Day 166 - Black Ankle Winery

(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

Look at that sky!

Black Ankle Winery is such a beautiful place.  The farm and scenery are gorgeous, the wine is wonderful, and the people are friendly.  The sustainable operation there makes it even more special. 

I went to Black Ankle to pick up my monthly wine allotment, and my friend Norma came along.  We first did a tasting in the tasting room (the 2010 Leaf Stone Syrah is a new favorite), then we walked the grounds.  Not every winery will let you do that, and Black Ankle actually encourages it.

She chose not to escape;
see the broken fence
behind her?

How now, brown cow?

We went to the top of the vine covered hill nearest to the road, then admired the view from the top.  Winter is a quiet time on the farm, but evidence of pruning of the vines lay in between all the rows.  On the way up the hill, we noticed the fabulous sky.  It was sapphire blue wherever it showed behind the gray and white clouds.  While descending the hill, Norma pointed out the crepuscular rays, so we snapped away at those.  Farther down the hill we came to the cows, and one little brown cow was outside the fence.  We decided not to get too close, but he did look cute and friendly.

Row 29

Golden Light on Golden Fields

We returned to the tasting room to report the loose cow, noting that there were three more of the larger white cows roaming the vines, too.  Melissa told us there was a break in the fence and that they would be rounded up soon.

We ended our walk with a trip up another hill at the rear of the property, where the darkening sky revealed even more rays, with some soft golden light in the clouds.

Winter vines against winter sky

Black Ankle is worth a visit in any season.  Be sure to bring along your walking shoes and your camera -- you'll be glad you did.

 ******************

Visit my photography show, "My Maryland," at the public library in Urbana, Maryland, on the lower level of the building.  It is there until the end of April.

Hurricane Sandy Relief: Donate to the Red Cross, and I will mail you a 5 x 7 print from any of the photos I have posted on my blog OR any photo on my website.

Forward to me via email a receipt for donating to the Red Cross. Tell me whether the photo is from the blog or the website, and Include its title along with a mailing address. The name on the receipt to the Red Cross must match the name of the mailing recipient. Send the receipt and the photo request to camscamerashots@gmail.com.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

*************************************************

Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com
Follow me on Twitter: @camscamerashots
Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use my Nikon P7100 (it is a very convenient size and weight)
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so