Tag: Jim Witkowski

Sipping with a View: The Panorama at DAOU Vineyards Picture of the Week - Paso Robles, California

A panoramic view of rolling vineyard hills under a clear sky from the DAOU Vineyards tasting room in Paso Robles, photographed by Jim Witkowski.
Sipping with a View: The Panorama at DAOU Vineyards – Gaze over the lush expanses of DAOU Vineyards, where every turn offers a view more stunning than the last, inviting you to a tasting experience graced with natural splendor.

I bought our first bottle of DAOU wine by accident. While choosing from the Safeway shelf selection, I looked a row above the cheap stuff and spotted a bottle of their chardonnay. I immediately noticed that it came from Paso Robles—our favorite wine region. It was more pricey than our house brand but not by much, and since it had been a rough week, I thought, “What the heck?” I grabbed it by the neck and placed it in the cart.

That was a couple of years ago, and since—when we wanted something a little nicer—we splurge on a bottle of DAOU. That’s why we were so tickled that a stop at DAOU was on our wine-tasting recommendation list this spring. Indeed, I thought we wouldn’t come home without buying the place out.

Driving up to the tasting room reminded me of the Clifton Hillclimbs of days past. A castle-like building sits at the summit of the family-owned mountain. Instead of orange pylon cones, the narrow, twisting road is lined with lavender, making the mountain look like it’s wearing a purple crown. The finish line is under an ornate wrought-iron arch at the top—just after a sharp right turn. After I parked the truck, I let the engine idle for a few minutes to let it cool, which gave Queen Anne time to stop screaming and hyperventilating. Our breaths were removed again when we stepped out of the truck—this time from the view.

Stepping out onto the hilltop patio of DAOU Vineyards, one can’t help but feel as if they’ve entered an exclusive retreat, a day spa designed not just for relaxation but for the epicurean at heart. With panoramic views that command the senses and an ambiance that whispers of indulgence, it’s a place where time seems to stand still, encouraging you to savor every moment. With their attentive grace, the staff are like sommeliers of comfort, offering tastings and a complete escape from the ordinary.

The distinguished sign marking the tasting room at DAOU Vineyards & Winery, inviting visitors to indulge in the art of wine, as photographed by Jim Witkowski.
Begin Your Journey: The Tasting Room at DAOU – The sign at DAOU Vineyards & Winery is not just a marker but an invitation to a world of exquisite tastes and shared stories.

For Queen Anne and me, this wasn’t just another stop on our wine trail; it was a moment of serendipity that had us seriously contemplating a permanent residence. The fusion of luxury and viticulture was intoxicating in its own right. And as the hot and cold running hostesses pampered us, each sip of DAOU’s exquisite wine seemed to erase any thought of a world beyond the vineyard’s embrace. It was here, amidst the laughter and clinking glasses, that we made our selections—wines that would forever remind us of the sun-drenched patio, the gentle breeze, and the feeling of absolute contentment.

A visit to DAOU Vineyards is essential to any wine lover’s journey through Paso Robles. It’s an experience that transcends the act of tasting into an art form, set against a canvas of sweeping hills and skies that stretch into infinity. DAOU is renowned not just for its wines but for its ability to transport you to a state of awe with its mountaintop location, offering a view that could rival any famed landscape painting. Here, each glass is complemented by the vast vistas of the valley below, the verdant rows of vines narrating the terroir’s tale. The tasting room, an epitome of elegance, invites guests to savor each note of their carefully crafted wines wrapped in Paso Robles’ natural grandeur. This harmonious blend of sensory pleasures positions DAOU as a destination of choice for those seeking to indulge in the grand symphony of winemaking.

