A “Normal” day isn’t possible this time of year. Just when you think things are wrapping up, another crush.
I was supposed to finish up shipping orders this week, but instead we rushed off to rent a U-haul pick-up truck this morning then headed right to the winery to prep for crush tomorrow. The winery is 45 minutes north of home, the vineyard we are picking up grapes from is 30 minutes south of home. So…all the way up to the winery for prep, then all the way back down the valley to drop off bins. Makes for a long day, especially with the time change…seems like it gets dark around 3pm.
I can also tell when Paul is tired and still trying to post Blogs to keep everyone looped in to the goings on at the winery this time of year. Here a typo, there a typo…I’m not going to correct them now.
New Orleans was a blast, I have photos I want to post as well. Ingrid was very generous with her wine(s) that we shipped to ourselves for ‘wine hour’ in the courtyard of the rental. I was away the following weekend during the cabernet harvest to see friends in New Mexico. My best friends husband surprised her with a “proper” engagement ring (they’ve been married since 1990) and to reassert his love and devotion to her. The catch: Those of us that traveled to be there as part of the surprise, had to ride the tram to the top of Sandia Peak, 2.7 miles, UP.
I’m glad I did it, but I will admit I was nervous about it. I also have photos from that to share.
We hosted a small pumpkin carving party before Halloween and kudos to my mother in laws boyfriend Bill, he brought me wallboard cutting tools to use and they were perfect!! Yes, I have pumpkin pictures too somewhere I need to pull. I told you, it’s not a normal time of year, it’s very moment-to-moment.
To recap today: I did get another 15 boxes delivered to UPS for shipping, picked up the rental truck and a pallate jack, lunch at La Penita (beer and tacos), then I took Brix readings of the wines fermenting now (syrah, estate cabernet, haut tubee blends). Paul moved the crusher/destemmer and pump and hoses, I stirred the lees in the chardonnay barrels, we hooked up the equipment, then I washed the big tank that is outside and prepped it for tomorrow….you get the idea, it’s a long complicated day and it didn’t involve a single paper jam at the copier or a TPS report.
At Martin Ranch we were greeted by a sticky and tired Therese. Her first words were, I wish I wasn’t in this business on days like today!!! We all laughed and agreed that harvest and crush are brutal. I said I liked it better when this was Paul’s hobby and not my job!!!
I am going to make sure we arrive early enough tomorrow so that I can pick the prickly pears and get some margaritas going this weekend. That was the old routine, Paul did all the work, I futzed around with cactus fruits…
I’ll see about photos tomorrow from crush and other non-sense I’ve rambled about.