4/25/11 - Day 2
Wine country tour in Napa Valley (with stops) and back to Petaluma. Thanks to Wikipedia for the wine making information.
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Napa Valley Wine Train - Wine making goes back to 8000 or so BC, Neolithic man. Scientists tested wine residues on the inner surfaces of ceramic storage jars.
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The development of ceramic pottery aided wine making, storing, and aging.
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Dining car
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Fields of new grapes. In medieval Europe the Church was a strong supporter of wine as it was used in the celebration of Mass.
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We pass many wineries.
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Every winery has bragging rights on a mansion.
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In the medieval ages the best wine was considered to be that made by monks.
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Salud!
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Whitehall Winery
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Neolithic man deified wine. Later, man continued to use wine for religious purposes, continuing to modern day.
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Enjoying the scenery and each others company.
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V. Sattui winery
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Tour bus
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Raymond Vineyard - Vinification, the making of wine, begins with healthy grapes.
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Grapes are collected and stored in crates precisely made to a size that prevents the crushing of the grapes before processing.
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Grapes are crushed and after some processing to remove pulp, the juice goes to storage tanks for the first fermentation.
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Yeast converts sugars in the juice to ethanol and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is lost to the atmosphere. Therefore, if you're a wine drinker you're part of global warming. ;)
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The "Crystal Cellar" at the Raymond winery where all is stainless steel and crystal.
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Crystal Cellar - inset shows crystal table settings in preparation of a party.
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"Theater of Nature"
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Alaska redux
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Geometric patterns
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Heitz Cellar
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Louis M. Martini winery
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ZD Winery - After the primary fermentation of red grapes the free run wine is pumped off into tanks and the skins are pressed to extract the remaining juice and wine.
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The next step is the secondary fermentation.
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Some wines are stored in oaken barrels.
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ZD Bottled wine
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abq.jpg
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An immature Western Red-tailed Hawk, and earlier, an accommodating House Finch photographed from a moving train.
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Back to Petaluma
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