Will be Wine

Went along at the hottest part of the day (around 17h) to watch the Adega filling its 1, 500 litre amphorae with new grape juice from grapes harvested yesterday. Surprised to see that a small amount of sulphite is added to it. Oh well. Our friend, Zé Maria, was up on top, using a fork to push the grapes toward the crusher and de-stemmer machine, helped by Augusto and Valente, pulling the grapes toward the machine, and then removing the stems to a stack further down the street.

To see a wider view, see Mike's first Blip! (Posted by me, but taken by him, hoping he'll get into it!)

It's a good job the juice is fermented, there was a fair bit of sweat and the occasional dregs of beer thrown at each other, and can't imagine their wellies were cleaned before use... but then, used to be bare feet, still is in places. The street was very sticky by the end. The juice will now ferment until St Martin's Day on 11th November, when the new wine will first be tasted.

Gratefuls:
- a day of croissants and church and swimming and Sem Fim (on our own), and no work!
- Paul's sermon going OK
- Julia doing a great job on yet another tense night on the labour ward