And here it is. Strange, though, because Ray and I looked at each other two weeks ago and told each other, "Sure feels like harvest." By that, we didn't mean the weather. We meant how tired we felt. Not a good sign.
Harvest is what I live for, outside of my family. It's why I am a winemaker. It's when the excitement happens. It's when we make all the decisions that we're going to have to live with intimately for the next 12 months or so, but really for the rest of our lives in one way or another. And what usually happens is that the decisions that really matter come sometime in late October when we're dead tired.
It doesn't seem fair, but it's also the allure that harvest has for me. I use to race hurdles years ago. Sprinters are all about psychology, and like most athletes, they have to believe that they can do things better than others. I's pure competition. It's about raising your self up to a challenge. And what better challenge than to make great wine.
This vintage, 2009, could be a tough one. It's starting out later than normal. But most vintages end at the same point (at the end of October.) What is means is that the same amount of work we get less time to do it in. Not fun. On top of that, this has been a tough year to begin with, and there is a chance that it may finish with the same adversities. Oh, what fun....
Harvest is what I live for, outside of my family. It's why I am a winemaker. It's when the excitement happens. It's when we make all the decisions that we're going to have to live with intimately for the next 12 months or so, but really for the rest of our lives in one way or another. And what usually happens is that the decisions that really matter come sometime in late October when we're dead tired.
It doesn't seem fair, but it's also the allure that harvest has for me. I use to race hurdles years ago. Sprinters are all about psychology, and like most athletes, they have to believe that they can do things better than others. I's pure competition. It's about raising your self up to a challenge. And what better challenge than to make great wine.
This vintage, 2009, could be a tough one. It's starting out later than normal. But most vintages end at the same point (at the end of October.) What is means is that the same amount of work we get less time to do it in. Not fun. On top of that, this has been a tough year to begin with, and there is a chance that it may finish with the same adversities. Oh, what fun....
Carl, if it were easy everyone would be doing it. ;] Maybe your next building should be a h-u-g-e greenhouse; Nah, that would take all of the fun out it, right?
ReplyDeleteDo you ever watch Top Chef? Your occupation is like a quick-fire challenge stretched out over a much longer period: You have to produce an excellent result in the face of diversity and the unknown.
Hang in there, Carl. No pressure, but we're counting on you. :]
, Lee