A Flat Tire paired with Rosé
Slowly getting through the leaf pulling, I sense this may be one of the final days out in the vines. Bittersweet! (ha, I won’t miss the screeching sounds!!)
After some vineyard work it was declared that this would be our final day in the field (a premonition?? ;-)). I can now say “we” because these last two days have been generally two or three of us doing different rows to try and complete the process. At this stage I feel like the main job is done and a sense of accomplishment therein - the small amount remaining are rows which have been affected by frost and other “adversities” and they are not producing well. The bulk of the grapes are now at their best and ready for harvest!! yay!
We spent a few extra minutes out in the vines goofing off and enjoying the beauty of the gorgeous grapes. (See photos). We heard that the pickers would be arriving soon and to head to the crushpad for delivery of not only our grapes (about to be harvested) and grapes from other vineyards too…
Again, the buzz of the harvest in the air! After some more work on the crushpad as grapes get processed and sent to their first fermentation vessel, things slowly come to a soft end. Whew! What a fun and educational day.
Feeling good, I finish and make my way out, along the way meeting one of the other staff who happens to be hanging out having a glass of wine. We’re introduced and I think, hey, another cool colleague, excellent!
With a big smile I hop into the car and begin my descent down the driveway only to notice that my tire pressure light is on. Hmmm…I DID notice it on the way out but I shrugged it off as “weather change” since that has happened before. As I begin to drive off I realize that NO, my tire is FLAT FLAT FLAT. I back up and head back to the winery parking lot. UGH!!!
I walk back up to where my colleague (about to become hero) is sitting, and he jumps up and says “well, hey, let’s put on the spare, no problem”! At the same time I am offered a glass of wine by the assistant winemaker (“my boss”) to help ease the pain. I absolutely accept, opting for a Rosé of Pinot Noir, which was delicious on this warm, sunny afternoon.
The tire is changed in mere minutes and I have a new hero. We chat for a while at the outdoor space of the winery as the sun goes down, ever so sweetly. I am happy that I am not alone here - I have no cell phone service in the area and have only just met this “hero” work mate, without whom I might have been stranded for hours. Phew!!!
Feeling very grateful I head back home, with a smile and definitely a little extra “happy” from that Rosé…
Another fun day!
