Everything is in full bloom at the ranch and the year is filled with promise.  The vines are bursting forth with growth and getting ready to flower.  The olive trees are nearly groaning with the weight of the flowers.  For now, the lavender is quiet, but that can only last so long.  

While all that is planted is doing its part for this year's harvest, the ranchers are already looking toward harvest and attempting to devise some better grinding appartus to eliminate the nights in blinding rainstorms kicking the olive crushing equipment across the driveway; shoring up winemaking equations that vexed us in the prior year; researching better yeasts; tasting and racking  last year's wine and standing watch over it, vowing that it will continue forward on a successfu path.

Along with springtime comes a crush of work -- excuse the pun -- in the vineyard.  The Zinyard was rototilled and weeding was done between all vines and all lower shoots were removed.  Some clusters were also removed to permit robust growth of those clusters that are in the correct position. 

The report on the 2011 vintage remains good.  What has been most interesting is the change in the wine's character on each visit.   They are constantly growing and changing.  We are optimistic that the 2011 vintage is one which we got right -- finally.  Only been six years, right?  Our goal is for improvement with each vintage.

Also with springtime comes the unpleasant reminder that that not only are the plants awakening from their winter hibernation, but so are the rattlesnakes. An encounter two weeks ago with two large snakes still sends chills up the spine of yours truly, but fortunately, our neighbor saved the day and a car full of friends, as well as myself, and to him, we are forever grateful.  Another snake was discovered near the cattle corral yesterday and a turkey vulture was feasting on one in the road.  The same brave neighbor reported a three-footer on the driveway. 

So while we are busy tending to all of this year's newbies, while remaining ever watchful of what is ahead of us and remembering what is behind and beneath us, we are headed out to enjoy the glorious springtime weather!

Cheers!

The casual oberserver may be thinking to themselves, "Seriously, you cannot still be picking lavender."  Sadly, the answer is yes, the rancho is currently picking lavender.  In fact, a lavender grower recently visited the ranch and said it was the darnedest thing ever seen.  It never stops growing.

Fortunately, though, for these ranchers, other things have stopped growing and given them the much needed year-end break, and they've  caught their breath, gotten a little rest (which has made a small dent in the crabbiness factor), and reached a previously sought-after equillibrium, in which the work at the ranch is being accomplished more quickly and proficiently, leaving the ranchers time to actually get out and enjoy some of the things their guests rave about, but which the ranchers never have time to experience, because they've always been entertaining and racing to get the ranch work done once the guests have departed.

Consequently, all vines have now been pruned and retied -- and this time, with agri-lock, so that the vine ties will not break midseason, requiring more tying.  All wines have been tested by our chemist extraordinaire.  The Petite Sirah has completed MLF.  The Zin is nearly done.  We'll give it until March.  The Cab probably won't get busy until it warms up in spring.  It's MLF didn't have a chance to begin before the serious cold set in.   This tasting, the Zin's star is shining.  It was petulant and difficult all through fermentation, so it was a pleasant surprise that it didn't rise up to smack one in the face while tasting.  The Petite Sirah continues to be good, but there is a suspicion that improvement could be achieved with a bit of adjustment.  The Cab, flat out, needs MLF and an adjustment and aging.  A refinement of the number at which the grapes will be picked next year has also been accomplished.  

All olives have been rebrined; and incredibly, the herbs that have been hanging to dry have now been destemmed and chopped, and finally, the little herb jars which have been sitting on top of the dryer for months have now been moved and fresh herbs have been placed in them.    All weeds have been sprayed.  The garage is being cleaned out, and slowly, but surely, items are being given to the thrift shop or taken to the trash.  The tots' toys have again been sanitized and organized.  Plans for an additional equipment shed are in the offing, so all tools and equipment from the garage will be placed there.  The bikes and golf clubs will eventually be hung on walls.  The window company has been out to diagnose the problem with the fairly new picture window in the kitchen.  The news is as expected, it has failed and needs to be replaced, but thankfully, it will be covered under warranty. 

All this has been accomplished, and yet, two rounds of golf were squeezed in by one of the ranchers and two 13-mile bike rides were squeezed in by the other, as well as an afternoon of championship-level loping, and some great glasses of wine by the fire.  The lesson that is emerging is that this is what had been envisioned all along, a place to which one could escape to get off the merry-go-round, work with the vines, the olives, the land, but yet, have some time to rest, engage in favorite recreational activities, and return home with batteries charged. 

And so it is with renewed energy that all calendars have been reviewed and business trips placed on the calendar, all vacations and traditional yearly get-togethers have been placed on the calendar, all ranch work that is time sensitive has been placed on the calendar, harvest season has been blocked off, and essentially, our 2012 is planned up to and including January 1, 2013, and we are adamant that we will not overschedule, because we enjoy having the time to catch our breath and enjoy life a little, just like everyone else. 

So it is with a renewed sense of optimism that we sign off with the words of T. S. Eliot:
"For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."

Much of our time during a year is spent planning, but January provides us the blank canvas of endless possibilities.  The opportunity to do things better.  The chance to correct past mistakes.  We came away from last year exhausted, but with a bit of R & R, we are resolved, again, that we will do it better, and maybe a little smarter in 2012, and definitely with less wear and tear on us.  We are also going to be stringently guarding the calendar more carefully, saying "No" more frequently, and not over-scheduling, which results in overtired, unhappy, and grumpy ranchers.  We also plan to spend a bit more time having fun -- yes, I know, it's hard to imagine.    

As far as plans for the ranch, the list is endless, but for starters, a new year presents a chance to prune better,  the chance for a year without storms or frosts; a year for perfect heat; the chance to shoot position and thin early in the season; the chance to get ahead of the pests; the chance to bottle previous year's vintages; the chance to create a really outstanding vintage; the chance to streamline the olive oil process, so it's not always occurring in a blinding rainstorm at 2:00 a.m., when it's 40 degrees; essentially, a new opportunity to care for the grapes, olives and lavender -- as well as ourselves -- better. 

So it is with high hopes that we head into 2012.  For us, we truly believe the best is yet to be.  

And to all of you, we wish a very happy, healthy 2012! 

Slainte!