We are continuing our series called ‘Words With Friends’, where we get to know our WKE staff by asking them random and somewhat pointless questions.  If there is something you’d like to learn about Mike post it in the comments section!

Please state your full name, title and how long you’ve worked here:
Michael Rogers, Vineyard Manager, started Nov. 2007

Where are you from?
Dunlap, TN, a little town outside of Chattanooga.

What was the last thing you cooked?
I put some skewers on the barbecue a couple days ago.

Do you have any pets?
Dublin, an Irish Jack Russell Terrier

What was the best thing that happened to you this week?
A great first father’s day, and some fairly decent weather.

Crunchy Peanut Butter or Smooth
Crunchy, doesn’t stick to the roof of your mouth as bad.

What were your best/worst subjects in school and what subjects would you want to learn now?
Best was science, worst was English.  I guess music theory or appreciation.

Do you have any tattoos? Of what?
None, I’m still a clean slate.

Paper or plastic?
Paper, that’s if I forgot the reusable bags.

If you had one extra hour of free time a day, how would you use it?
Playing guitar or banjo.

What book has influenced you greatly? How?
The Border Trilogy by Cormac McCarthy was a great series.  How it actually influenced me, that’s hard to say.  The vivid details of McCarthy’s writings puts you in the shoes of his characters.  It breaks down human nature to it’s very core.  These books are humbling and at the same time they give you a sense that human kind has a decency that comes out when all else has failed.

How are you planning on spending this weekend?
More than likely working, we’ll be moving catchwires now that the vines are growing.

What is your favorite way to waste time at work or procrastinate?
Exactly who all reads this?  Somehow I find myself on top of the hill above Triple Black Slopes looking off over the valley towards the Coastal Range.

We are continuing our series called ‘Words With Friends’, where we get to know our WKE staff by asking them random and somewhat pointless questions.  If there is something you’d like to learn about Thibaud post it in the comments section!

Please state your full name, title and how long you’ve worked here:
Thibaud Mandet, winemaker, 11 years

Where are you from?
Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne region in center of France

What was the last thing you cooked?
Shrimp with Pinot Blanc, home made recipe cooked in pressure cooker

Do you have any pets?
Only few yeast and bacteria during harvest!

What was the best thing that happened to you this weekend?
Finally sleeping in!

Crunchy Peanut Butter or Smooth
Smooth

What were your best/worst subjects in school and what subjects would you want to learn now?
Best: Chemistry
Worst: English (!)
I would want to learn more about History

How often do you clean between your toes?
Everyday

Do you have any tattoos? Of what?
Nope

Paper or plastic?
Paper

If you had one extra hour of free time a day, how would you use it?
Working out

What book has influenced you greatly? How?
Le Grand livre du Vin- Got me interested in learning about wine regions and varietals before to learn about winemaking

What is your favorite way to waste time at work or procrastinate?
Walking in the vineyard on a sunny day!

Sarah Cabot-Moore, Asst. Winemaker

This is the beginning of a new series of posts where we ask our staff completely pointless questions for pure entertainment. Enjoy!

Please state your full name, title and how long you’ve worked here:
Sarah Laurel Cabot-Moore, Assistant Winemaker, 1 year

Where are you from?
San Juan Islands/Seattle WA area

What was the last thing you cooked?
Handmade pasta at Lori’s [WKE Office Manager] beach house.

Do you have any pets?
I have one snorty, blue nose pit bull named Osiris. I’ve had him for 10 years. I didn’t really mean to get a puppy, I just went to the breeder’s house because it was near my house and I thought I’d just ‘check it out’.  See how that ended up?

What was the best thing that happened to you this weekend?
We had an impromptu picnic at the Jory Hills Vineyard.  It was a gorgeous sunny day and we wanted to picnic and I was like ‘I have a key to Jory Hills!’

Crunchy Peanut Butter or Smooth
Smooth.

What were your best/worst subjects in school and what subjects would you want to learn now?
best: Music & Biology  worst: Math (Calculus). I’d take French & Metal shop if I could go back.

How often do you clean between your toes?
Daily, because of yoga.

Do you have any tattoos? Of what?
5 tattoos: a stupid blue rose I got when I was 18 visiting my boyfriend in Alabama; Mandarin characters reading ‘music’, ‘love’, ‘discipline’; a Japanese luck dragon I found in a Japanese fairytale book; a Madrona tree that reminds me of home; and a grapevine on my forearm (it is a VSP, dual-cane pinot plant).

Paper or plastic?
Plastic- so I can use it for poop bags.

If you had one extra hour of free time a day, how would you use it?
Doing yoga (either hatha or vinyasa).

What book has influenced you greatly? How?
Crime and Punishment- it taught me that there is very little distinction between villains and heroes.

What is your favorite way to waste time at work or procrastinate?
Wandering around the vineyard.