Winery Employee Celebrates 90th Birthday


February 14, 2007



Vintage Worker

Winery employee celebrates 90th birthday

10:00 PM PST on Wednesday, November 1, 2006

By RICK DAVIS
Special to The Press-Enterprise

TEMECULA - Like the vino fare that fills up much of her work space, Vivienne Flesher is vintage all the way.

Special to The Press-Enterprise

Vivienne Flesher, 90, has worked 28 years at Mount Palomar Winery. Flesher has been involved in many tasks at the winery, including her current gig as consultant and greeter, running the first tasting bar in Temecula Valley Wine Country, labeling bottles and conducting tours.

Ultra-vintage, actually. The Temecula resident marked her 90th birthday Oct. 24 with a little celebrating, but nothing that would cause her to miss a shift at Mount Palomar Winery, where she has worked for 28 years.

Bring on another decade, said Flesher .

"Positive thinking, good genes and staying active," Flesher said when asked about her formula for holding off the Grim Reaper. "I remain curious about life. Haven't tried parachuting jumping, but it's probably too late for that."

Through the years, Flesher has done many tasks at the winery, including her current gig as consultant and greeter, running the first tasting bar in Temecula Valley Wine Country, labeling bottles, bottling vino and conducting tours.

Flesher, whose husband, Harry, spent 26 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and died in 1983, said the thought of retiring from her three-day work week hasn't crossed her mind.

"I like being around people and would rather do this than sit in my chair on the porch," she said. "As long as I can do my job, I'm saying right here."

Flesher's adventurous spirit was evident on her 80th birthday, when she went snorkeling for the first time in waters off Hawaii. To mark No. 90, in November she is going on a seven-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera with some family members.

"We wished her a happy 90th and are looking forward to doing the same for her 100th," said Peter Poole, the winery's general manager. "It's nice to know that people like Vivienne are willing to share their knowledge on life."

Flesher said she remains curious about what each new day will bring.

"A lot of people my age," Flesher said, "think about doing something and decide, 'Why do it?' But I like to respond, 'Why not?' "

 



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