Balancing Act

As I enter the winery this morning, the assistant winemaker (my “boss”) says, “you’re not scared of heights are you?”. My immediate reaction is a sense of thrill…why, yes I am slightly uncomfortable in high places, I think to myself. I chuckle, and answer, “well, I guess it depends how high?” with a big smile and a keen interest of what might be in store for me today.

So, she instructs me that she’s going to have me do the punchdowns on all the fermenting bins of grapes lined up in front of us. Something new. I’m in!! So we find the wooden plank which we strategically place over the bin, and she reminds me that because there is a lot of CO2 coming off of the ferments, that I must be careful as I balance up over the bins, punching down the grapes with the punchdown tool (something like on oversized plunger but made of metal, and with a flat area that “punches down” the grapes as you press it into the bin of fruit). The CO2 can make one dizzy and heady, potentially losing balance. Notoriously there’s always a person you hear about every year (usually an intern, like myself), who inhales too much CO2 while doing punchdowns and falls in the liquid bin of fermenting grapes and drowns. So, let that NOT be me - I’m having way too much fun to go now!

Systematically, as if on cue, one by one the more experienced cellar hands pass by and give me pointers like “you know, there’s a bigger tool that might work even better”, and “you know, you don’t have to use so much bending (I translate this into ab work) - you can just plunge the tool down with one hand and stay upright to make it easier”. Everyone is so helpful, and in the end these tips pay off. Nonetheless, imploring all tips - soon I feel droplets of sweat forming on my back and gently rolling down like a small Oregon waterfall. Who needs the gym when you have 10 punchdowns to do!?!? LOL. This work really appeals to not only the wine-curious in me, but my background in personal training and yoga. I mean, here I am, straddling fermentation bins, essentially doing upright ab work. (Good, because I haven’t been to the gym since I started this adventure, and who knows when I’ll get back there!?!).

My new favorite activity. Punchdowns. See the video, note the dancehall version of Pat Benatar playing in the background. Love the music choices of my workmates!

See you again soon for more fun, from the sorting table to the cellar!