At the heart of DAOU Vineyards stand the founders, brothers Georges and Daniel DAOU, whose journey in winemaking is as rich and compelling as the wines they create. Their foray into grape cultivation was born from a shared vision to produce Bordeaux-style wines that would rival the world’s best. With roots stretching back to the mountains of Lebanon, the DAOU brothers bring a unique fusion of old-world charm and new-world innovation to their craft. They are known for their exacting standards, from fastidious vineyard management to the precision of their cellar practices, constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in Paso Robles. At DAOU, it’s not just about maintaining quality but elevating it, ensuring that every bottle tells a story of excellence and ambition, a narrative that honors their heritage and the land they’ve come to cherish.

DAOU Vineyards has etched its name in the annals of fine winemaking with a portfolio of wines that speaks to the discerning connoisseur’s heart and intellect. Their flagship offering, “Soul of a Lion,” is a testament to the DAOU brothers’ father and embodies the winery’s pursuit of uncompromised excellence—a Cabernet Sauvignon that commands attention with depth and complexity. The “Reserve Chardonnay” marries the richness of Paso Robles fruit with the finesse of French oak, creating a harmonious profile beloved by those who favor a fuller-bodied white. Not to be overlooked, their “Estate Cabernet Sauvignon” stands as a pillar of their red wine collection, showcasing the perfect balance of power and grace that the region’s unique climate and soils can instill. These wines, among others, have propelled DAOU to the forefront of Paso Robles wineries, each vintage crafted not only to impress but to leave a lasting impression of the terroir’s potential.

I would love to tell you what bottles we bought during our DAOU visit, but as you can see from the prices below, we were well out of our league. But throughout our discussion of whether we could get adopted by the DAOU family, we enjoyed each of the five samples our hostess selected for us. Unlike our introduction to wine tasting—when the Carlo Rossi Burgundy came from the very jug you bought—these days, the samples served at the vineyards are the creme de la creme—If the wine you buy in a retail store were an AC Bristol, they tempt you with a Shelby Cobra here at the ranch. Had we the budget, here are the bottles we would have brought home.

    • 2021 Estate Chardonnay–$100.00. We liked this chardonnay. It had the same characteristics as our Safeway version but more of everything. Unfortunately, it was clearly out of our price range, so we passed and bought four bottles of the normal chard from Total Wine instead.
    • 2020 Reserve Eye of the Falcon–$75.00. This Cabernet Sauvignon is made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Verdot grapes grown on the valley floor. It had excellent color and a great taste of black fruits and aromatics.
    • 2021 Cuvee Lizzy—$89.00. This was another Bordeaux-style wine using the estate-grown grapes. It’s a blend that starts with Malbec grapes and is then blended with Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon stock. This was our favorite of the flight. If possible, we’d buy a bottle, but we haven’t found one in our local stores. If we want to enjoy a bottle, we must win the lottery and return to Paso Robles.

Beyond enjoying DAOU’s wines, the experience at the vineyards was breathtaking. Sitting in those red patio chairs with attendants passing frequently with another offering was the definition of indulgence. We would have stayed the night if we’d brought our sleeping bags. At the end of our visit, our wine guide noticed that I was using my USAA credit card to pay the tab. She asked, “Oh, you’re a vet?” When I confirmed that I was, she waived the tasting fees. If I had known that was possible, we might have sprung for one of their Eye of the Falcons.

We hope you enjoyed our month of wine offerings as much as we did. If you’d like to pixel-peep this week’s Image, you can visit the larger version on my website < Jim’s Web> or its FAA page <FAA Link>. Be sure to put us on your holiday calendar next month because we’re going to a place where no man has gone before—well, not many have been there. Join us next week when we take you off the beaten path—it’ll be an adventure, I promise.

Till next time, keep your spirits high and your humor dry
jw

Techniques: Leveling the Horizon on Sweeping Vistas

A common pitfall I’ve noticed in many online landscape photos is a slightly tilted horizon, which can unintentionally give the impression that the scene is off-balance. Remember, even the Pilgrims relied on the horizon to align their buildings at Plymouth Rock. Getting this right in-camera is critical, as it preserves the natural balance of your shot.

