Hills On Fire

By admin | Published January 3, 2011

“Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot’s potential can then coax it into its fullest expression. Then, I mean, oh its flavors, they’re just the most haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle and… ancient on the planet.” ~ Miles Raymond (Sideways)

I proposed to my wife not too far from here. Wine was our thing; neither of us had ever tasted or learned about wine before meeting. One day while we were dating she suggested we try a trip to wine country and thus began two different kinds of love affair.

The best wine comes from challenging circumstances. The more the grapes are stressed, the more flavor and complexity they provide. Grapes that grow in eden-like places with perfect weather and soil are plump, plentiful and utterly uninteresting. No, grapes need trials and tribulations to really stand out. They’re a lot like people really; they’re a whole lot like marriages. My wife and I have been through plenty over the years. Each setback, every ordeal has made us just a little bit better than we were before.

As 2011 begins I raise a glass to adversity. May we all weather her well and emerge from every travail stronger, bolder and richer.

Cheers!

34 Comments

Posted January 3, 2011 at 4:53 am by yz | Permalink

fantastic landscape, looks like a dream

- Posted January 3, 2011 at 7:09 am by admin | Permalink
  
  Thanks yz! When we came across this vineyard we were blown away. My photo doesn’t really do it justice.
  
Posted January 3, 2011 at 10:28 am by Corinna | Permalink

What beautiful colors *and* a beautiful sentiment. Here’s to a colorful year from which we emerge as better photographers and people. I’ll drink to that!

- Posted January 3, 2011 at 4:29 pm by admin | Permalink
  
  Thanks Corinna–here’s to that!
  
Posted January 3, 2011 at 6:04 pm by D. K. Sutton | Permalink

Nice colors and textures against majestic rolling hills. As usual a good read along with a great photo!

- Posted January 3, 2011 at 6:36 pm by admin | Permalink
  
  Thanks D. K.–much appreciated!
  
Posted January 3, 2011 at 7:41 pm by Krunal | Permalink

what a colourful landscape. Wonderful.

- Posted January 3, 2011 at 8:51 pm by admin | Permalink
  
  Thanks so much Krunal!
  
Posted January 3, 2011 at 11:53 pm by fabrizio | Permalink

very delicate colors and natural light, wonderful and pleasent atmosphere Chris

- Posted January 4, 2011 at 4:50 am by admin | Permalink
  
  Thanks so much Fabrizio!
  
Posted January 4, 2011 at 2:18 am by Klaus | Permalink

Beautyfull landscape .. and i smell the grapes .. enjoy the wine, i like it too, but my favorite drink is perfect cup of Espresso. Have a nice day Christopher.

- Posted January 4, 2011 at 4:50 am by admin | Permalink
  
  Thanks Klaus–in truth there’s far more espresso in my life than wine. Cheers!
  
Posted January 4, 2011 at 4:35 am by Rue Du Lavoir | Permalink

Une lumière et des couleurs superbes.
Un paysage qui donne envie de se balader à pieds avec un sac à dos et une bonne paire de chaussures… Il faut compter combien d’heures de vol entre nos deux pays?

- Posted January 4, 2011 at 4:57 am by admin | Permalink
  
  Nombre d’heures, mais vaut le temps qui passe dans chaque sens! Merci beaucoup RDL!
  
Posted January 4, 2011 at 6:10 am by sheila@drcason.org | Permalink

I love the burnt orange colors!!

- Posted January 4, 2011 at 9:39 am by admin | Permalink
  
  Thanks Sheila!
  
Posted January 4, 2011 at 6:29 am by PixeLuz | Permalink

And a fire that seems to run down the hill. A fire already preparing next year’s return…

- Posted January 4, 2011 at 9:39 am by admin | Permalink
  
  And such a wonderful return it will be–thanks PixeLuz!
  
Posted January 4, 2011 at 7:41 am by sherri | Permalink

I like how the landscape just rolls as if it’s folds of cloth.

- Posted January 4, 2011 at 9:40 am by admin | Permalink
  
  Thanks so much Sherri–it was a beautiful scene.
  
Posted January 4, 2011 at 5:09 pm by bluechameleon | Permalink

What a gorgeous landscape. The layers of texture and colours are a feast for the eyes!
Happy New Year to you and all the best for 2011!

- Posted January 4, 2011 at 8:34 pm by admin | Permalink
  
  Thank you Blue!
  
Posted January 4, 2011 at 10:21 pm by Michael | Permalink

Adding another item to my bucket list. I can’t believe I stayed out there for 3 months and didn’t see this. Gorgeous shot Chris. I take it this is fall in Southern California?

- Posted January 5, 2011 at 6:01 am by admin | Permalink
  
  Indeed Michael–this was taken on our Thanksgiving vacation. Each season the vineyards are beautiful for different reasons. It’s part of why we love to visit. Thanks!
  
Posted January 5, 2011 at 1:22 am by k@ | Permalink

The interplay of brigh blue & apricot colors bring back so much sun in our winter here, be thanked Christopher ! And cheers

- Posted January 5, 2011 at 6:02 am by admin | Permalink
  
  Hope it warms you a bit k@–thank you!
  
Posted January 5, 2011 at 8:16 am by Charles Dastodd | Permalink

beautiful landscape! i love the contrast between the flowers in the foreground and the rolling hills in the back

- Posted January 5, 2011 at 7:21 pm by admin | Permalink
  
  Thanks so much Charles!
  
Posted January 5, 2011 at 4:09 pm by george | Permalink

I’ll drink to that Chris – and raise the glass that I’m currently drinking to you and your family. Not from a Pinot grape but a Carignan from the wonderful Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. Beautiful colours in the pic!

- Posted January 5, 2011 at 7:24 pm by admin | Permalink
  
  Thanks so much George–and to you and yours as well! Enjoy that lovely Languedoc-Roussillon!
  
Posted January 7, 2011 at 1:14 pm by Andy | Permalink

Wow so many colors!! Really nice landscape and love the big fluffy cloud too!

- Posted January 7, 2011 at 1:16 pm by admin | Permalink
  
  Thank you Andy!
  
Posted January 9, 2011 at 7:29 am by Marcie | Permalink

What absolutely stunning colors. A gorgeous vast landscape!!!

- Posted January 10, 2011 at 5:23 am by admin | Permalink
  
  Thank you Marcie!

Hills On Fire

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