The Weather Was Absolutely Beautiful ..

All day Sunday. My wife and I said "why not?" Why not take advantage of the fantastic weather and make the most of our Sunday afternoon. After attending to a few odds and ends around the house, we packed the chairs, a few things for the dog, and the wine glasses into the car. Yes, the wine glasses, because that's where we were heading.. Bellview Winery!

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I have to admit that it felt much warmer at home and by the time we reached the vineyard (about a 10 minute drive) we were chilly. We brought long sleeved clothing and a blanket, so we were set if the sun disappeared behind the clouds; which it did from time to time. I want to say it was about 64F with a 10 to 13mph breeze. We had to shrug the chill off a few times, but Molly was loving the coolness. She even started to pant a few times when the sun stood bold in the bright blue skies.

This was our first trip to the vineyard since loosing Pepper. Pepper would have LOVED going today. It was the perfect type of weather for him and he always liked watching all the people moving here and there. So sad to think about that, but it is hard not to do it. It felt weird just grabbing the one bed and one leash, although Molly is much better behaved than he ever was. She was content just lounging there in her bed or the grass, people watching from a distance. Pepper had a tendency to move around a lot and wander off.

Molly had a nice little set up. She had her favorite bed, a snuggle blanket and bowl of water. I moved the bowl close to the bed and she took a sip. After that she got lazy knowing she didn't even have to stand up and move to have a cool drink. Man.. she's got the life! We also packed a few cookies for her enjoyment, although she was preoccupied with watching a group of girls laughing and talking. When the bed got too hot for her, she moved to the grass, which was just as soft, but obviously much cooler on her tummy.

One additional pose for the camera, with the vineyard in the background. It's always a struggle getting her to look at the camera. She has this weird instinct to look away from the strange square electronic thing we are holding a few feet from her face. I have no clue why she would find that unsettling.. haha. We manage to get a shot now and again, but one has to be quick about it.

In this new Covid world, the winery does their part and keeps seating areas well spaced out. They have a variety of seating arrangements, some with fire pits. They really don't light the pits except for Friday nights or during events. A reservation is needed, but as you can see the crowds are small today. I suppose people have other things to do besides lounging around all afternoon drinking wine. I can't imagine what that would be though.. Anything else sounds boring.. just kidding.

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The vineyard has a small stage for music and entertainment events. I have even seen yoga being performed up there. It's not a huge stage, but just enough to provide an area to shelter performers from the weather. As open as the common space is out here, they really have quite a few options if someone needs to rest in the shade.

Inside the tasting room, they have restroom facilities, a small seating area, gifts and things, a tasting bar with all of their available wines, and a small menu with light fare like cheese and crackers, cheese and meat platter, spinach and artichoke dip, and a few other things. If you would like, you can always bring your own snacks, and we have done that on several occasions.

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Our wine choice for today was 'Nana's, a white and lightly sweet, white table wine. They popped the chilled bottle open for us to consume there in the vineyard. We brought our own glasses, because it's just easier. They will provide glasses upon request. From time to time I forget to pack a few glasses and need to take them up on that offer.

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This years harvest is approaching quickly and should begin within the next few weeks. They usually have a harvest party when the picking begins to celebrate everyone's hard work. It's not an easy task getting the grapes to this point, and a successful harvest is worth marking with an event like this. They usually have food, wine (obviously), and activities such as tours and grape stomping. The event is planned for sometime in late September or early October if my memory serves me correctly.

The grapes pictured below are either Cabernet-Sauvignon or Merlot.. I got out of the car as we were leaving, in order to take the picture. In my rush to get the photo, I forgot to take a look at the label on the end post. Yes, I know it would have been nice to include that, but I am only an amateur at this and I did have several glasses of wine. (smile smile)

Bellview Winery consists of about 50 acres of vines, and if I remember right, they make all of their wines with their own grapes. I grabbed the following excerpt from their website if your interested in a little more about them.

