the wrathy ones were already gone

Autumn in northern California wine country, particularly the Anderson Valley, is gorgeous. Roederer Estate harvests its grapes a little early for the precise level of sugars, acids, and flavors it likes for their champagnes (oh, "sparkling wines."). There was one row along the driveway whose vines stretched their dry and withered arms across the lattice which were still heavy with plump fruit bracing against the chill winds.


No one could answer why this particular row was unpicked at harvest time, but we liked the idea that they were left as an offering to autumn, the harvest, the birds, and the tasters.