On Saturday I threw a little bocce and wine bash in celebration of Shrek’s 31st birthday. We spent the afternoon up in the Santa Cruz Mountains with family and friends at Savannah Chanelle Vineyards where we’d set up and a tour and tasting followed by a picnic lunch and some boozy bocce ball on their beautiful grounds.

We met in front of the tasting room for a private tour of their grounds and production facilities. Our tour guide, John, was just awesome. He was knowledgeable, had some funny stories, was very generous with his pours, and just all around the perfect guide for our group.

Chardonnay vines

Zinfandel grapes

The Barrel Room. This was actually mine and Shrek’s second tour of Savannah Chanelle but the first time we got to go in the Barrel Room.

Savannah Chanel No. 5. J/k but you’ll have to go for yourselves to find out why it’s no longer “Savannah Chanel.”

Port pour.

That’s our awesome tour guide, John, pouring in black. If you go ask for him if you want a tour!

Me and Katie

Villa de Monmartre built May of 1923. On the San Andreas Fault line.

We picnicked beneath a pear tree.

In case you’re wondering, lunch wasn’t included in our tour or anything; it’s something I threw together. We had quite the spread which I managed to fit in one gigantic cooler: turkey sandwiches with King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, garlic aioli, Savannah Chanelle Jalapeno Mustard, my 3-bean salad, potato salad, field green salad, grapes, hummus, garlic naan, baby carrots, Maui Onion Kettle Chips. We also purchased several bottles of wine, wine, and more wine. Did I mention wine?

Shrek special-requested my banana bread with whipped cream cheese frosting as his cake.

I also brought some little wine tags (pictured above) I picked up at Cost Plus so everyone could keep track of their glasses.

Mama Shrek

Setting up our Bocce Court. We used 4 cones, a tape measure, and I bought this bocce set from Amazon.com.

I also got this app on my iPad called iBocce to keep score. Shrek and I were on fire! (I swear the more you drink the better you play.)

You know it’s a good party when A passes out.

Shrek and Papa Shrek

Shrek, his mama, and me

I think Papa Shrek could’ve stayed in that chair all day, sipping his wine.