What's Up in the Vineyard?

Or, in this case, What's Down in the Vineyard?

Riley (the "ri " in satori) and the Sun down.

Every evening, at sundown -- 5:17 PM today here -- whomever is around drops everything, grabs a glass of Satori, and sets out for a sunset stroll around the vineyard.

No agenda ... nothing to do ... just a nice ritual opportunity to connect and talk ... to notice things in the vineyard that might need tending to ... to laugh at the pack of dogs (7 this week due to Elan, a temporary member) who love this ritual and race around and through and under the vines like greyhounds ... to admire the shifting cloud formations and colors ... to imagine fun ways to expand the play in so many ways.

Last night T. told us that he bought 150 pounds of oat hay seed that he is going to attempt to plant along the inner edge of the fence around the property so that the horses have something else to eat this spring other than the young shoots of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Riley, as usual, invited (firmly) his Mom to a foot race ... and she, as usual, complied, running in her cowboy boots. Fortunately, Riley had a little friend, Kelly, along for the jaunt this time, so Adorah was able to drop out after the first few sprints.

We talked about the itinerary for this Saturday's trip to the award "tasting ceremony" for the San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Tasting Competition ... at Fort Mason in San Francisco ... 2 to 5 PM for anyone who wants to join the throngs that will be there ... where we will be pouring our Gold Medal winners ... the 09 JoyoUS and 09 Merlot of the Violet Flame.

And, afterwards, as usual, we sat down somewhere outside and continued the conversation until it grew too cold ... and then we went in and made tacos.

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