Lisa, I call her “Biscuit” after the champion race horse Sea biscuit because she is a star. I think we have a team of stars. I really do. Anyway, Biscuit has signed me up to do a winemaker dinner and pour in another state, right in the middle of crush! Can you believe that? Okay, it is in one of my favorite cities. It is near where my great grandfather Lummis met my great grandmother Eve. Lummis came up with the phrase “See America First.” He loved the Southwest. But, that is enough clues. If you can figure out where I am and if you come by to see me, I will give you a prize. It will cheer me up to see you. I get depressed when I have to leave the crush.
The grape crush comes once a year. It lasts less than two months for me. I love crush and I resent every day I miss of it. Also, a large portion of my grapes are coming exactly the days I am gone. It’s frustrating. I wait all year for it. I have to wait through pruning, spring, bottling, summer. It is like looking out your window and knowing that something magical is about to happen to you. You get to go to a wonderful world where adventure is waiting for you at every turn. I love winemaking. I love red juice flowing everywhere. I love machines making noise, stainless steel bending by the force of grapes, the smell of fresh cherries, exotic fruits, dark berries. Everyone is excited, a little tense and nervous. You don’t want it to go away. Everything is accelerating at twice normal, and that goes for movement, taste, and smells. You don’t want everything or anything to return to normal. But, it goes. It disappears. It challenges you to wait. You wait nine months for it to come again, and it does. It always does, kind of like a perfect Brigadoon.

P.S. Nola, I used some of my letter to you. I hope you forgive me. Have fun in San Diego. I recorded Mad Men so I can watch it when I get back. I will miss crushing some Russian River Pinot. The Chard is on hold till next week.