Calling All Pickers

I was intrigued by the subject line in an email from Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth, RI.  "Calling All Pickers," I mean, come on, how much fun could that be?  OK, so I got a little carried away by taking a vacation day and asking my husband to do the same.  I pictured a scene straight out of I Love Lucy of Lucy and Ethel.

But that's grape stomping, and grape picking is very different.  Not as glamorous and bees are included.  Grapes had been harvested on the vineyard grounds for the week so we drove with a group to a private residence on the water.  Picture a scene straight out of The Great Gatsby.  The all-organic vineyard was there as decoration.  And so we were the help for the day.

Too bad my lens wasn't secure.  This pic is pretty classic.  It was a diverse group of pickers and we were the only English-speaking.

Back at the vineyard and tasting room...

These grapes, which weren't ready to pick the day we visited, are for the Cabernet Franc wine.

We came home with a bottle, along with bottles of the Greenvale Chardonnay, Greenvale Vidal Blanc and Rosecliff Pinot Gris.  Paid in wine.  Now that's pretty sweet!