International regulations call for a court 91 feet long and 13 feet wide, but a court of 60 feet by 10 feet is sufficient for most needs. Then a thick layer of oyster shells, and over that comes the surface layer of oyster flour. The flour is quite fine, and sifts down to fill in the courser layers. You work it with a roller until the surface becomes very dense and very smooth. Preston admits to holding the occasional tournament, but insists that they're never formal.
Winery visitors keep the courts fully occupied all day on weekends.
They picnic, eat bread, play with the cats and play bocce. And as to those rumors of nude bocce ball, Preston winks and shakes his head. Sonoma County was heavily settled by Italian immigrants who recognized an intimate geophysical resemblance to their native Tuscany and Piedmont. He believes the game is an important part of his Italian heritage. People would sit around drinking wine, telling stories and playing bocce.