Can't complain about the weather. Although it's been all over the map - much like the emotions and activities of this last harvest - this photo was taken at Tomales Bay at the end of October and the temperature was about 71 degrees with no wind - ideal coastal climate. Rick has created a new tradition - at the end of each Crush season, he takes a random winery intern out to the coast to pick up the oysters for a post-harvest winery celebration for the staff. The outing begins in the late morning with a stop at Wildflour Bakery in Freestone for a couple of loaves of Fougasse - the warm loaf with herbs, olives and two cheeses baked inside. Aromatic, savory, soft and delectable! Two bottles of Sauvignon Blanc are in a cooler on ice awaiting the company of several dozen fresh Kumamoto and Tamales Bay 0ysters.
Fresh lemons and hot sauce, towels, two shucking knives, wine glasses and an opener - viola! - the trip is complete.
... and necessary, as this Harvest season was the most challenging and emotional of any. The weather delivered all that she could shout out - early frost, extended heat spells and early rain. A microcosm that ultimately echoed all that was going on in our human lives - chilly divisiveness, hot tempers and cooling economies that required immediate action.
Somehow we made it through, but as the landscape is forever changed by intense weather, so are our souls. Harvest 2008 - one for the books.
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