipping in California!
Apr 9, 2021 at 3:33 AM
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Wines for Wildlife
Somehow, Rona talked me into (it wasn't that difficult) to donate a portion of our proceeds to different non-profit organizations. In honor of "Groundhog Day", February brought a "feel good" discount of 10% discount - COMBINED with other discounts and we sent a check for $650 to the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network.
In March, she did one for "National Wildlife Day" and thanks to our customers we are able to donate $675 to the Wild West Wildlife Rehab Center in Texas - Rona's folks have enjoyed seeing them featured on "Lonestar Law" a few times.
Apparently, Rona tells me that in April, we'll be benefiting the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network again (use code SBWCN10 to receive a 10% discount in addition to your other discounts) and in May it will be for the Coastal Carolina Wildlife Rehab (CCWR10) in Wilmington, NC. 
Apr 1, 2021 at 1:32 PM
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Wellington Life
After barely touching down back in California to fulfill our Wine Club shipments and process a few orders, Rona and I are back on the East Coast, enjoying the last few weeks of the Winter Equestrian Festival at our farm in Wellington, FL. While our horses remained behind in CA this winter, we've enjoyed watching our niece, Sophia Mitchell, and her friends compete in the Junior Hunters and Equitation Classes. We also managed a quick afternoon at the Palm Beach Boat Show yesterday!
Mar 26, 2021 at 8:05 AM
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Rainy Days and Mondays....
Continuing a whirlwind trip of the East Coast, visiting Rona's parents in Pennsylvania, then on to North Carolina for some business meetings before heading back to California. Our Aspen private wine tasting was very well received and we ended up hosting folks from CA, FL, CO, and NY. Managed a trip to Bald Head Island for a rainy afternoon - still pretty in the rain! 
Mar 17, 2021 at 12:10 PM
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Après Ski
Rona's time in Aspen was cut short by work obligations (hey, better her than me) but she's long distance arranging some "private wine tastings" to celebrate our new Colorado licensure approvals. We'll both be on hand to host a group from Ocala Horse Properties and friends with our wines and snacks from my sister-in-law's restaurant, "Meat and Cheese" at this super cool house...
"It has become in vogue in today's Aspen real estate market to refer to a listing as a legacy property, but for the House on Little Nell, ''heirloom'' is perhaps more apropos. Envision Aspen of the 1950's and what comprised the fledgling ski and mountain resort experience. Flash forward to today, and what has remained a constant throughout the changing character of the decades is the irreplaceable location and appeal of the House on Little Nell. Nestled against one of the world's most recognized ski trails and literally in the shadow of the Silver Queen gondola, the expression ''if these walls could talk'' is delivered with the wink of an eye as memories of the original home have been transformed into Aspen Mountain's transcendent ski-in/ski-out property."
Mar 6, 2021 at 12:21 AM
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Chasing Winter
First, thanks to all who participated with our "Groundhog Day Discounts". We're able to send a check to Santa Barbara Wildlife Rehab for over $600. Our March "Feel Good Discounts" will benefit the Wild West Wildlife Rehab Center in Amarillo, Texas.
With two trips back to the Wellington Florida farm for horse show watching in February, now it is off to Aspen for a late season ski trip with first family and then a group of friends from Florida, Texas, and California.
We will be relocating our retail operation from 2982 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos to another location closer to the ranch this month. Online orders will continue to be available - contact us for free delivery and shipping options. 
Mar 1, 2021 at 10:02 AM
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Wow, Time Flies!
Wow! I cannot believe it has been over a month since I last checked in. Holiday travel, ski trip, back to the Florida farm. Thankfully, we've been able to open back up at the Los Olivos tasting room and it's great to have people coming in again.
In honor of "Groundhog's Day" and in memory of Rona's pet prairie dog, "PD", we're offering a 10% discount to anyone who purchases and we're donating a portion of the proceeds to the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network. We'll continue to do other such "donation discounts" throughout the year for various non-profit organizations. While it has certainly been a difficult year for everyone, the non-profit sector has taken a double hit. Not only do their individual volunteers and organizaers have a budget crunch, the sponsors and donations they count on are also down.
Now, off to watch the horses at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, Florida. In addition to olympic riders from across the globe, we have friends and family competing as well (Sophie & Chevito this fall). 
Feb 11, 2021 at 9:12 AM
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New Year New Plans
As we go forward into 2021, we're all hoping that things across the country are able to reopen and regain normalcy. For us, the restrictions have limited our ability to do tastings and serve on our property. However, there is a seating area across from us and people have been grabbing a bottle of wine and enjoying it "al fresco" during the holiday season. We're also continuing as a "wine shop" retailer and making some changes to display more items and make things easy to "grab and go". We spent some time with east coast family over the holidays, I'm heading out for a week of skiing in Aspen and Rona's happy to be back with the herd who enjoyed some time off for the holidays. Don't be strangers - we're still around in Los Olivos and will be expanding hours in the next week or so to be available for our clients. Also, Rona wants to be sure to remind the riders that there is a Hawley Bennett Clinic at CD Equestrian on Ballard Canyon Road next weekend.
Jan 3, 2021 at 7:38 PM
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