Vintage 2007 Napa Valley

October came to Napa Valley bringing with it heavy rain and one final frenzied rush to bring in the last of the grapes. Then, unexpectedly, rather abruptly, an almost eerie post-crush hush fell upon the vineyards. It was as though a curtain had fallen at the close of an epic stage play. The Valley fell silent and reflective. As did I.

Storm clouds cleared towards the end of the day, and the sun set on the vast sea of vineyards now turned autumnal shades of red and gold. There's a chill in the air, and slowly drifting fog banks punctuate the undulating topography of the foothills.

From budbreak through crush, I've been here one full vintage. Time to pause and wonder. What will the future bring? Will I stay here or will I move on?

Living the Wine Country Life is for a wine professional a holy pilgrimage, a dream come true. All that I have learned here, the certification that I have gotten, all the wines that I've tasted, all the people that I've met have given me a diversity of options for the future far beyond what I had imagined before I came here. And yet, would I recommend this to anyone else?