Pressing business.

Vinomaker and I pressed off a lot of wine this afternoon.  A lot!  (Two batches of St. Helena Cabernet sauvignon and Vinoland's Syrah.)  As usual, Vinomaker had slightly underestimated how juicy the Syrah grapes were and so there was a bit of a scramble to find another container to transport the wine from the crush pad up to Vinoland's modest barrel chai.  It was a busy day.
But not before I had taken a quick jaunt up to Oakville to join my co-workers at TWWIAGE in celebrating the end of Harvest 2016.  The vineyard crew at TWWIAGE had harvested the last grapes back on October 8th.  (TWWIAGE's last tank of Cabernet Sauvignon was pressed off on October 17th and was commemorated with a sparkling wine toast.) Those vineyard lads definitely know how to throw a harvest party: it is by far my favourite celebration of the season. Actually, it will be my only harvest party this year, as I won't be able to make it to the other two that I have been invited to.  I have other pressing engagements.

Vino inferno.

What a great idea, burning old cordons in a BBQ instead of briquettes.  Today was the annual harvest party that the vineyard workers at TWWIAGE throw for everybody.  It's the best Mexican food, ever!  The hot, bubbled, cordon-toasted tortillas were delicious.  Burn baby burn.

Carnitas and tequila?

Carnitas and tequila?  That was Vinomaker's proposition to me earlier in the week.  How could a Vinogirl refuse?
Well, I'm always up for carnitas, but the tequila?  I think I'll pass. Besides, there was plenty of great wine on offer at the 'Carnitas and Tequila' event at Mi Sueño Winery this afternoon.  Dead pig - with tortillas, frijoles, pico de gallo and spicy sauce - was available in abundance, as was a plethora of Cabernet Sauvignons, Syrahs, Pinot noirs and red blends.  Rolando Herrera is not only the proprietor of Mi Sueño, but he also is the winemaker for a butt-load (technical term) of other wineries, amongst them Baldacci, Coho, Longfellow and Spotted Owl.
What a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours on a sunny, January afternoon.  Olé!