Tasty grapes.

I probably didn't have to get my refractometer out today and perform a sugar sample of the Pinot grigio (PG).  Nope, I really should have known that the PG grapes were very close to maturity, and thus harvest, by simply observing my chickens' behaviour of late.  Yup, my six girls are really enjoying the ripening grapes.  Rather unfortunate, that.
There is a retaining wall at the top of the PG block and Lizzie, Pansy, Maro, Annie, Rosie and Gracie seem quite content to sit there and snack away to their little hearts' content.  The rachis in the photograph is picked clean, absolutely nekkid.  Full clusters on the far side of the vine that they cannot reach are still intact.  And I thought I had problems with the wild bird population.  Hmmph.
I sampled anyway and the PG is at 23.2 °Brix; the grapes taste fabulous and, what's left of them, look great.  Now, if I could train the chickens to poop only in the vineyard I may overlook their thieving of my hard-farmed crop.

2B, or not to be, in Napa.

Tonight I had the pleasure of meeting  Dr. Jeremey Parzen who is the author of one of my very favourite blogs, Do Bianchi. Accompanied by his Italian buddy, winemaker Giovanni Arcari (pictured at left), Jeremy took time, out of his busy meeting filled day, to drive up to Yountville (where I was representing TWWIAGE at a private event hosted at Brix Restaurant), to say a quick hello.  It was short and sweet, but really nice to meet a fellow blogger.  Thanks 2B.

Did you know that there is no Italian word for bromance?  Me neither.

Brix and mortar.

All too often Christmas can become a blur of glossy tinsel, twinkling lights, and unrestrained consumerism.   How often can we say that we relaxed and simply enjoyed the spirit of the season?   As I get older, I am increasingly aware of the fact that the memories of quality time spent with loved ones and friends are the greatest gifts I receive each Yuletide.

This evening, Vinomaker and I enjoyed the company of my co-workers and friends at Brix in Yountville.  Good company, good food, good wine (and a fun mealtime game of passing a novelty gift to your table-mate on the right after each course), were shared by one and all.  This bricks and mortar restaurant, that at any other time of the year is merely a place to grab a bite to eat, tonight became not just a building but the physical embodiment of the Christmas spirit.   A good time was had by all.

Merry Christmas to all my co-workers!