We were picking Sauvignon Blanc on a Sunday morning, the early hours in Etyek still thick with mist. We set out in two cars, the air brisk with the promise of a long day ahead. I was trailing behind, a quiet observer as I navigated the winding roads, my eyes occasionally drifting toward the vineyards as we passed. I hadn’t even made it out of the country road when my phone rang. “We’ve got a little problem…” A wave of tension hit me instantly. Even in the busiest of harvests, those words are enough to make anyone’s pulse spike.
It turned out that the SUV ahead of me had a flat tire. Not just any tire, but the one on the trailer carrying around 300 crates of freshly harvested grapes. The weight of the situation wasn’t lost on me. I knew that no matter the setback, we would find a way to make it work.
By the time I reached them, the team had already sprung into action. The trailer sat low on one side, the weight of the crates pulling it down. Some of the team had begun unloading the crates to relieve the pressure, while others worked quickly to secure the spare tire. The sound of their coordinated efforts, tightening bolts, lifting the trailer, and working together with a calm determination, was like a rhythm I’d come to know well. We were a well-oiled machine, each person instinctively knowing what needed to be done. With a few grunts and coordinated turns of the wrench, the spare tire was on, and we were back on track. It wasn’t just the tire that was fixed; it was the whole rhythm of the harvest, restored and set back into motion.
The harvest season has a way of testing both your physical and mental limits. It’s not just about the relentless picking and sorting, nor is it only about the endless nights spent monitoring fermentation. It’s about managing the unpredictable: the weather that changes on a whim, and the small disasters that follow you like shadows. This year, more than ever, I felt the weight of the task at hand. Every little detail needed to be perfect, yet so much of it was beyond my control.
And I know more hurdles will arise. Tires will burst, pumps will malfunction, and missteps will happen. But despite it all, I’m reminded of why I do this. Why we do this. It’s not just for the wine we make, though that’s a big part of it. It’s for the people we work with, the stories we create, and the shared belief that we are part of something greater, something that transcends the season.
So, despite the setbacks and the tension that comes with every harvest, I’m grateful. Grateful for the friends, the team, and the vineyards that give so much. And most of all, I’m grateful to be part of this never-ending journey, pushing forward, one harvest at a time.
