Our friends CG and JS invited us this weekend to join CGs family in a grape pick in Sonoma.
Now, picking grapes is hard, honest labor. Yet, it's not at all the same as, say, picking cotton. First of all, the setting is gorgeous. Second, picking grapes for wine that you will someday have the opportunity to taste is one of those fairy tales that people in OTHER parts of the country only get to read about.
So we got out to this gorgeous vineyard about 3.5 miles outside of Sonoma town square, and got started. The vines here are all Bordeaux varietals - Cab Sauvingon, Cab Franc & Merlot - and we were out around 500lbs of the second growths. We made great headway in the morning, and after a nice break for lunch, wrapped up around 2:30.
Mr. & Mrs. G were hosting the "pickers" for dinner that evening, so we headed out to their absolutely beautiful home in Santa Rosa, where the 500lbs of grapes were destemmed & crushed (and, in case you wondered, yellowjackets love grapes!). Once C and I were showered and cleaned up a bit, Mr. G gave us a tour of his absolutely amazing family wine production. A few dozen gallons of the above grapes, along with Sauv Blanc, Viognier & even Gewurtzraminer. After the lesson in vinification (which, no joke, I aspire to be able to do someday, if only to cover my property tax costs), we headed back upstairs to relax for a bit.
Mrs. G fed us soooo well with a wonderful baked ziti, garlic eggplant (Mrs. G - I'd love that recipe if you're so obliged) & salad, plus a delicious lemon pie. Mr. G complemented these with his delicious Gewurtz to start, followed up by the 2002 Cab Franc and 2001 Cab Sauvignon.
Many, many thanks to Mr. & Mrs G and family for an absolutely wonderful day, and phenomenal company. Count us in next year for the grape pick weekend - we can't imagine a better way to spend the day!