For those looking to ensure a perfectly level horizon, modern technology offers a helping hand. My camera, for instance, comes equipped with an in-built level in the viewfinder. As you adjust the angle, the level’s indicators align, turning green at the perfect balance point. It’s a small step in the setup but makes a difference, especially for scenes like the one in this week’s photo where the horizon plays a starring role.

If you capture a slightly askew horizon, don’t fret—software like Photoshop can come to the rescue. Use the ruler tool to draw a line along the horizon, then select Image> Image Rotation > Arbitrary. Photoshop cleverly calculates the necessary adjustment, automatically realigning your Image. A quick crop to tidy up any resulting white edges, and your photo is ready to impress with a horizon that’s true to reality.

BTW:

I released the fourth video in my On the road with Jim on YouTube on Friday. This one covers the images in my Sonoran Desert portfolio. As a subscriber to this newsletter, you get a sneak preview before I add any links. If you want to view my latest effort, you can use this link to get to the video: https://youtu.be/QDc9fXnccy8

The Geometry of Growth: Paso Robles’ Vineyard Rows Picture of the Week - Paso Robles, California

Neat rows of young grapevines ascending the gentle slopes under a cloudy sky in Paso Robles, showcasing the meticulous care in vineyard management.
The Geometry of Growth: Paso Robles’ Vineyard Rows – Witness the artistry of agriculture in Paso Robles, where the vineyard rows ascend like notes on a staff, composing a green symphony on the slopes.

Welcome back to our AA tour of Paso Robles vineyards. Last week, we started with a morning visit to L’Aventure, just a stone’s throw from downtown Paso Robles. After spending a good hour there, our next stop was Justin Vineyards. It’s quite a drive from the city center, but we had a plan: lunch at The Restaurant at Justin before our tasting. Little did we know, our venture to Justin Wines would be without the lunch we anticipated, making for an unexpected twist to our wine-tasting adventure.

We first learned of Justin Wines at the Cambria liquor store a half dozen years ago, and since then, we’ve seen the distinctive black labels in our familiar wine stores. We finally brought a bottle home to try and enjoy the harmonious blend of traditional Old World methods and the innovative spirit of Paso Robles. Justin Wines is a beacon in the Central Coast wine scene because they are committed to making world-class Bordeaux-style blends. Recommendations came not just from reviews or awards but from the enthusiastic tales of fellow wine lovers, stories of a winery that dared to dream big and deliver. It wasn’t just a name; it was a promise of an experience that merged the finesse of a finely aged Cabernet with the boldness of a region redefining itself.

The roots of Justin Wines are as deep and complex as the wines they produce. Founded in 1981 by Justin Baldwin, the winery’s mission was clear from the start: to produce world-class wines that belong in the company of the world’s great wines. With a focus on estate-grown Bordeaux-styled blends, Justin Wines has meticulously nurtured its vineyards to bring out the unique expression of its location in the Paso Robles region. Baldwin’s vision and dedication have created a legacy, making Justin Wines a standard-bearer for quality and innovation in the Californian wine landscape.

The inviting facade of Justin Winery's tasting room in Paso Robles, framed by mature oak branches and well-manicured greenery, photographed by Jim Witkowski.
Sipping in Style: Inside Justin Winery’s Tasting Estate – Beneath the shade of sycamores, the Justin Winery tasting room stands as a beacon of hospitality in the heart of Paso Robles, inviting enthusiasts and novices alike to savor the essence of their craft.

The varietals that grace the cellars of Justin Wines are a testament to their unwavering dedication to quality. From their iconic Isosceles, a blend that pays homage to the Bordeaux giants, to their Justification, a nod to the Right Bank with its Franc-centric profile, each bottle offers a glimpse into the heart of their craft. The Cabernet Sauvignon, with its structured elegance and the complex, layered character of their Syrah, speak to the diversity of their offerings. The winery’s dedication to reflecting the terroir is evident in every glass, as they continue to earn accolades and captivate palates with their expressive, balanced, and impeccably crafted wines.

