Gifts from Friends

We have friends, Bill and Dawnine Dyer, who were both winemakers of distinction in the Napa Valley. They have now "retired" and, I suspect, work harder than ever making their own cabernet sauvignon from their own vineyard in Calistoga. We always get a case of their wine and figure out a way to get together, rather than shipping it. Last year life intervened and they kept our wine for us for over a year.

Today they arrived at the door with our wine and some persimmons from their garden. The first time we met them was when we went for a hike along the palisades above Calistoga with their hiking group. We were quite intimidated---what to bring in a lunch to share with a bunch of wine people and, more important--what wine? We needn't have worried. They were a lively and interesting group and far less pretentious than a lot of the people who drink their wine!

One man was not a wine maker, but a cooper. In wine country, everyone has at least one half barrel as a planter, and furniture, lamp shades, candleholders, and cheese baskets made from barrel staves are everywhere. Not to mention the barrels actually used in wineries. I never stopped to think about where they come from. I learned that they are still made by hand and that it is quite an art. Something else I never stopped to think about.

Another couple had to get back home before finishing the whole hike, to keep an eye on the cement mixer that was coming to deliver a truckload of cement for a new patio. It seems that they had already been through this scenario once. On that occasion, the huge truckload of cement, turning and turning, ran off their steep driveway and fell over the side. No longer turning. By the time they worked out Plan A to get it back up, was worked out, the cement had hardened and they had to go to Plan B. Which was to cut the cement truck in half! I think I would have chosen to build a wooden deck after that!

When we arrived back at Dawnine and Bill's house after a long hike, Dawnine pulled beer out of her fridge and plunked it on the table along with a bottle of Advil! Practical woman. We drank beer and talked about the wine business while she and Bill whipped up a lovely meal with food from her garden. I asked how they managed to make wine, serve wine, talk about wine and basically drink wine all day. She said, "Well, you're supposed to spit, but it's too good...." She is the only person I know who knows how to open a bottle of wine with a sword.

They didn't stay long today , but it was lovely to see them again, and we vowed to get together again soon.