A Day in Sierra Foothills Vineyards
I am fortunate enough to have met many warm and generous individuals in my lifetime, but none so much as my friend, Bertus, who I was able to follow as he checked out 9 vineyards, in order to get a sense of how the grapes were doing. Not only is he the winemaker for Farm Collective Wines (which includes Tank Garage, and T-vine wineries), but also, Belong Wine Co., which he and his wife, Alli, own.
Bertus van Zyl: A true gentleman, and talented Winemaker.
At the start of the day, driving from Napa out to Loomis.
Even as early as we started, it was already hot by the time we go to Loomis. We would eventually work our up to Placerville and above, and at some places, we’d be facing 105 F heat. We were all prepared with big hats, shorts, and dirty boots (that would get even more dirt on them).
Still earlier in the day, and here we are checking out some Barbera, and walking through pretty flat and even vineyards. This would change over the course of the day, as the higher in elevation we got, the steeper some of the vineyards became.
“Would the valleys were your streets, and the green paths your alleys, that you might seek one another through vineyards, and come with the fragrance of the earth in your garments.”
When you’re on your feet, and in intense heat much of the time, you gotta show off your dusty boots & calves!
One of the few B&W shots in this series, but some images work better that way!
The sheer diversity of locations, soils, grape varietals & intensity of the Sun (which jumped from 80F to 105F), was just amazing.
I could keep posting photos of row upon row, grape cluster after grape cluster.
It truly was a fun day, full of dust, sun, and sweat, but with a touch of magic. I hope to follow Bertus and his team out again, and I especially look forward to Harvest!
See you again soon!
