Vitis vinifera cultivar. The drawing for this print was made in the Bella Oaks Vineyard of Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Rhodes. It was the Rhodeses who began the famous Martha’s Vineyard and then sold it to Tom and Martha May. Now the Bella Oaks Vineyard is a strong competitor with Martha’s Vineyard, Diamond Creek Vineyards, Robert Mondavi Winery, and a few others. There is no shortage of fine red wine in the Napa Valley. Long considered one of the noblest grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon produces a much bigger wine in the Napa Valley than it does in France. As beautiful as a ripe wheat field, the vineyard casts its spell in quite another way. When the bunches hang heavy and ripe, and nothing has disturbed the dusty bloom on the tight skin of the grape, the sun pours its goodness down, perfecting the juice day by day. To me, the vineyard represents the promise of the future, vintages to come, and wine to be drunk in future years. —Henry Evans
$150.00 each.