The most random combo, believe me I know. But what do you get when you mix a girl whose job consists of managing a vineyard for winemaking, and a boy on 35 inch tires? Camping and Cabernet! Granted, cabernet is not my favorite red varietal, and camping is not for everyone. But! What better way to combine the most random two topics than to post them on a random website where the most random people can come and meet and learn a little something about wine and off-roading.
First off, let me introduce myself. My name is Sara, I’m 23, and I live in Southern California where I work at a winery that is known for their sparkling wine and Café full of Temecula history. I am formally known as an Enologist down here in Southern California, specializing in the health and maintenance of the vineyards, research that goes on behind the scenes of winemaking, as well as gathering data through intensive lab work to make additions, finings, and tasting notes (learn more through my Instagram @campingandcabernet). My boyfriend, of a year and a half, is from Southern California as well, and he specializes in a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with a 5.5 inch lift, long arm kit, 35 inch tire set up with a Front Runner rooftop tent that we can essentially live in.
My knowledge on the subject of wine came well past college. I received my Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from California State University Channel Islands in May of 2021. Originally, I wanted to go into the field of Marine Biology, as that’s what I focused mostly on while getting my degree. While life had other plans for me, the ocean and all of its inhabitants still hold a special place in my heart, and I always love a good marine conversation! I landed my winery gig by getting to know the Vineyard Manager and Winemaker at a winery near my hometown, and told them of my educational background, and I started as a field intern while finishing up my senior year of college since covid shut my campus down. After graduating, I persisted with gaining a full time position, and now I assist in the vineyard management process, and help with winemaking from the dirt up (quite literally).
In April of 2021, I met my boyfriend at a country bar near my house, where he swept me off my feet with his two-stepping skills, childish sense of humor, lust for life outside the mundane, and his big ass Jeep! When we met, it used to be his daily driver before he saved up enough and bought a VW GTI from a friend that is much, much, much friendlier on gas mileage, and we use that on our camping trips as well! But the Jeep lives strong still! Only now we use it as a rock crawling, desert drifting, overlanding vehicle. Having grown up camping, and watching my family get busier as we got older, that hobby slowly fell toward the bottom of our importance totem pole. Until I met my boyfriend—not only do we camp on a regular basis, but we’ve both been fortunate enough to trek back to distant places with no cell service as often as possible. True bliss.
So come with me, and follow along to learn a little something about camping and off-roading as well as become your very own armature sommelier! I hope you enjoy the ride and always have a glass half full…or an empty bottle ;)
Cheers,
Sara