The Course – Livermore
East Bay Real Estate: Livermore Valley – The Other Wine Country!
July 18, 2011 by Jim Walberg · 1 Comment
Did you know that one of California’s top wine regions is only a 25 minute ride from Danville, California and has over 40 wineries producing world class wines? Livermore grapes were first planted in the 19th century with Cresta Blanca Winery , founded in 1882, and one of the first wineries in the Valley. Cresta Blanca Winery was also the first California wine to win a Grand Prix at the 1889 Paris Exposition – the first California wine to win a competition in France. The Wente family purchased Cresta Blanca years ago, and is now the location of their Sparkling Wine Center, restaurant, golf course, and the location for their Summer concert series.
Did you know that in the early 1960s, Livermore had as much land under grape vine as Napa Valley did at that time. However, it has never had the status of Napa and Sonoma. Wente Vineyards has long been the largest producer in the Livermore Valley, making around 300,000 cases of wine annually, much of it for export. It was first established in the valley in 1883. The next largest producer, Concannon Vineyard, makes around 30,000 cases per year. The remainder of today’s wineries are all small family owned boutique style producers. Read more
The Course – Livermore
Jim Walberg’s Annual Board of Director’s Meeting – A Bocce Ball Tournament
May 19, 2009 by Jim Walberg · Leave a Comment
Once a year four men get together to check in on the status of their lives, both professionally and personally. Then there is a discussion about how each of them can be of support to the others.
The definition of Jim Walberg’s “Board of Directors” is, a gathering of four friends who have known each other for more than 20 years through Rotary, and who care about each other’s lives and have participated in ALL aspects their lives – all the joy, good, bad and awful experiences. So, this group gets together at least once a year for a day of sharing and catching up. This is our annual “rendezvous” of the Board of Directors. The Board includes, Steve McNichols - attorney, Jeff Turner – retired attorney, Gary Riele - commercial Realtor, and me. Read more