We purchased four varietals in the Justin offering—three of which are only sold at the estate, while the last on our list can sometimes be found in Costco or Total Wine. That’s good for us because it saves on travel time and gas. Here’s the list of our choices from light to robust.

    • 2021 Rose Syrah—yeah, yeah! I said we didn’t care for Rose’s last week, but this is another exceptional wine. When you swirl the wine in a glass, you watch for lines running down the sides—they’re called legs and are an indicator of sugar content. The Rosé Syarah had great legs but was dry. It’s a magic act. $20.00
    • 2020 Right Angle—A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petite Sirah, and Petite Verdot grapes. This one had a rich combination of fruit taste with a mild tannin bite. It should age well. $40.
    • 2020 Reserve Malbec—Malbec is another Bordeaux grape that wasn’t widely grown in California until Argentina’s Malbec explosion. This example was 100% Malbec grapes and a deep purple color. This wine was robust and would pair well with anything from a good steak to lasagne. $50.00
    • 2020 Isosceles—Ooh. Dreams are made from this. This is one of Justin’s flagship wines. It’s a traditional Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot grapes. It’s a full-bodied wine with complex black fruit, vanilla, licorice, and spice tones. Justin is right proud of this wine, and that’s reflected in the price—but you might find a bottle of Isosceles in Costco or Total Wine for less, as we did. $85.00

With this week’s Thursday being Thanksgiving, I hope you all don’t run down to Total Wine and buy out their entire inventory of Isosceles. But since you’re going there anyway, would you mind picking up a bottle for me? Borrowing the words of a great philosopher, ‘I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.’ (There are 5 points for everyone who can name that philosopher in the comments below—but no peeking at others’ answers!).

Thanks for taking time out of your busy holiday schedule to visit us today. As usual, you can find a larger version of this week’s photo on my website (Jim’s Web) and its FAA page (FAA Link). Be sure to put us on your calendar next week when we finish our Paso Robles tour by visiting the King of the Hill.

Until then, keep your spirits high and your humor dry
jw

Techniques: Patterns as Subjects – The Art of Repetition

How many ways are there to shoot a vineyard? I lost count a long time ago, but sometimes, when your subject is too small or inconsequential, you must take a step back and look at the bigger picture. How can I uniquely shoot this scene?

Sometimes, the most captivating subject is not a single object but a tapestry of repeating elements that create a pattern. In the photo of the wine grove, the rows of vines form a mesmerizing way that serves as the subject itself. The repetition of lines and shapes across the frame isn’t just pleasing to the eye; it tells a story of careful cultivation and nature’s inherent symmetry. When faced with a vast scene, seek out these patterns. They can transform a landscape into a visual rhythm that engages the eye. Whether it’s the repetition of vine rows, the orderly spread of tree canopies, or the undulating waves of a coastal scene, patterns can elevate a photograph from a simple setting to a study of harmony and design. When the subject isn’t found, let the pattern become the star.

The Dells’ Drama: Light, Shadow, and Stone Picture of the Week - Prescott, Arizona

A sunlit canyon at Granite Dells with angular rock formations, highlighted by shadows and a blue sky backdrop.
The Dells’ Drama: Light, Shadow, and Stone – On the Constellation Trail at Granite Dells, angular lines of sunlit rock formations converge, telling tales of erosion and time. Amidst the rugged terrain, trees rise, contrasting against the textured granite, all under a vast blue Arizona sky.

Thanks for joining us on the Constellation Trail in the Granite Dells this morning. Of all the paths I’ve dared to tread, the Constellation Trail welcomes both the adventurous explorer and those of us who occasionally confuse a hiking boot with something you’d wear to a dinner party. Located off Arizona Route 89, it’s a sizeable, well-marked loop with several cross trails that make it easy to tailor your hike to your abilities. As you know, I’m not too fond of physical exercise, but I know that my best photos come from getting out of my truck, and once I’m out in nature, my senses become heightened. Last week’s photo showed an example of the views you can see along the trail’s high points, while this week, we explored the shadows on canyon walls where the trail cuts through the Dells’ ravines.

