The Sunday Traveler ~ In The Vineyard

A weekday visit to a local winery, Rubino Estates, here in my home town of Pleasanton, California was just what the soul needed. The Sunday Traveler has been restrained pretty close to home of late due to one thing or another. Last Thursday was finally time to head out by myself with my camera for the first time in quite awhile.  Yes, an artist’s date as prescribed by Julia Cameron. Out through the rolling hillsides that surround this valley that I call  home. I had no idea where I was going, except I had been told that to get to a few local wineries, to travel down a street that leads out of the little downtown area and head southeast more or less. So I did, and wound around discovering new neighborhoods, and finally a street called Vineyard….hmm…pretty good guess that I was now on the right road for what I decided my destination for the day would be. I have developed a penchant of late to decide where I’m going as I get in the car, and go by previously read or heard directions, and just wander until I find what I want. No previous map or Google research. It works. And new discoveries are made.

I stopped and took a few photos along the way, and being mid-week, there was little traffic, especially out on the back roads. I almost passed the first winery, hit the brakes, and made a fast turn into Rubino Estates Winery.

The vineyards have begun to develop some healthy looking vines, and workers were busy tying the vines to support wires. I was able to walk up to the edge of the vineyard, chat with them briefly, and get permission from them to take their photos.

The photos above are a very small segment of the vineyards, these workers have a lot of vines to tend.

vineyard workers

tending vines

tying vines

vineyard worker

rubino estates

vineyard worker

rubino entry

mello cielo

grapes forming

The Rubino Estate vines were first planted in 1883, are replanted through the years, and were most recently replanted in 1998. There are 150 acres, the grapes picked by hand, harvested, aged in oak barrels, and bottled on site. And this dear readers, is where your bottle of wine begins.

grapes forming

Until next time