OK, we're in double digits of the number of days where the high temperature is in Triple digits. Highest I've seen is 121. But at least the humidity is high-ish. (45% humidity with a high of 121 is...well...uncomfortable.) Unfortunately, the rain gods have not gotten around to lowering the humidity by raining some of that water vapor out of the air. Grass is pretty brown around here. Which raises the chance of a four letter F-word substantially.
No, Beans, get your mind out of the gutter! That particular F-word is "Fire".
There have been a few, but the Fire Departments in the area have managed to control them fairly quickly.
Lord, please let THAT trend continue!
One of the benefits of triple digits, is the grapes in the vineyards in the area are ripening fairly early this year. And because of the drought, the quality of the juice, I've been told, is very concentrated so, very good. So, my winemaker friends at Texas Hills Vineyard are a bit excited over that.
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But, our traveling buddies, who also happen to be those winemakers, have a harvest celebration day around this time every year. Typically it revolves around this theme.
OK, maybe not the wrestling part.
This is more like it.
My job (inside where it's Air Conditioned) was to cut the grapes from the shoots. That went pretty well and the buckets when full got dumped into the crusher. Once that was full, the juice and the crushed solids gets pumped into the vats, and the wine making process gets started.
It was a lot of physical work, but still interesting and kinda fun.
Finally, two things happened, one, the grapes that had been picked were now in the vat, beginning the process with the crushing of the grapes.
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And, two, we got to try some of last year's whites.
(Reds take a couple of years at least before they're ready to drink. Whites are generally ready the next season.)
So...we had that going for us.
But, this may be the last time for this. Our winemaker and wife are pushing 85 and 78 respectively. So the vineyard and winery are up for sale.
If any of you folks out there are interested...I'd be happy to introduce you.
How many wineries are there IN Texas, juvat? Well, according to this site there are 200+ currently, making Texas the fifth largest producer in the US.
Well...
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I'm in the middle of the cluster just north of San Antonio and west of Austin
Peace out y'all!