In the heart of the Granite Dells, life thrives against all odds. Amidst ancient boulders that are silent witnesses to millennia gone by, scrub oak and sumac tell a tale of nature’s indomitable spirit. They’ve evolved to survive and flourish, sipping sustenance from the unforgiving granite, striking poses of raw, untamed beauty against a backdrop that laughs in the face of gentleness. As the morning sun casts the canyon in a gentle glow, their silhouettes emerge sharper, paying tribute to nature’s ability to find pockets of life even in the most challenging environments.

Interestingly, the Granite Dells aren’t just a feast for the eyes but a geologic wonder. Estimated to be around 1.4 billion years old, these ancient formations are composed of a type of rock known as Precambrian granite. What you see on the surface only scratches the surface of their actual complexity. These stones have witnessed countless eras, weathered innumerable storms, and survived the ever-changing dance of geological forces. As a photographer, capturing these ageless guardians feels like stepping into a time machine, where every click of the shutter connects you with a history that transcends human comprehension. While the vibrant hues and shadows make for stunning imagery, the timeless wisdom in these stones adds an ineffable quality to the photographs. That’s the unseen charm of the Granite Dells, a joy that plays hide-and-seek with your senses and challenges you to see beyond the obvious.

The path lured me to a breathtaking cataract surrounded by boulders that must have been hand-placed by giants. Navigating through the canyon was as easy as following a breadcrumb trail—if the breadcrumbs were the size of small cars and strewn by a mythical creature with a flair for drama. Surprisingly, navigating through the canyon wasn’t challenging, thanks to the downward trail. I found the perfect vantage point on a ledge after clearing the gorge. From there, the sunlight playing on the rocks created an arresting visual that resembled a mighty fist. I had toyed with the title “Pow” but felt The Dells’ Drama: Light, Shadow, and Stone captured the essence far better.

I have posted two larger versions of this image for your enjoyment. The first is on my Website, of course, and you can see it by following this link (Jim’s Weblink); the other option is the page I made on my Fine Art America page, and the easiest way for you to get there is via this link (FAA link). Each click will transport you deeper into the heart of the Dells’ magic. Queen Anne and I want to thank you for stopping by this week. If we’ve piqued your interest, tune in next Sunday. We’ll uncover more mysteries of the trail, provided I don’t get lost or distracted by something shiny.

Till next time
jw

Technique: Saturation as a Photographer’s Opioid

In photography, playing with saturation is like walking a tightrope – thrilling, daring, and slightly less likely to end in a dramatic tumble. When applied with precision, it can elevate an image, adding depth and vibrancy. Yet, the temptation to overindulge can be difficult. Excessive saturation risks rendering photographs unnatural, pushing them into the realm of ‘Disney-chrome’—a world where colors are too intense to be accurate. This impacts the aesthetic appeal and can be problematic when printing. Over-saturated photos, significantly beyond a medium’s color gamut, lose their subtle gradations, often resulting in blotchy areas that mar the final product, like a print or book.

Hue and Saturation Pallet with this Photoshop tool, you can add saturation to a photo until it had day-glow colors, or you can remove the color to make the image pastel or even black and white.
Hue and Saturation Pallet With this Photoshop tool, you can add saturation to a photo until it has day-glow colors, or you can remove the color to make the image pastel or even black and white.

For the photography enthusiasts, here’s a peek behind the curtain: When tweaking the saturation in this week’s photograph, I worked with values that might seem conservative to some. The overall saturation was subtly lifted to a value of +5, while the green hues were enhanced a second time using a slider value of +10. These numbers aren’t pulled out of a magician’s hat but result from countless trials, errors, and what some might call an unhealthy obsession with color balance. Like a chef’s secret recipe, these values are part of what makes the image uniquely mine. Feel free to experiment with your concoctions, but remember: With great power (or slider control) comes great responsibility.