Sueshore, you asked about weather and wine. No one ever knows, really until the fruit is in. And that's when the P.R. gang takes over. Since discovering the powers of P.R., there has not been a mediocre harvest in the Napa Valley:roll: . But in general, the late spring rains and cool temps in combo with this record setting prolonged heat wave does not spell good things for wine. The vines looks very stressed and we could be making raisins. Cabernet and merlot stand up well to heat stress. Sauvignon blanc and chardonnay do not. And pinot grapes are the most sensitive of all. So time well tell. I can tell you, on the other hand, that when the fatal vine pest phylloxera infects a vineyard, some of the best wine you will ever see from such vineyards come during the death throes. This is because stressed vines produce great wines. Go figure and stay tuned.
So far as people go, however, I can tell you that this is NOT good. Yesterday, it was literally hard to breathe. If you have any tendencies to claustrophobia, you begin to feel quite panicky. We finally went out to a movie and could hardly stand the half-block walk from where we parked. A horror movie was playing, involving a woman trying to put on a pair of panty hose in 109-degree temps. Just kidding! We saw "Click" and it was excellent. Just as we were going to bed and thanking the gods for a/c, the power went out. So we are dealing with that this morning, throwing circuit breakers and calling the electrician. Power has resumed, at least, and we could be in St. Louis. All things in perspective. Reminds me of the ice storm when I was living in Atlanta. My mother called from Florida with strictest orders to, "Get into bed, turn on your electric blanket, and don't come out until the power's back on!"
This, too shall pass...just hope that I don't first.
