Happy to be a Vineyard Owner

      I took this picture this afternoon in the winery just prior to our upcoming harvest.  I'm not one for selfies but I wanted to record the joy I felt as I ran tests on our grapes and enjoyed the moments leading up to the insanity of picking, crushing and making wine.  The test numbers from the grapes this season indicate that it will be a tremendous harvest.  We made it through the early frost, navigated the wet, cool Summer with no problems and ended the season with every grape growers fantasy, a dry autumn.  It can hardly get any better leading up to harvest but now it's SHOWTIME!  For the next 6 weeks we will be burning the candle at both ends as we spend our days as parents, teachers and friends but hurry home to pick the grapes and make the wine each evening and night.

     I don't mean to sound like I am complaining because the satisfaction I receive from having so many wonderful people coming out to the Vineyard on Saturday mornings to help us pick and the way our families come together to accomplish this awesome task is amazing.  Maybe part of it is also the anticipation and anxiety that I know I will feel through November, December, January and February until all the wine is in a bottle or a barrel and I can really savor its quality.  This is one of those years where the pressure is on to make an excellent vintage because the fruit is just beautiful.  Soooo, I will remember this happy selfie and look at it often in the upcoming weeks.  Help me out by reminding me how happy I am to be the owner of a vineyard and winery when thing get crazy this coming weekend and next week.