Journal

The Blackbird in the Vineyard…

Le Merle, the blackbird, came to me in a dream last night. It said, “If you get out of my way, I will grow into something beautiful.”

Sweet peppers were the enemy when I was young. They always seemed to be green, mean and tasted nasty to my youthful palate.

Long ago and far away, I found myself in a tiny Winstub, oblivious that the course of my life was forever to be altered.

The sheriff looked at the totaled tractor with a bit of bemusement. “Those boys must have gone on a wild ride!” he said with a good ole’ boy laugh.

I love the anticipation that builds at the winery before the release of our Vin Gris.

It was yummy and exactly what we intended but we couldn’t call it a rosé or a blush for that matter.

Fall chestnut harvest season is highly celebrated in Japan…

I had never before been in Napa when I crossed the Golden Gate bridge and piloted the “Disco Peugeot” around the bay and into wine country.

Marcien leaves me speechless.

The Romans believed Mars was the guardian of agriculture.

Some dream of oysters with Champagne or Muscadet – I dream of oysters with a nice, chilled glass of our Pinot Blanc.

The west was once the melting pot of great cuisine. Now, all cultures seem to be mining each other’s culinary traditions for inspiration.