It first shows itself in the way the car slows just after turning into the driveway. It's hard for them to focus on the gravel drive when their necks are craned to take in the long rows of hybrids shooting skyward from ribbons of black soil.
Then, about 75 minutes into whatever "chore" they enthusiastically volunteered for, it becomes clear to them that commercial viticulture is neither gardening nor yard work. I usually offer them a snack or a nap then, feeling bad that they haven't yet acclimated to my reality: yes, there are 40 plants per row and 16 rows.
It's a lot, I know. Have a cookie.
Finally, after a hearty meal, or two, and a good night's sleep, there's the glow of accomplishment that washes over guests when they realize that perseverence does reap visible rewards. They are then free to assume ownership over their portion of the three year process of turning roots into wine.
Every step along the way is a vital one, after all. And all volunteers are held up as heros around here.
This is Steph, who volunteered to help remove grow tubes. Tony likened the process to taking training wheels off of a child's bicycle. The tubes acted like individual greenhouses for the root stock, giving each plant warmth and protection to get off to a good start. But now the vigorous plants need to start the hardening process before winter hits. So, it was off with the tubes.
Some of the vines surprised us with how much vigor they actually delivered inside the tubes. Here, a Marquette had developed a cluster of grapes. Steph pinched these off whenever she found them.
And, try as we might to get every weed away from every vine, every now and then, Steph found one worthy of noting.
At the end of a weekend, there was only one word to describe it: Beautiful!
With great thanks to Steph (and Amos) and Tony for donating a weekend to the cause.
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