1st
Off to work we go…
Vineyards are such idyllic places. Today was like a scene out of “A Walk in the Clouds,” the cheesy Keanu Reaves flick from the late nineties. We had the unbelievable opportunity to harvest grapes in the main chianti district of Tuscany. We worked in a large hillside vineyard that belongs to a good friend of Robbie, our coordinator. Armed with ordinary kitchen knives from the villa, we paired off and started down the rows of lush green vines, heavy with the dark blue-violet bunches. After about half an hour and two trips up the hill with full bins of berries the novelty of the experience wore off a bit. It was a lot of fun, but the work was tough. It took well over 4 hours to clear the field, even with 20 workers. By the time we finished, we were caked in mud, sticky with grape juice, and exhausted from the unfamiliar work. We made our way over the ridge to the welcome aroma of grilled meat. The family that owns the vineyard prepared a feast for us, right on the side of the mountain. With a makeshift fire-pit on the hillside, they grilled ribs and sausage and allowed us to toast the freshly made bread with olive oil. We collapsed in the grass, content with a hard day’s work and a hearty meal. As is custom in Italy, the lunchtime meal lasted nearly 3 hours, so with travel time, we arrived home just in time to eat dinner. Now the happy task of packing awaits me, as we are leaving for Cinque Terre for the next few days. I won’t be able to update until I return on Thursday evening. Boun Viaggio!
