Chambourcin in Primary Fermentor

     We picked 4 tons of Chambourcin today in a Cassel Vineyard record time of 3 hours!  What a beautiful day!  It all started last night at the Friday night Jazz in the Vines Party.  We had a beautiful evening and around 300 people showed up to enjoy the friends, music and wines.  We knew we had to pick Chambourcin this afternoon so I took the opportunity to ask friends in the crowd if anyone would like to help pick today.  I never imagined that 30 people would show up and help us pick today.  The weather cooperated and the clouds blew through as we picked each row clean.  By 3:00 we were done and ready to eat.  The sun came out and we carved up a beautiful pork roast smothered in homemade sauerkraut and topped with fresh ground horseradish.  The roast tasted great with the Chambourcin we picked in 2010.  When we were done, the grapes were picked, the food was gone and everyone had experienced one of the best days they could remember.  That's the funny thing about our harvest parties, its work but it always seems like we shouldn't be able to have such a good time doing our work.  To everyone who helped and made the picking so much fun, we want to thank you.  Next week we will pick our final varietal of the season.  Hopefully it will be as successful as it was this weekend.