Winter Is Moving In Here In Wine Country

Getting rain (our version of winter) instead of the light frost for the past couple mornings, here in Sonoma County. All the grapes have been harvested, tho way too many were left hanging on the vines due to overproduction. Now it's brandy and fireplace weather. Fortunately I live less than 20 miles from Korbel, so getting the brandy is no chore. Cutting firewood is, and I have finished with the maple tree we cut down last year. Going up in smoke as I type.
For anyone not familiar with the scenery during the fall and winter, here's a photo that clearly illustrates what the vineyards ( and my neighborhood) looks like these days:

Spring Has Sprung: Photo To Prove It Here:

Kay enjoys the wisteria while it lasts. Delicate, fragrant but short lived.
Photo taken downtown Sebastopol by my trusty Nikon D70s, set on raw resolution which automatically gives me a jpg work print and fill flash boosted by half a stop. I have not processed the image so the exposure is a little hot.

Bud Break Time In The Vineyards!


Bud break signals the beginning of the 2009 vintage. We won't see the grapes for another 2-3 months but at last the process has begun!