I was sitting in front of the tasting room, relaxing with a friend and a beer after making 200 Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches this past weekend, when I looked up and asked, “Are those leaves on the oak tree?” Simon squinted. “Yeah, I think so.” I had to go get my glasses to confirm. That was the moment I knew this was going to be a very weird year.
Happy Groundhog Day.
I have a bit of a confession to make. Groundhog Day is one of my favorite movies. I know it’s a divisive one and these days we really do need people to come together. Sure, the repetition of I Got You Babe blaring from the alarm clock at 6am and the DJ’s “Rise and shine, campers!” gets old. But come on. Phil Connors evolves from a self-centered, cynical, manipulative man into a generous, compassionate human being, all while interacting with Chris Elliott who is hilarious and Andie MacDowell, who is, frankly, so cute. It also has some of the best movie quotes ever.
“Watch that first step. It’s a doozy.”
“Don’t drive angry.”
Okay. Maybe those are funnier in context.
Yesterday we found out the groundhog predicts six more weeks of winter. What winter? Sure, we had a couple weeks of relentless rain in December. But January has been in the 60s for us. I know the East Coast just got hammered with a serious cold front. I know the Central Valley has been buried in record-setting fog. Meanwhile, we’ve been dealing with the worst thing ever. Shorts. Sandals. Short sleeves. Low energy bills. It’s hard to feel sorry for us.
I’ve been seeing videos and posts from fellow winemakers worrying about early bud break followed by devastating frost but now I’m starting to pay attention. Even me, the obnoxiously optimistic one, is starting to worry. I told Carrie, wife and co-conspirator, that at this rate we’re either picking in July this year (two months early) or not picking at all.
But we’ve dealt with weird years before. Covid. Smoke taint from the Caldor Fire. A huge frost the following year. We’re getting pretty good at rolling with the punches. “Am I right or am I right? Or am I right? Ar ar ar ar,”
Josh Bendick
Co-winemaker
