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There are good reasons to find oneself here in February. Mostly because it's warm enough outside to BE OUTSIDE. For this wine explorer, it is being close to the vineyards that creates that connection between wine and vine.
On my past wine tours it was always my goal to get my clients to the source. Where the wine is "created", that is of course, the vineyard. My fellow wine geeks will tell you that the wine is made in the vineyard. The winemakers job is to allow the fruit to "express" itself in the wine.
You can't make good wine from poor grapes, but you can make poor wine with good grapes. There in lies the talent of a good winemaker. This time of the year it's their job, along with the vineyard manager to get ready for the vines to re-awake from their Winter's Rest. The major work in this season is to prune back the vines and set the stage for the next growing season.
It's comforting to see the workers in the vineyard now. Good care means good grapes.
Around here you can walk or even bike (on mild days) past the vineyards and maybe shout out a few words of encouragement!
