Gualfín, Calchaqui Valley, Argentina.
March 26th, 2024.
Dear Reader,
We returned to Gualfín late last night after spending the weekend in Salta at El Castillo de San Lorenzo. We had a nice time seeing friends, we ran errands and took care of various business matters. I had a voice lesson.
This past Sunday was Palm Sunday, which marks Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem and the beginning of Holy Week leading up to Easter, a big deal for most Christians. We attended mass at the local church. It was packed. Women stood around outside selling intricately braided palms to bring into church and have blessed with holy water.
Adrien spent the entire mass waiting in line for confession. (A Catholic confesses his sins privately to a priest, so he can be absolved and take communion.) He said the line was only eight people deep but each session must have been like a therapy session because one by one he saw people coming away with red and puffy eyes.
It was lovely to finally get back to Gualfín where the flowers are still blooming, and the first days of Fall have brought a coolness to the air. The first frost is supposed to come right after Easter we’re told.
This morning, the work crew from Angastaco went out to Pucarilla to help our men finish the cosecha, the harvest of the grapes. The wife of the capataz went along too, to cook lunch for them all. Apparently, we’ll have a better yield than last year, but not by much. Only 8,000 kilos, Adrien told me, compared with last year’s 7,000. We were hoping to double that, at least.
At lunchtime, Adrien reported that the cosecha was already over. Our few kilos are picked, and the process of the winemaking will now begin at Tacuil. Still, we’ll have several thousand bottles of our Tacana to sell.
I took my usual walk this morning. The sun rises later than usual. The Nevado de Cachi, Cachi Mountain, was masked behind a quilt of clouds. Back at the sala, I stopped by the orchard to pick some apples. The trees are still bursting with fruit. Marta will dry them so we can enjoy them during the winter.
We’ll also load up the truck and bring as many as we can to the folks down at La Arcadia for Easter. A big asado will take place there. The farm is contributing three lambs, gaseosas – sodas, and wine. The community will take care of setting the tables up in the galpón, and preparing and serving side dishes. Each family will bring their own plates, cups and cutlery.
On Good Friday I’ll take part in the procession up the Via Cruces here at Gualfín, and then we’ll head down the dusty trail to San Martín.
Stay tuned.
Abrazos,
Mariah
P.S. If you’ve never tried our wine but want to, click here to sign up for our wine club – Bonner Private Wines - and receive a complimentary bottle of Tacana!
Our Methodist church is having a 20,000 helicopter Easter egg drop Saturday. I will be working there. I am a custodian part time for our church.(2 -6 pm.) and one Sunday monthly.
Nice to hear about your planned festivities.
I enjoy all your news bits, travels and the harvest size.
Keep going you are doing great