Last week we were blessed with warm, springtime temperatures that remind us how lucky we are to live along the beautiful Central Coast.

Grape growers from Edna Valley to Los Alamos continue to look for warm days to push timid chardonnay vines and shake off the effects of the cold weather we had back in late January and early February.

Many of our vines that grow in the colder, low-lying areas of our vineyards are a little behind the vines growing in the warmer areas. I am sure we will get our warm weather and everything will even out.

I was able to check on the vines growing to our north as Karen, Kathleen, Clayton and my mom made our way along Highway 101 to San Francisco earlier this month.

We were on our way to see my nephew Keith, Dana and Marsha/s youngest boy, perform his student recital as part of his graduation from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

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As we leave Paso Robles after picking up Mom, I look toward the hills that still have the remnants of almond orchards, dry land grain operations and, of course, cattle that remain a big part of the area/s agricultural economy.

Winegrapes, the relative newcomer to the area, begin to appear on both sides of the highway as we make our way toward San Ardo.

Row after row of meticulously kept vines create a sharp contrast to the dry hills surrounding the vineyards along the Kings Highway toward King City, once home to the world/s largest contiguous vineyard, San Bernabe.

San Bernabe Vineyard was originally planted by McCarthy Farming and later managed by my brother, Dana, for many years.

As we continue north past King City, the agricultural wonderland of the Salinas Valley begins to show off its bountiful array of vegetables.

We pass the strawberry fields of Aromas and Watsonville and the artichoke capital of the world, Castroville. We continue north among the rich soils of San Benito County and soon pass Gilroy, the garlic capital of the world.

Soon the landscape gives way to more and more housing developments as we continue northwest on Highway 85.

We enter San Francisco from Highway 280 and begin to find our hotels. Because it is the Bay-to-Breakers marathon weekend, hotel rooms are in short supply. Dana, Marsha and Mom are staying on Columbus Street. Karen, the kids and I are staying on Van Ness.

After a few nerve-racking twists and turns, we find Mom/s hotel and drop her off. Then we head back to our hotel to get ready for a prerecital family dinner near the Music Conservatory on Oak Street.

We leave our car at the hotel and take advantage of its transportation to the restaurant, where I/m looking forward to relaxing and enjoying one or two bourbon-and-water cocktails with dinner.

Karen and Chuck Grigg, Marsha/s aunt and uncle, along with their family, join us for dinner, along with both of Keith/s grandmothers, my mom and Georgiana Phelps.

Many readers may remember that Karen and Chuck lived in the Valley for many years. Karen worked at the medical clinic down by the hospital during that time; now Chuck and Karen reside in Sacramento.

Steve Kent, Marsha/s brother, and his son Austin join the party as well. Steve and I were in the same class in high school. Steve and his wife Kathy now live in Prescott, Ariz. We have a great dinner and soon are off to the recital.

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music is located on two campuses. The older campus is located on 19th Street, while the new modern campus where Keith/s recital is being held is located on Oak Street.

We enter the building and soon are directed to the Recital Hall. As we enter, there is seating for around 50 people, with a stage complete with a grand piano.

Soon Keith appears, dressed in a suit and tie. He bows to the audience and makes his way to the piano. He is followed by his girlfriend, Irene Chung, a gifted soprano who sings four Federico Garcia Lorca poems, transformed from poetry to music by Keith.

This is followed by Keith/s arrangements of &#8220Ave MariaC and the &#8220Lord/s Prayer,C sung by the angelic voices of eight of Keith/s friends who are also students at the Conservatory.

The recital ends with the &#8220Surround Sound Suite,C an arrangement using computer programs to simulate the exact sounds of a full orchestra.

I am proud to say that Keith is one of the first students at the Conservatory to utilize this cutting-edge technology.

All businesses are looking for ways to cut labor expenses. This appears to be a way to create background music for movies and advertisements without having to hire musicians.

The day after the recital, Karen, the kids and I visit the San Francisco Zoo, then make our way home. San Francisco is a great place to visit, but I am sure glad to live where we do.

Keith graduated from the Music Conservatory on May 22. Now it is time to put his talents to the test. I see great things in his future.

Kevin Merrill is a vineyard manager for Mesa Vineyard Management in Santa Maria. He is president of the Central Coast Wine Growers/ Association Foundation and serves as a board member for the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau. He can be reached at kmerrill@mesavineyard.com.

June 3, 2007