Raking

Medium: Giclée print from digital camera

Dimensions: 18″x12″ print in 25 6/16″ x 19 6/16″ frame

Date: October, 2019

About the Artwork:

For some wines, REX HILL uses medium-sized fermenters that can be dug-out through the door, rather than having to climb completely inside. The fermented grapes are transferred to bins and then put in the press to gently squeeze out any remaining juice. The dig-out process is physical, and it might take an hour or more to move all of the grapes.

But it is hugely satisfying:  Winery founder Sam Tannahill told me that this is his favorite part of winemaking, as it intimately connects him to the grapes and honors a process that has remained essentially unchanged for thousands of years. I went up to the catwalk to see both the inside and the outside of the fermenter, and how the contents are being moved by Cynthia with a simple tool.