Long Wait

We may have finished picking but the work continues up at the winery.  This is the latest harvest ever for us, due largely to the weather earlier in the year that set vine development back several weeks (see April 18th, 2008 - Spring means buds and frost for more details).  You’ll hear a lot of wine growers comment on this unusual vintage.  On a positive note though, our patience (or rather anxious, nail-biting weeks of worry) has paid off - flavors are delicious, tannins ripe and, despite criminally low yields, we are very happy with what we see of 2008.  My thanks go out to our highly diligent and committed team who have dug in over the past two months without complaint as we’ve worked long into the night.  Aside from winemaking we’ve also been busy with other projects.  A new solar array is now mounted atop our recently constructed pergola surrounding the winery.  It will provide us with additional power to the winery as well as shade and protection for visitor’s vehicles.  It has the additional purpose of looking great too.  Our olive harvest is also looking good with a record crop expected.  The majority will be pressed into oil but a chosen few will be cured in our kitchen when we are canning the last of the fall crops in the coming days.  As soon as that is finished the first of the porcini mushrooms should (hopefully) begin poking their heads above ground and we hope to add them to the bounty of Bell Mountain. A daily walk through the secret hunting grounds is always an adventure with delicious discoveries waiting to be made. These diverse and enriching activities are all tonic for the harvest-weary soul and (as always) we are happy to share the experiences with you.