It is no wonder candles fill our lives in December, guiding us through darkness and into the light of the New Year.  They lift our spirits and warm our hearts, offering hope when we need it most, even on cold and grey days in December.

But we needn’t rely on candles alone.  Nights are indeed long, but brilliant sunlight can be seen even on the shortest day of the year, as it was in 2009 when I took the photo below.

Vineyard in Winter

With a dawning new year we start fresh, first with pruning in January (perhaps on the Feast of Saint Vincent, the patron of winegrowers, still honored in Burgundy) and culminating, as we are now in December, with new wine gestating quietly in barrels.

This past year, our sixth, was our largest and no doubt best vintage.  Growing conditions were excellent, and we had further good fortune to reach two milestones:

• Licensure of Mount Salem Vineyards, and
• Restoration of our 1811 barn that is now our winery.

On behalf of our entire family, I wish you a most peaceful and joyous holiday season and a wonderful and bright New Year in 2011.