OUI? JE FAIS DU VIN!

The first and last time I was in California was during my bike trip. Being in Sacramento for nine hours during an amtrak layover gave me a terrific taste of the golden state. Now, I could proudly call this place my home. The vineyard house was a stone's throw from the winery, but this was no issue to me. I have always loved living next to my work. The first couple weeks of work were rather enlightening. That is the pleasant way of saying I showed up not having a fucking clue what was going on! With a notepad in hand and lovely leadership, I quickly learned the terminology and technology. Lucky for me, I was the first person to arrive for this year's harvest. The rest of the crew came a few weeks later. My new team included two Artengtians, an Indian, a Frenchman, and a South African. It did not take long for us to become family! This bond occurs naturally when working six days a week together.

Although most of our time was spent making wine, I still found time to explore the area. Sonoma County and the surrounding areas are surely a sight to see. California's wine country is as beautiful as everyone says it is. My favorite sight was that morning fog floating freely over the vineyards. I was able to get some big-city vibes as well. San Francisco was surely something; those hills are superb. If I could bike in that city, my calves would be legendary. Santa Rosa was another one of my favorites; it is a quaint little city with some interesting drinkeries. Of all the little surrounding towns, I would vote for Guerneville or Sebastopol as my top contenders. Kinda hippy-dippy northern Cali-type vibes, and I totally dig it man.

Achieving my dream of being a tom of traits was simple. One day I might be in the cellar barreling down. I could be in the vineyard the next day doing canopy management. Sometimes you'd find me in the lab running brix and temps. The harvest season flew by fast! In just a few months, I gained numerous new skills. It was clear that I had fallen madly, deeply, unequivocally in love with the winemaking process. I will admit that my heart belongs to the kitchen. Luckily this new skill pairs perfectly and will significantly aid my vision for the future. Working at this family-owned winery gave me the freedom to grow and learn. My time spent here was so amazing I had to agree to another harvest. In the meantime, I have got some adventuring to do!