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Here at BOW, we sometimes like to write about what we're up to. This Blog page is our chance to report from the front line of wine making and we hope you like our silly little thoughts!
The Harvest
Posted on: 21st August, 2009
Friday and the routine is about to be shredded, just when it had finally been established. I've handled the inbox yesterday, paid the bills Wednesday, dug out Tuesday, and debriefed Monday. Assorted meetings and a bit of hands-on work went into the winery. I made it a week of fighting the dumb proposed ordinance and carved out a few wins. On the whole it was a good week!
But next Friday, one week from today the special things begin. Barring rain or meteor impact, we should bring in our first harvest of the season; our first ever off the property; our Seyval Blanc: the dry wine. Sharon's wine!
Then shall begin the long, long days: juicy sticky work, travels around the state in the big truck collecting fruit, logistical management nightmares, cutting the fruit from the vines at the first light of dawn, friends as volunteers and volunteers now friends, bees and more bees, customers watching and asking and learning, Sharon and Rick crushing and yelling and cursing and laughing. Little sleep happens and Sharon may skip much of her workout schedule at the gym. Rick will struggle to not smoke more than a few cigs. After hauling fruit, I'll squeeze in bookwork evenings then hit the crush pad to clean around 11pm or midnight most nights. Sharon and Rick will essentially give up sleeping.
This is the heart of the dream my friends; it is the act of creation. It is the regimen and release of being part of a team. It is the hands in the earth and spirits in the heavens as we become part of the ancient tribal ritual of the harvest. It is the bacchanal; the sacrament...it is the blood and the sweat and the tears. It is the sublime and the profane and it is always beautiful!
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- One Journey at a Time. My brother Ben and his wife Kathy travelled around the country this summer with their two kids, Genevieve and Sebastian. Kathy wrote a storyu of the trip and she has posted her photos and story of their visit to us. Enjoy!
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