Indian summer, with temperatures in the 90’s and 100’s, hits the vineyard late August and continues into September. The grapes continue their maturation process, called ‘verasion’ with the ever increasing coloration of the skins, the softening of the grape, now filled with sweet juice, and the seeds turning from green to brown, indicating the harvest is not too distant. The clusters hang like ornaments on the canes, which have now turned dark brown as the cane wood has hardened. The canopy of remaining leaves also starts to show the stress of its efforts, with the dark green leaves turning yellow, crimson, russet and gold. The vine is exhausted having given its all to produce the treasure of a fully mature grape, ready for the winemaker’s artwork. The harvest (called the’crush’) finally happens with the grapes hand picked using flashing, sharp, curved knives and picking tubs, delivering tons of grapes to the winery for the next complex process of premium wine making. Spent and sleepy, the vine begins a period of energy storage in preparation for the long winter. The remnants of grapes, missed in the harvest, are left for the migrating birds to savor, and winter approaches with its welcomed hiatus.