History
Located on soil that the Quarella family has been farming for a century sits one of New Jersey’s premier wineries. Bellview Winery, which opened its doors in 2000, has become a destination for more than just locals. Over the years Bellview has hosted wine lovers from across the country and abroad who have been very pleased to have stumbled upon our tucked away tasting room. Jim Quarella, founder and president of Bellview Winery, takes pride in crafting fine estate wines exclusively from the grapes that are cultivated here in our 50 acres of vineyards. Attention to detail is evident in each of our wines, which include over a dozen estate grown varietals as well as a selection of white, red, fruit, and specialty wines including a Port and an ice style wine. Bellview has also become well known for its Dandelion wine made from an old Quarella family recipe that goes back for generations. We strive to make wines of the highest quality that can be enjoyed by everyone from the wine enthusiast to the casual wine drinker.

The Vineyard
The vineyard at Bellview rests in the heart of the Outer Coastal Plain where the temperate climate and sandy soils provide excellent growing conditions for a wide range of grape varieties. We focus on producing grapes of exceptional quality by using specific training techniques to maximize airflow, ensure adequate sunlight exposure, and achieve our desired yield. Each vine is tended by hand throughout the year, resulting in a wine that truly expresses every detail of our viticultural practices.

Our Soil
The well drained sandy loam soil of our vineyard creates an optimal environment for wine grape production. Low to moderate fertility in the soil results in less vigorous vines that focus their energy on grape production as opposed to growing unnecessary vegetation. Rainfall easily drains due to the sand component of our soil, allowing us to keep the vines from getting over hydrated.

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It was a nice way to spend our Sunday afternoon. A fantastic day filled with bright sun, cool fall like weather,
tasty white wine, and Molly's company. We were missing our little boy Pepper, but other than that, what more could we ask for? It was just what we needed after a stressful, emotional filled week. Wish you were here Mr Pepper. You would have loved it.. your kind of day.. A PERFECT one.

Thank you for swinging by my blog and checking out the post. Have a great day!

“For at the end of the day, what matters is never the wine, it's always the moment; it's always the people.”

― Olivier Magny, Into Wine: An Invitation to Pleasure

Dear Pepper...

Moments like these will never be forgotten; Especially that moment where the mid-afternoon sunlight is filtering through the leaves of a hundred year old oak. The light warms my cold shoulders and my lap warmed by my best friend and companion. A buttery sip of Cabernet flowing smoothly down my throat accompanied by the most delightful of conversations. Silent conversations that answered all of life's monumental questions. My mind never felt more at ease with you by my side. I miss the conversation, your company, your understandings on life; for I am a compass without a needle in your absence.

All words, pictures and art pieces are the sole property of B D Miller Gallery, unless otherwise noted and credited, and are not to be reproduced or copied without the prior written consent of B D Miller Gallery.

About Me ~ The Artist

My art work incorporates a wide variety of subject matter, including landscape, seascape, cityscape, and still life images. My works are the product of a continuing process of exploration through which I seek to portray personal and visionary interpretations of my surroundings. My paintings are impressions of places and events from everyday life, an interpretation of my imagination, and personal responses to what I see and feel on a daily basis. More recently I have invested generous amounts of time into my landscape painting. I am surrounded by natural and man made beauty, which inherently presents itself in the tri-state area, and almost demands that I paint it.

Not everything is art. Art is not everything, but it comes close. Art is everywhere and all the time. Art makes you experience the beauty of the world, the people in it, and the places we call home. Art itself is so influential that it can tell stories, show feelings, and express passion or fury. Art exists in addition to language; expression of sensations and thoughts, revealing a way of thinking too subtle and delicate for words.

For me art requires love, honesty and perseverance. In return, it reveals some personal, non-analyzable, and creative untamed passion. For the public, art with its magnificent beauty, improves mood and health and builds better human beings and communities. It engages the intellect, softens the heart, strengthens the soul and frees the spirit.

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