Vineyard Views – Weekly Photo Challenge: Narrow
“Go wherever the narrow way passes.”
Israelmore Ayivor
I admit it; I don’t like wine. There, I’ve said it. My husband, a world-class oenophile, might have reconsidered marrying me if I’d felt that way when we first met. (just kidding……or maybe not!!) What I DO like, are vineyards. Ripe with grapes, just harvested, newly planted – you name it, they’re a photographer’s dream.
“Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.”
Henry David Thoreau
Happily, most vintners don’t mind my wandering through their countless rows of wine-to-be while my husband happily samples their wares. Admittedly, there have been many occasions when I’ve stared glassy-eyed as he expounds with other like-minded wine lovers on the earthiness/fruit=forward/tennis ball in the mouth (REALLY?!??!) qualities of one vintage versus another. On those occasions I’ve felt a bit like ET must have felt before he was able to Phone Home 😊.
“A narrow neck keeps the bottle from being emptied in one swig.”
Irish Proverb
Perhaps my favorite thing about visiting vineyards is that wine lovers to a person all seem to know and appreciate good food. Count on it – where there are vineyards, there will definitely be wonderful restaurants. Now THERE’s a quality that gets my attention. Walla Walla Washington, where these captures were made, was no exception. Good food. beautiful weather, good photo ops and a happy husband? Priceless!!
“Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:14
In closing, I shot the advertising poster above in one of the vineyards we visited because a) it made me laugh and b) when explained it made perfect sense. The Walla Walla vineyards join others across Oregon and Washington in protecting water quality and bio-diversity for native salmon. They do so by planting trees on streams, growing cover crops to control run-off, and applying natural methods to control weeds and pests. Who knew?!
Cheers – whatever your libation of choice – until next week.
Oh, yes, Tina! Vineyards are a stunning theme for any photographer. I love to follow the seasons passing by, watching the colours changing and the cycle of life in a single vinegrape. Wonderful post, Tina!! Cheers 🙂
Thanks Sandra – and cheers to you to!
Excellent.
Thank you Rabirius >
I’m sorry I haven’t been here in so long…taking a look now to catch up a little. The salmon are being saved all over the PNW – even looking down at the sidewalk on a busy street corner, one sees brass signs about clean water draining into the sound, for the salmon. Yes, it’s pretty cool! I like the processing – looks like you had fun with these photos!
Well thanks for stopping back in Lynn, and for all of your comments on my recent posts. Had totally forgotten you were in the PNW, BUMMER! Will catch you next time 🙂
That’s really interesting about protecting the water quality. It would be good if all vineyards partook of that behaviour. I like the odd glass of wine but not enough to tell them apart. Lovely picturesque images.
Thanks WC, I feel the same way😊
Great post! It,s been w wonderful summer so far. Hope all is well with you Love cuzzin lee
Thanks very much Cuzzin 🙂
Great choice of images Tina. Visually vineyards are always wonderful to visit. Lines, vines and wines – what could be better 🙂
Many thanks my friend – “Lines, vines and wines” LOVE THAT!!
Beautiful photos and interesting story on the salmon!!
Thanks Nora!
I’m with you, I’d rather walk the vineyard then samples the wares. Lovely images.
Thanks PJB!
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Great post T. Brings back fond memories of our trip to Napa/Sonoma. Too bad I didn’t learn the phrase “I’d like to revisit that wine” at the beginning of our trip!! Great photos and wonderful comments. Do they serve Cosmos at the wineries???
LOL, sadly no cosmos, hence my wandering the vineyards while others partake of the offerings. Hmmmm…..”revisit”…I must share that w my beloved!!! Always great to hear from you GF!
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Along with tennis ball i’ve heard gym sock. Oh, the world of wine. Your post on the first image is like a drawing. Glad you had fun there!
Thanks jane, it was one of my favorite stops which was a big surprise to me.
A perfectly cheerful response to the challenge. Your images are lovely.
Thanks Maverick
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Ah, I’d love to see a vineyard. Thanks for your sharing your beautiful photos and information that goes along with the advertising poster.
My pleasure FPW, thanks for stopping by
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Interesting fact there at the end. Lovely to know that vineyards keep clean water going. As long as none of the juices and wine flow back into the water 😀 I don’t drink, but I love a good vineyard view. Brilliant shots 👌
Thanks Mabel – just think, drunken fish!! Perhaps a new delicacy for the local restaurants 🙂 As always, appreciate your visit and comment.
