It is always fun to try to catch a sunrise, but it often seems to be overcast in the mornings - takes a while for the sun to cut through the clouds that gather in the valley. However, the birds were busy in the fields anyway,
I was thrilled when I was able to capture the sun lighting up the low lying cloud bank.......
............and here there's a glimpse of the sun on the river. My patience was finally rewarded.
Wednesday and Thursday's field trips had a vineyard theme - a visit to a winery which has been in the same family since 1601! We figured they know a think or two about growing and making wines!
I enjoyed being able to see their vines labeled in the vineyards........
........and the table setting we arrived to for the tasting was colorful.
Our 'fearless leader' Alison Kunz (on the right in case you didn't figure it out!) interpreted for us - she said it got a bit tough after the third or fourth glass of wine! I have to confess I thought she did a great job throughout and I learned a great deal about wines of this region and wine-making in general.
There is nothing that announces wine so clearly as oak casks. We were told that they are becoming very hard to find and cost about 8,000 euros each. They are used for reds. If a batch goes bad, the whole cask has to be thrown away. Pricey!
The stainless steel vats by comparison are used for whites and each one costs about 3,000 euros for twice the capacity. I loved the ghostly look they gave to the cellar.
In the end, it all gets bottled and we could buy a very nice wine for a mere 6 euros (about $7.50). Sadly the vigneron wasn't able to arrange shipping to the USA, so I just got a few bottles to put in my suitcase. (Sad face!) I couldn't resist capturing the pink glow of this rose in my flash!
Walking back to the hotel, I found this window. I just have to share it with you!
The following day, we enjoyed a walk through the vineyard to a barbecue lunch. As we walked, one of the chefs from the hotel produced a wine which had been grown on the very vines we were walking past. I had to set up a 'before and after ' shot for this.
In addition to the vines, there are many pretty flowers. Notice the small green bee in the middle of
this one. It was cup-shaped and I couldn't focus on the edges and the middle at the same time.
this one. It was cup-shaped and I couldn't focus on the edges and the middle at the same time.
I just liked the colors of this one.
We arrived for another taste of wine under the trees with a view over the Rhine and the nearby town of Niederheimbach. The appetizers were colorful.
Our chefs Marc and Florian Lambrich were busy cooking lovely big home-made bratwurst!
Do you think the smile gives it away?!
Rosemary, as were many others, was busy with her camera to capture the best images possible of his lovely spot.
Graham elevated the photographic stakes with a 360 degree photo - it was a great spot for that.
Graham elevated the photographic stakes with a 360 degree photo - it was a great spot for that.
Not only was the river beautiful, but we had a bonus castle thrown in for luck!
It was a happy crew headed back to the hotel. (BTW, Germany gets 12% of it's energy from wind power).
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