The Backyard Garden Oasis features a number of cabins. Photo courtesy of Greta Zeit.

MIDDLETOWN – The Backyard Garden Oasis Bed and Breakfast has received a Three Diamond rating from AAA.

This prestigious rating was offered by AAA after the bed and breakfast had been in business and provided a beautiful, peaceful environment and excellent service to thousands of visitors to the Middletown and Lake County area over the past 10 years.

Greta Zeit, the owner of Backyard Garden Oasis Bed and Breakfast, built the cottages and the business itself on a sweet, creekside property on Hilderbrand Drive.

Bed and breakfast owner Greta Zeit. Courtesy photo.

She trained in massage at the School of Shiatsu and Massage at Harbin Hot Springs, and has been providing massage services at the Oasis for the past six years.

Reservations at the Oasis or appointments for massage can be made by calling 987-0505 or by visiting the Web site at www.backyardgardenoasis.com.

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The proposed changes involve the establishment of the Calistoga Viticultural Area as well as a revision to American Viticultural Area Regulations.

Sen. Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa), who represents the premium wine-growing regions of Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties, said that "the proposed TTB regulations will allow deceptive and dishonest wine labels. Consumer protection could be eroded, while the integrity of the wine industry could be challenged."

Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Wine, is principal co-author of the Wiggins measure, Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 22.

"We must protect consumer confidence in wine labels," said Evans. "California has fought hard to have labels that tell consumers exactly what they get in the bottle. Any muddying of these waters is of great harm to our wine industry."

SJR 22 calls on the TTB to withdraw Notices of Proposed Rulemaking Numbers 77 and 78, saying that they pose a threat not only to California’s wine industry, but to all American wine producers and their ability to trade fairly domestically and internationally.

SJR 22 has been scheduled for hearing by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at the State Capitol.

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Pott will be responsible for Langtry’s proposed private championship 18-hole golf course and clubhouse in Lake County.

The proposed Langtry Golf Course project will enhance and preserve the estate’s agricultural tradition and outdoor pursuits which already include world-class bass fishing, mountain biking and hiking trails and equestrian activities.

Pott, a native of Mississippi, brings more than 50 years of experience in the world of golf to Langtry’s efforts.

As a three-time member of winning Ryder Cup teams, a five-time Professional Golf Association Tour winner, including the Bing Crosby National Pro Am (now the AT&T Classic), and a lifetime member of the PGA Tour, Johnny Pott is a golf industry expert.

Since 1972, Pott has been intimately involved in golf course design, construction and operations, and will bring that experience to Langtry.

“We are excited to have such a legendary member of the golf community as part of the Langtry team to construct and operate a golf course that will improve our estate’s outdoor amenities,” said Chuck Doty, President of Langtry Farms.

“Our success as an agricultural enterprise hinges on our ability to improve and expand our vineyard’s production,” Doty said. “The golf course will help us in our effort to make Langtry a wine country and outdoor pursuit destination that will attract industry buyers that can impact substantially our sales and marketing efforts for Lake County agricultural products. Plans for the golf course will employ sustainable development practices to protect and preserve our most valuable asset – our land.”

The addition of golf as another outdoor pursuit is based on Langtry’s aspirations to develop a sustainable business model centered on its existing and expanded agricultural activities. By diversifying operations and enhancing its existing outdoor amenities on the 21,000-acre estate, Langtry will be able to increase production of Lake County agricultural products.

The course is being designed by former PGA player and British Open Champion Tom Weiskopf.

“This project is a unique opportunity to create a core-golf experience without interference from residential development,” said Pott. “I am thrilled to be a part of the project and to be working again with world-class designer Tom Weiskopf to execute a true golf experience in a remarkable setting.”

The golf course, a practice range and a club house will be located on an irrigated pasture area across Butts Canyon Road from the winery. As part of the permitting plans, Langtry is asking to rezone the parcel to rural lands which will ensure land-use consistency across the site. The project will not require any additional water consumption. There is no housing component in the proposal.

“The project is a win-win for Langtry and the community,” said Linda Diehl-Darms, a Middletown business owner. “The golf course project will help provide Langtry with a new amenity to improve its wine sales and in turn, will preserve the agricultural history and character of its land that provides Lake County its charm.”

Following County approvals, the new golf course is expected to open in July 2009.

Langtry Farms LLC is an agricultural estate comprised of approximately 21,000 acres of land in southeastern Lake County and northeastern Napa County, which is used primarily for grape growing and cattle grazing. Langtry Farms is currently developing additional productive uses for the land that complement and enhance the wine making operations, and sales and distribution of Lake County agricultural products.

Visit the farm online at www.langtryfarms.com.

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“Lake County produces an impressive collection of Cabernet Sauvignons, several of which have won gold medals at international wine competitions,” said Shannon Gunier, Director of the Lake County Winegrape Commission. “Tasting these wines collectively allowed us to define the distinct characteristics that set our wines apart from those of other regions. It also offered an opportunity for our winemakers to challenge one other, share expertise and experiences, and help make Lake County wines even better.”

The Cabernets were divided into two flights: wines under $25 from vintage years 2003-2006, and wines over $25 from vintage years 2004-2005. Among the top-rated Cabernets from the under $25 flight were the 2006 Obsidian Ridge, 2004 Dynamite, and 2005 Brassfield Estate. In the $25 and over flight, the top-rated Cabernets were 2004 Snows Lake One, 2004 Steele and 2005 Shed Horn.

“Lake County offers beautiful Cabernets with a distinctive, dense dark fruit character and intense color," said Gunier. “They are not overblown or over oaked. They are beautifully made wines that express the true varietal character of the Cabernet Sauvignon that we grow in Lake County. And they are winning a lot of medals.”

Those in attendance included John Adriance of Snows Lake Vineyard, Mark Burch of Wildhurst Winery, Bob Broman of Bob Broman Cellars, Greg Graham of Gregory Graham Wines, Brent Holdenried of Holdenried Harvesting, Jeff Lyon of Robin Hill Vineyards, Glenn McGourty of UC Cooperative Extension, Rob Roumiguiere of Roumiguiere Vineyards, Donna Roumiguiere of Steele Wines, Malcolm Seibly of Dynamite Vineyards, Clay Shannon of Shannon Ridge Winery, Jim Smith of Nova Winegrape Brokers, Mike Wood of Shannon Ridge Winery, Paul Wagner and Susan Olson of Balzac Communications, and Shannon Gunier and Collette Merrill of Lake County Winegrape Commission.

“Lake County produces some of the highest quality fruit in California,” said Gunier. “The quality of the wine produced from our grapes continues to impress. It’s time for people to taste these wines again and see for themselves what Lake County wines are all about.”

Since its inception in 1992, the Lake County Winegrape Commission has marketed the premium Lake County winegrape growing region to new and existing grape buyers and wineries all over California. The Commission also assists growers in a variety of activities including educational and research programs that benefit growers’ vineyard development.

In 1991, when the statewide California Winegrape Commission was voted down, Bob Roumiguiere, a local Lake County grower and president of the Grape Growers Association, saw the opportunity for local Lake County Winegrape growers to band together and with the LCGGA, spearheaded the creation of a local commission.

Now in its 15th year, the Lake County Winegrape Commission has been instrumental in developing the Lake County winegrape region’s unwavering commitment to high quality winegrapes through education, marketing, and research.

Visit the commission online at www.lakecountywinegrape.org.

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