Art in the Winery, Naturally!

Without looking too hard, one can find brilliant bursts of spontaneous art sprinkled throughout life.  Discovering such art during the winemaking process is no exception.  Below are images I took of the "dregs" in the bottom of one of the stainless steel tanks that had just been drained of Chambourcin juice for a future port wine we are making.  I walked by the tank, its side portal open, and my eye caught the brilliant, gnarly veins of white amongst the stretches of deep purple.  Natural, beautiful art... caught in the act of just being!

In honor of DrinkLocalWine.com's "Regional Wine Week 2011" I drafted my 47 word essay in the form of a poem.   Here's to Local Wine!!!

From this earth underfoot

Grows a wine that speaks
The language of this place
Not California
Nor Burgundy
Nor regions beyond
But of Virginia’s
Rocky Blue Ridge

Local wine epitomizes
Community
Feasting
Neighbors
Friends raising glasses
Sharing wine grown
In this place
We love to call home