I started working at a winery this week! Specifically, Alma Rosa winery, located in Santa Barbara County on the central coast of California (almost Southern California). I’m working in the cellar, helping with the actual wine production process. This involves receiving the grapes, processing them (pressing or crushing, depending on whether they are white or red), and monitoring the fermentation process. We also sample and monitor the previous vintage that is aging. This also involves a LOT of cleaning, anything that is touching the wine has to be cleaned, rinsed, cleaned, rinsed, and sanitized. And then rinsed again. And this happens both before AND after using a tool or piece of equipment.
So far, it has been such a great experience. I made a pretty big life change to come do this (you can read more about why I quit my job at Microsoft here). After the first week, I can safely say that I am really happy I am doing this. There’s a ways to go before harvest is over (grapes continue to be picked into November), and there are probably going to be some tough days (and weeks) but it’s going to be an amazing learning experience. I think I’ll also have a lot of fun.
I am enjoying learning so much and meeting new people. I’m feeling extremely inspired about all of the possibilities that are opening up to me after this experience. People keep asking me what I’m going to do after my few months of working at this winery. I honestly have no idea. It’s kind of freeing to not know yet what I’m going to. I’m open to whatever opportunity may present itself to me. However, I also feel like I need to decide (or at least think) about what I want out of life to help guide my decision-making and help me be proactive in going after opportunities.
When thinking about opportunities, I kind of divide them into two categories: engineering and wine. Both of those have many things nested under them of course, but it’s a useful way to start thinking about the decision. I think doing one of those does not entirely rule out the other, but one of them needs to be the main thing (and an income source!). Right now, I have to say I’m feeling pretty inspired and pushed toward the wine side. I’m surrounded by wine right now, living in wine country and working in a winery. I also just watched Somm III (Somm 3?), and now I’m thinking about all the different possibilities within the world of wine! Winemaking, sommelier, distribution, critic, writer, and so many more. I could even fulfill my 3rdgrade dream and go to culinary school! The options are truly endless.
3 Highlights
Inoculating the wine! I just love yeast, it smelled like bread when we were activating it and I looooove bread and baking.
Meeting my fellow intern (and everyone working at the winery). It’s been so cool to learn more about what motivates other people to do their first harvest at a winery, and just meet people with different backgrounds in general. At Microsoft I was surrounded by people with very similar backgrounds (and similar to myself as well), so it’s great to just talk to more different people.
Sampling grapes. When grapes come in, or we go get samples from the vineyard, every now and then we’ll actually taste a grape, which is fun and also a good learning experience when comparing to the data we’re getting from the samples. Wine grapes are so delicious, especially when they’re just about ready to pick. They are super sweet but have other complex flavors going on.
3 Things I Learned
Don’t wear nice clothes (they will get wet and you will spill wine, along with chemicals as well as plenty of just plain water)
Rainboots (especially comfy ones) are so clutch! I luckily got mine on the day I started, which meant that this whole week I didn’t even have to worry about soaking my shoes. And you don’t have time or energy to worry! There are so many things to think about other than how can I dump/spray this water without getting wet… There’s no point in even trying to avoid that!
Layers are also key! It’s cold in the cellar, especially in the cold room. However, there are many tasks that will get you working and warming up, so it’s nice to be able to take off a layer. In the cool mornings of Santa Barbara County, it was also really nice to have layers when we went to the vineyard to sample the grapes.
Bonus: bring snacks! Being on my feet all day, constantly squeegeeing the floor or sorting through grapes, really worked up an appetite! I prepped overnight oats for the early mornings, and then got granola bars and other snacks for during the day or the drive home from work.
3 Things I’m Looking Forward To
Getting our first red grapes in! I’m excited to see the crushing line
My first long day! It’s been great learning at a slower pace with lower pressure this past week, but I am excited to be super busy and experience the fast-paced wine production environment. I like being consumed and engaged, and I think the coming weeks will be extremely consuming and engaging
Tasting more wine and meeting more wine people! Already this week I’ve loved meeting and getting to know those I’m working and living with, along with an intern at another nearby winery. I’ve also gotten to taste some great wines, and I’m feeling very inspired and encouraged about this whole experience.