Women, Wine & Walking

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There are lots of great reasons for taking a hike. Some do it as a form of fitness, others to keep the heart young and the soul inspired. And then there are those like me, who hike as a prelude to wine tasting.

On Sunday I had the good fortune to join a group of great LA gals for an afternoon aptly titled Women, Wine and Walking.

Organized by the incomparable Julie Brosterman of Women & Wine and sponsored by Clif Family Winery (yes the Clif Bar Clif family) the afternoon was a perfect blend of great company, great weather, great food and great wine - and the walking part was pretty great too.

I brought my basketball buddy BJ and we joined about 20 other women for a medium paced scramble through Temescal Canyon. Located in Pacific Palisades (where the mountains meet the ocean), Temescal Park is one of the most popular spots in the Santa Monica Mountains with great views of the Pacific, a seasonal waterfall, and a densely wooded canyon.

Full of variety, the flora in Temescal Canyon ranges from palm plants to beautifully overgrown ivy, oaks and sycamores. The awesome vista on the ridge trail was followed by a serene passage down a woodsy canyon that descended 1,000 feet over about a mile. We ended the hike with a stroll along Sunset Blvd through the quaint Palisades village before heading back to our host Felicia's house for light snacks and the afternoon highlight - a sampling of new wines.

The Napa Valley Clif Family wines are made by noted winemaker Sarah Gott. Gott 's experience working with premium wineries, her interest in organically sourced wines and the fact that she is a great triathlete, make her a perfect fit for Clif Family Winery. Among the wines we sampled were:

2007 The Climber White Wine Blend

2005 The Climber Red Wine Blend

2005 Gary's Improv Napa Valley Zinfandel

2005 Kit's Killer cab Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (my personal fave)

Clif Bar owners Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford share a passion for food, family and adventure. They're commited to organic and sustainable farming, locally grown ingredients and artisan handcrafted products and their wines are a perfect reflection of their sensibility.

But it was more than the adrenaline from the hike and the early infusion of alcohol that made the afternoon so enjoyable. It was the company of such great women. Young professionals, moms, artists, and athletes who share a real zest for life. Among others, I met a new media lawyer, a fashion publicist, a digital media marketer, a a theatre promoter, a retailer and a martial arts coach. The event uncorked a plethora of possibilities (pardon the pun).

BJ summed it up best: "The walk was a great way to have fun, network and enjoy the outdoors plus the wine at the end of the day was pure bliss."

This was such a fabulous idea I encourage others to organize a similar event. If you live in LA, contact Julie for help (and even if you live elsewhere I'm sure she'd be happy to offer advice). Combining the things you love - in this case exercise, good food and good wine - into one special occassion makes for a lovely afternoon. Can't wait for the next installment of Women, Wine & Walking.

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