Ending in Cromwell

I never thought I'd be sad to move on from manual labor and so far I'm still spot on with that assessment. Sad wouldn't be the right word. Its more of a nostalgic feeling for time that has, as usual, slipped through my fingers too quickly. It's hard to believe that we're finished with a harvest that three weeks ago seemed beyond reach. I have learned so much about grapes: how they are grown, the types, the tastes, how to harvest, how to prune, how to take them from the vine all the way through to the final product, and how to enjoy the final product that much more. I am so thankful to the people that took me through the process and put up with the occasional grape involved shenanigan. We stayed at our mentor and friend's place last night and had a feast of wine and cheese. Thank you Michael for everything. Here I sit on the dawn of a new day with my part in Carrick's 2009 Vintage complete. It's a sunny morning with birds everywhere. The nets that have held them back from fruity deliciousness are removed for the year and they are taking full advantage of grapes left on the vine by those with high hopes in quality over quantity. The rising sun has shut the door on two days of bad weather and the final clouds are receding to reveal the newly snow capped mountains that surround the BannockBurn Valley. While the vines have been abused the past two weeks with cold snaps and eager hands, they hold on to few leaves of the goldest color. This in combination with all others resisting change to the bitter end paints another sunrise of epic proportions. The dawn of a new day.