A Sunset Toast

      Yesterday evening in the vineyard we had a little gathering of friends.  The sun was setting and we had a special bottle of wine so we offered up a toast to a special member of our group who was missing.

      Lilly Hoffman passed away 2 weeks ago as a result of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  The most tragic thing was that she was only 3 years old.

She would have loved to be with us, because the vineyard was one of her favorite places.  She loved grapes and helped us pick the grapes for the wine we were toasting.  Last year our Late Harvest Vidal which will be released in November was picked with Lilly's help so we affectionately call it Lilly's Wine.  It has an extra special sweetness imparted by her extra sweet little girl.  

      Lilly's grandparents have set up a foundation to benefit research on Childrens Diseases and the Milton S Hershey Medical Center's Childrens Hospital.  Please help us help other children in Lilly's memory.

The Lily Bennett Foundation

C/O Northwest Savings Bank

1048 East Main Street

Palmyra, PA. 17078

Here is a Pennlive news piece done for Lilly.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/09/rocky_mountain_spotted_fever_l.html