Love this take on, Tina! Beautiful photos of the vineyard.
Thanks Amy, much appreciated!
🙂 Such a clever interpretation of “narrow” Tina!
Thanks Dor!
What a great way to show narrow, beautiful pictures! Living in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, I get to see vinyards every day, but I did not know about the tennis ball description either. I’ll have to remember that if we go wine tasting, thank you for sharing.
Thanks Debbie. My husband and I just finished a trip to Victoria and Vancouver. Quite a beautiful place you call home!
I love the Island but haven’t spent much time in either city. My son will be going to university on the island in September so I can’t wait to explore a bit after I drop him off.
I love wine, but I hope the bit about the tennis ball was a joke 😉 I prefer the mint and chocolate with vanilla and liquorice – maybe not all in the same glass!
And I love the first image – has a painterly texture to it. Been on the effects again Tina?
Thanks Jude, but no, that one was straight out of camera! Tho I must admit I thought these might be worthy of some experimentation. Perhaps in a later post! RE the flavors, I agree! But if you think about it, she meant it touched all the sensors of the mouth so was actually a pretty good analogy!
As usual, I love your photos and I especially love these quotes. We are headed to Sonoma next week and you inspired me to get my camera out again. And, I’m not much into wine either. Champagne – YES! Glad you and Bailey are enjoying your summer.
Thanks Leslee, great to hear from you! Enjoy Sonoma, I,love it out thre. Great food AND photography 😊
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Great post Tina, did make me smile…
Excellent, thanks Sue!
😀
We live fairly close to a small vineyard and I’ve visited a couple of times. Those rows are a sight to behold and admire. I do like wine but prefer light and fruity which I’m pretty sure is not what your husband his peers are enjoying. I like the poster too. 🙂
Correct Judy-he’s a lover of big, robust reds but you know what they say, the only thing that matters is whether YOU like it or not!
OMG I WISH I didn’t like wine…maybe I can learn😜 Just wonderful details in these shots….also love the advertising poster….sort of dreamy……….🍷
LOL April, not sure my love of cosmos and margaritas is much better than a love of wine tho!
Excellent choice for WPC! Lovely images Tina!
Many thanks Arv!
🙂
I enjoy visiting vineyards. This looks like one to add to my list.
You photographed the narrow rows of grapes perfectly. The sign is cute and funny too.
Isadora 😎
Thanks Isadora. We’ve spent time in vineyards in France, Argentina, and Chile as well beautiful Napa and Sonoma. These in Walla Walla were up there with the best of them. Well worth a visit
Lovely pictures of the vineyards Tina and a very enjoyable post. 🙂
Many thanks Adrian
Great post, Tina. I love how you describe the way oenophiles describe wine! Your husband would love the documentary on Netflix that my husband and I watched on the ASI international sommelier competition. I can see what you’re up against. 🙂
Thanks Patti; yes, the oenophiles have a language all their own, don’t they? Was the Netflix documentary Somm, or something else?
Yes, it was. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2204371/
Looks a lot like our area in the Central California foothills. Your weather is better. Very beautiful!
Thanks Marsha, yes very similar and both beautiful!
Tennis ball?? That’s a new one. 🙂
LOL, yep, I swear! Meaning the wine was so full of flavor a it touched all of the sensory points in the mouth. Cracked me up!
I enjoy wine, the taste, if it’s good or bad, and there’s the extent of my wineogology. I’ve never heard the tennis ball one, but it made me laugh! Thanks for a great post!!
Thanks SueBee & Kat. Actually that’s the perfect criteria by which we should judge wine IMHO😊
So true! I honestly nearly laugh when I going wine tasting and get one of the very serious ones who tries to convince me to taste the bark, or chocolate, or who knows what.
Oh, Tina–I had to laugh at the descriptions wine lovers give of the taste. I love the movie “Sideways” for that reason. Charcoal and leather? Really? I’m drinking that? Great post.
Agree wholeheartedly Lois! I loved sideways too, as did my husband. Certainly made Merlot famous, didn’t it?
Oh my goodness–and I like Merlot!
You taught this bud lite girl a thing or two… Thank you for this most interesting post!
My pleasure GF. You keep drinking that Bud girl, I bet they’re saving sal on too LOL