My hands are stained, my voice is horse, the few muscles I have are sore but I still have a huge grin on the inside. Harvest party was an absolute hoot and not many things could have made it better. As you can see from the photo below, we had a great turn out with 80 or so fun people. I woke up Friday morning with a list of things that would take an average worker 10 hours. Naturally it took me 12. When I scratched off the last item on that list the phone rang. Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay was coming in and with the hectic Saturday just hours away, it had to be crushed that night. It would probably compare to you sitting in your cubical on a Friday afternoon getting ready to go meet some friends after work when suddenly the boss walks up and isn't satisfied with your TSP reports. Luckily, EOTM Runner-Up, Ryan stayed and helped me while Kris entertained a fun group from Insitu, a Bingen company who is very supportive of our community.
Saturday morning was like Christmas to me. Not because I was in Mexico on the Wind River Cellars Holiday in Mexico trip but because I was showered with stolen office supplies. I won't name the people who showered me. If I did they could lose their jobs and I would lose my source of free post it notes and staplers.
The weather was nearly as perfect as the grapes and everything was off the vine by 4:00, thanks to the great job everyone did. Congrats to Vineyard Manager, Gavin. The 2007 vintage might be the best I've ever seen from our estate vineyard. Special thanks go to Lap Dance Jon. I pretende to be busy on the forklift and asked him to help some folks in the tasting room. I don't think he got out of there before 5:00. Jon's great in the tasting room but the advice he gave my son for his science project sucked more than that couple from Santa Cruz.
The harvest party went late into the night with live music and Pretty Boy Jay serving up endless comedy. I can't wait until next year.
I'm coming down the stretch. Only Pinot Noir and Lemberger remain. My memories of the weekend will provide great inspiration to finish up a fantastic vintage.
Come up and see what's going on. Josh, the MVP of the Wind River Cellar Golf Scramble will be here Friday. If you want to come up and see a real treat, this weekend is the time to do it.
You were meant for me, and I was meant for you, Husum.
Joel
