In between wining and dining, I wanted to shed light on five local businesses that have hit my radar this summer.
Chardonnay II Winemaker Sails
Annieglass Platemaker Dinner
Redwood Canopy Tours
Peachy Kleen Chem-Dry
The Buttery
Pelican Ranch Winery

Chardonnay II Winemaker Sails

Sailing out on the briny with the wind blowing through your hair is a wonderful feeling, and tasting wine and good hors d’oeuvres as well truly enhances the experience. Four of us went out on a Friday evening sail recently with winemaker Jerold O’Brien of Silver Mountain Vineyards and enjoyed every minute. The wine sails run only in the summer months, the last one being Sept. 20. Visit Chardonnay II Sailing Charters at chardonnay.com for more information.

Annieglass Platemaker Dinner

The last in the summer series of Platemaker Dinners put on by Annie Morhauser of Annieglass fame will be on Thursday, Aug. 29. I attended one of these dinners in July and it was absolutely fabulous. Guest chef Steve Wilson from Café Cruz did a splendid job of plating superb cuisine for more than 80 people, and expert winemaker Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Vineyard poured some of his superb wines. These dinners are made even more fun because they take place in the Annieglass production studio in Watsonville—so it’s upscale wining and dining amidst piles of art glass, molds and work stations. Annieglass also continues with its fun Pours & Tours on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays from noon to 4:30 p.m., also held at the production studio and featuring mostly local wineries. Tours take place 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Visit annieglass.com for more information.

Redwood Canopy Tours

Nearly all of the staff at the Good Times went zip lining recently with Redwood Canopy Tours in Mount Hermon (Felton area). I had never done it before and it’s tremendous fun. I can highly recommend it for an exhilarating afternoon. Visit MountHermonAdventures.com for more information.

Peachy Kleen Chem-Dry

Sometimes it pays to check out who gets readers’ votes in the Good Times Best Of Santa Cruz County issue—and Peachy Kleen Chem-Dry has in the past been voted Best Carpet Cleaner. They certainly did an excellent job of cleaning all the carpeting in my house. Peachy Kleen Chem-Dry, 14615 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek, 429-9097 and 338-9791.

The Buttery

Talking of the Best Of issue, The Buttery, voted Best Bakery back in April, deserves enormous thanks for sending two delicious cakes to us all at the Good Times. My favorite was a chocolate cake decorated with a delicious pink topping. Visit butterybakery.com to see their cakes and more.

Pelican Ranch Winery

Fun factoid from Pelican Ranch: they sent me a note saying that the Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone National Park erupted for the first time in eight years at the end of July, and that five of their Pinots made since 2006 can be tasted side by side—two awesome events, for sure! Pelican Ranch Winery, 102 Kennedy Drive, Capitola, 426-6911. Pelicanranch.com.