The Answer

Felicia from San Diego guessed correctly! Although it is often called a Green Horn Worm, it is actually the caterpillar of the Sphinx Moth, sometimes called the Hummingbird Moth. The moth is amazing to watch as it hovers above flowers in the evening. However, the caterpillar is not so much fun. The rear end has fake eyes and a horn to make it look like its head. When I go to pick it off a vine, (which they can strip of leaves single handedly!) it whips its head back at my fingers and looks like it is going to bite me. The caterpillar has never won the battle but squishing it is so disgusting! I've learned to cover it with a leaf before doing the deed. Fortunately, the birds do enjoy this hearty meal and often dispose of the creatures for me.

Answer "What's This?" For a Free Tasting

This picture is not as hard to figure out as the last one. The first person to guess correctly gets a free wine tasting!

Harvest 2009 Begins

Harvest is always a mixture of excitement and pure exhaustion. Grapes wait for no man and the best wine is made with the freshest fruit so when the grapes are ready I need to drop everything and get them started on their journey to wine. Three weeks ago I picked up some Sauvignon Blanc from Chris at Rancho Rossa down the street and last week it was Syrah and Zinfandel from Peter in Willcox. The fruit is absolutely lovely this year and I predict 2009 will be a spectacular vintage for Arizona Wines.

More Love!

I decided I better get these photos posted now as Kent says it might hail tonight. I hope not. This season I have so enjoyed walking around the vineyard admiring the beauty. Anyway, these are the three different types of grapes we will be harvesting this year. They are, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, and Syrah. Can you tell which is which?

TADADADADA! THE ANSWER!

Can you believe it? Ants made this trail leading both north and south out of their nest. They have completely denuded about a 4" wide pathway. I don't know if they are wearing it down with the constant traffic or if they use the vegetation for food. It reminds me of how much I do not know about the busy world that exists beneath my feet. There is always more to learn. Anyone out there have any interesting facts about ants?

Hint For "What Is It?" Quiz

Good guesses so far but photos can be deceiving. This path is not big enough for the critters you've named. And, it gets used daily.

Today's Quiz

What critter has made this path in the vineyard? What do you think?

Answer to Yesterday's Question

All of your guesses were right. And you all earn a coupon for a free wine tasting! Kathryn will e-mail your coupon next week.

Isn't this one of the most amazing things you've ever seen? From time to time a swarm of bees stops for a rest in the vineyard before gathering up its forces and moving on. What you are looking at is a shelter made of bees. It would be like humans piling up on one another to build the floor, walls and ceilings of a house. Deep inside this mass is their Queen. Even though they are probably Africanized bees, they are fairly harmless right now. Their one mission in life is to protect their queen. It's kind of like when the President travels in his motorcade. If you leave the bees alone, they will leave you alone.

The first time I heard a swam when working among the vines I thought it was a small plane off in the distance. As the noise got closer and closer I realized it was a living thing noise and I automatically ducked. When I looked up I saw a mass over my head with lots of little legs hanging down as it flew on by. I don't know how the bees would have reacted had they wacked into my head and I hope never to find out. As I've gain vineyard wisdom I've learned to listen for the hum of a swarm, the rattle of a snake and the train whistle of a dust devil. The dust devil has been the only thing to get me so far. One threw a stick at the back of my head as it roared by.

Tomorrow, another vineyard quiz question. Stay tuned!

What's this???????

I still get excited about the marvels of nature in the vineyard. Yesterday I came across this dark cloud on a vine as I wandered among the rows to take photos of the grapes. Can you tell what it is? All correct guesses received before tomorrow get a free tasting coupon. I'll post a better photo tomorrow so you can see the answer for yourself. And maybe there will be another quiz question!

Canelo Hills Vineyard and Winery's Barrel Tasting II

We had our second 2009 barrel tasting this past Saturday evening. Everyone who came enjoyed tasting the 2008 wines right out of the barrels and then comparing their tasting notes. Winemaker Tim was asked some tough questions and as far as I could tell, he answered them correctly!

Tim started the evening with the very last bottle of our Sparkling Nebbiolo Rose and ended with a preview of our Yummy Zin. Our winery friends are anticipating the release of each and will be waiting for our call to pick up their bottles!

Some signed up for the harvest feast and winery scavenger hunt, the goat cheese making demonstration and the wreath making event. Tim and I and Kathryn are looking forward to seeing everyone again!

Where in the World is Kathryn?

I know, she's in Indonesia for almost a month. What some of you may not know is that she threw Tim and me overboard into the deep dark internet ocean on her way out of town. She simply gave us some passwords and left us to sink or swim on our own. So, I have entered the social networking world. I can now comment on the Canelo Hills facebook page. I have not yet ventured into Twitter, Twet, Twittering, whatever. I have a few more weeks to figure that out.

If you are interested in Kathryn's performance tour, they have a blog, swarasonora.blogspot.com/. And no, I don't know how to link. Where is Kathryn?