One of the most notable “labors of love” has to be the wine business, and specifically the annual harvest which concludes a dynamic process of balance and trial with mother nature. The end result, sweet berry wine that we all know and love.
I have to admit, my job is much easier, and quite possibly just as enjoyable: documentation… with drones. However, arriving at specific harvest locations is often easier said than done. As so it began when my alarm went off in mid September at 3:30am.
After a quick splash of water to the face and loading my camera gear, I was on the road to Cazadero California (or at least some outskirts of the area) by 3:45am. Trailed by absolute darkness on desolate country roads, the obscenely clear sky and array of evening stars was the lone comfort on the multi-hour drive to the coastal region.
Cazadero is a small town nestled a few miles off the Sonoma Coast line adjacent to where notable beaches such as Bodega Bay, Salmon Creek, and Dillon Beach can be found. Somewhere in between Cazadero and the coast are wide stretches of farmland, scattered among flatland and up steep cliff faces.
My particular target, a remote ranch & vineyard located at the top of a ridge along an old one-way logging road (dirt-road too I might add).
After a few hours of driving west to the coast and then following HWY 1 up the coastline, I finally reached my destination: Myers Grade Road, the old logging commute. Another hour on this fine piece of history, alas I had arrived. I had been told “you’ll be like a kid in a candy store up there” based on the aesthetic beauty and photographers dream setting. Truth be told, this proclamation was an understatement. My destination at the top of this unknown ridge was absolutely breath taking, a true site from dreams and storybooks for a photographer (especially a drone photographer) to have a field day with.
Attached here are some of the pictures, come back soon and check out the Video Gallery to see when the finished video is uploaded.
Special Thanks to Geoff Harner and Chris Gruver from Failla Wines for helping to make this project happen.
