the last few weeks have been awesome here in oregon. after harvest was finished and we'd done pressing all the fermenters we had about a week where we didn't have much to do in the winery. So I went to help Gen out a bit at her winery in Mac, learned a bit about different methods from her three bosses, and went out to the woods to a little cabin and enjoyed the time to relax. but too much free time makes me start to feel aimless and luckily this past week things have been picking up once more. We started bottling the 2008 vintage of merlot, pinot noir, malbec and today we're doing tempranillo. basically we take the wine that's been aging in barrels for the last year or so and combine various barrel types into one big tank, then pump through the bottler which has 6 spouts with empty bottles on them. then cork them (or sometimes we screw cap...) then back onto the pallet to be labeled by...next year's interns.

we've also been having lots of fun just every day. this place feels like home these days, and it's awesome knowing what to expect each day, how i fit into this life, what I'm expected to do, all that. I feel really comfortable with Felix and Rebecca and Madeline and obviously Ryan too.

and of course, all good things must end. Today is my last day at Carlo & Julian. A few days ago we had a raging good party for a family friend who turned 30. It was a blast and quickly turned into a dancathon. (Mal, i missed having you there with me.) And last night was Gen's boss's birthday bash--also a great time--and tonight we're having a goodbye dinner for me just the fam and low key. Tomorrow I'll pack up and head to McMinnville to stay with Gen for a day or two, work at her winery and learn more lab work stuff, then we're headed to Portland and then, Mama Carolyn comes and we party party party.

After that, well. Gen heads out on the 16th and I'm going to be living in Portland for the next week, to fly back to Boston on the 22nd.

OH and exciting news. I have a job lined up in New Zealand for March and April harvest....sooo I guess I really am going to kiwiland! Let the adventures NEVER END!

woohoo.