Zenaida Cellars Vineyards on the First Day of Spring

Zenaida Cellars vineyards are some of the most beautiful in the West Paso Robles area. They are a photographer's paradise. Zenaida has magnificent oak trees, plenty of bird visitors, a tasting room, and, of course, grape vines. In this post I'll show you some of my photos from Zenaida Cellars vineyards on the first day of spring, 2014. 

We'll start at the entrance. The signs on the wine barrels show those entering where to park. In spring the lilac bush offers a fragrant and visual treat as you enter.

I took the photo above from across the vineyard, looking toward the tasting room and winery. You can see one of the many oaks that make Zenaida so special to me.

On this first day of spring, the grapes are beginning to leaf out after the vines have been dormant for the winter.

These oak trees act as natural boundaries dividing the vineyards on the upper level of the property from those on the lower level toward Highway 46 West.

I've now walked quite a distance from the tasting room, but you can't tell how far because I used a zoom lens to look back at it from across a far vineyard.

I have visited Zenaida in every season. Here is a poster of part of a Zenaida grape sorting and destemming process at Zenaida during harvest.

Sorting and De-stemming at Zenaida Winery Poster

If you enjoyed this post, please share it. The sharing buttons are just above the comment box at the end of this post. The photo below is especially designed for pinning. Vineyard scenes are from photos I took at Zenaida.

This is my twenty-sixth and last post for the 2016 AtoZchallenge, a Blogging Challenge for the month of April, 2016. My theme is Things You Can See or Experience in North San Luis Obispo County. Here are links to the other posts if you missed them.

A is for Acorn
B is for Barney Schwartz Park
C is for Cattle in Wine Country
D is for Dark Star Cellars
E is for Electric Wires
F is for Family Farms
G is for Graveyard Vineyards
H is for Horses
Insects in My Neighborhood in April
J's Burgers in Paso Robles: A Review
Kosta is God's Gift to Me from Across the Ocean
Laguna Lake is Full Again
Mission San Miguel Photos
Niner Estates Decorated Heart Hill with Vineyards
Ocean Photos from the California Central Coast
Paso Robles Police Vehicles
Quiet Places Near Paso Robles
Red Soles Winery at Dusk
Shale Oak Winery at Dusk
Trader Joe's In Templeton is my Favorite Grocery Store
Umbrage is Abundant in the North County
Vineyards Through the Year
We Olive Offers Olive Tasting Opportunities
X-rays Aren't As Bad As They Used to Be
York Mountain Winery Barn Old and New

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• A Photo Walk Through the Vineyards of Zenaida Cellers

Croad Vineyards at Harvest Time

A Quick Look at the Croad Vineyard at Harvest Time

Although it seems just like yesterday I toured the Croad Vineyards during the harvest, it really happened in 2011. The year before I had observed the pickers from my backyard, since I live next door. Martin Croad must have noticed, so in 2011 he invited me to come observe the harvest from his side of the fence. He explained all that was happening and turned me loose with my camera.

Croad Tasting Room, ©B. Radisavljevic, 2011

This is the time of year when all the hard work pays off and the grapes are finally ready to start the transformation to wine. See in photos and videos how the magic happens at Croad Vineyards

Croad Vineyard at Harvest Time, ©B. Radisavljevic, 2011

Here are some other views of the Croad Tasting Room and Vineyard you can keep.

Patio of Croad Tasting Room, Paso Robles Jigsaw PuzzlePatio of Croad Tasting Room, Paso Robles PosterTempleton Wine County in Winter T-ShirtPlate: Fountain at Croad Vineyards, Paso Robles Melamine Plate

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Autumn Grape Leaves at Castoro Cellars

This is the time of year when wine country is most beautiful. The grapes are almost ready to  harvest in most vineyards. Some have already been harvested. The purple grapes hang heavy from the vines. The leaves are turning various shades of red and gold to complement them. The netting attempts to keep hungry birds from getting the first fruits. You can see the netting if you click to enlarge the photos.

Wineries are preparing to make merry in their harvest and first crush events. The colorful leaves are like banners inviting people to come and taste when all is accomplished. Soon we will be smelling grapes as we drive by at night on 46 West. Let the festivities begin!





While you wait for the harvest festivals, why not work a puzzle like this one?

Puzzle: Autumn Grape Foliage Puzzles

Viticulture Is Not a Nine to Five Business, Nor Is It Always a Quiet One

My house is surrounded by vineyards. Sometimes when I'm trying to sleep I will hear tractors as early as 5 AM, sometimes even when it's still partly dark out. Other times, like last night, I will see or hear my neighbor's tractor at dusk. I was walking from an outbuilding when I heard the sound, and I liked the silhouette of the driver and the vines against the sky. So, of course, I snapped a picture or two. I liked this one best.

When you get down to the basics, with all the mystique surrounding wine, it still comes from grapes, and those grapes must be tended carefully by those who know them best. Some seasons are busier than others. Planting seems to go on in the dormant months. Then comes cultivating and pruning. Finally, in autumn, there is harvest. Harvest is a joyful time, but not a quiet one. See for yourself in Life in Wine Country During the Grape Harvest.  

Although wine country isn't always quiet, it's almost always beautiful. There's nowhere else I'd rather live.

Poster of Paso Robles Wine Country
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