So many sunrises...and grapes...and barrels and tanks...

 Barrels perched lovingly in the tippy tank yard, followed by dozens of pairs of 50,000 liter tanks and then 100,000s.

 This is Christian.  We work together in the crush...and thank goodness. He is a giant German and his family owns vineyards/a winery in Germany.  At least someone can get something done around here/move these hoses in less than ten minutes like me/know what the heck that noise is!

 Sauv Blanc...its tasty, even in 25 tons.

Sunrise over the vineyard.  Its nice...because I know I am off soon.  

Winery cellar hand, that is my job...and what that means is that I am the winery's bitch.  I run around dragging hoses, switching lines from 50,000 liter tanks to other 50,000 liter tanks, I participate in warming tanks, inoculation of yeast, yadayada.

But, mostly, I look at grapes get dropped and crushed and sent to be pressed.  It is quite dramatic when 15 tons of grapes drop into the stainless steal 25 ton capacity 'hopper,' as its called.  This is where the fruit hits the winery and starts its way to becoming wine.



And, this is what I get to look at all day...wait...all night. Yup, I work from 7pm to 7:30 am...fancy, eh?  Its not so bad, just sticky...all the time sticky.

Actually, on one of my first days a couple weeks ago, when I was cleaning up grapes, sweeping and scooping, squeegeeing and shoveling massive amounts of spilled grapes into piles to go into the conveyor to go out to the massive mound of waste grapes one of the winemakers called down to me: "Working in the winery is real glamorous, eh?"

Just what I was thinking, Darren, thanks.
 
Its sticky, its industrial, there are grapes everywhere, I don't know what the heck that machine is for, its dangerous, grapes, climbing up and down stairs, crushing grapes, hanging out with truckers and scooping grapes, grapes, grapes. This is what I do.  And its so awesome.  My 'crush' team is so fun; the night shift crew is so fun.  We all do our best to keep good spirits and so far so good.  We are making memories as funny things go wrong every night...tanks over flowing and hoses blowing off lines while pumping grapes and thus grapes fly around everywhere...its quite a crazy place this winery setting.  And many more fun stories to come...we still have three weeks or so or 24/7 action at good ole Dryland's winery, Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand. 

Riding through Marlborough...

Riding through Marlborough, this is what I see

All sorts a sheep a-looking at me

The sun it sets in the most amazing ways

Even when the skies are grey

One sees the flowers even brighter

The sun, the moon, we all have big party!

The vines grow in rows of green

Soon we will see the fall creep in

As I ride my bike I will keep my eyes

Open and loving on the fields which give

Such amazing fruit and then drink.



I enjoy my stay.  This is what i say.  Everyday.
I am making new friends.  Staying on the fun side of things.  That is til work really begins and the grapes start coming in.  But through and through I will stay true to have so much fun no matter what.

Until next time, enjoy your life, make a big smile and think to yourself all the while...This is what life is, adventure and fun, no matter where you are and who you meet there is always potential for big memories.

I can't wait to show you more, stay tuned for big fun!