Arbour Grapes

Redish purple grapes hung from the vines over the arbour for family gatherings. Nobody could’ve guessed that these luscious grapes that hung overhead magically made the wine on the table. The moist and tasty grapes moved silently above people’s heads, working their enchantment of love in the air. These rich and heavenly grapes pushed the ripest bunches surrounding the not-quite-ready grapes and silently moved overhead to concoct that fanciful nectar. At the same time, Guy’s family talked and laughed below, not noticing what was happening above their heads in the arbour.

The juice from the grapes fell into the empty bottles of wine Jamey, Guy’s son and his friends placed at the side of the table. The grapes squeezed the ripe bunches, and the juice dropped quickly into the bottles; This action continued until the bottles filled. Guy noticed two full bottles waiting for him, his wife, their only son Jamey, and his friends. They thought the server put them there while they were engrossed in talking.

The full bottles of wine had enough inside for everyone, and Guy, the vineyard owner, poured some for all.

They toasted. They cheered. And then, it was tasting time. The sheer delight as they drank the vine's nectar made men sing and women dance. It was love nectar in a bottle. The magic serum that nobody knew how to reproduce, and the wine was magically tasty. What they did know how to do was frolic and flirt until they made magic of their own.

They had so much fun and felt so much love that they left empty bottles under the arbour, all standing upright. In the morning, when Paco awoke, he found all the bottles were full. He was amazed yet thankful and hoped for this magic to last. He quickly corked the bottles and put labels on them with a particular blend label that Guy only reserved for his own unique blends.

Paco was the faithful ranch hand who had been working for Guy for 30 years. He was only 40 years old, but he knew the vineyard and everything about every grape and wine they reproduced there. He was a valuable and loyal employee to Guy. And over the last couple of years, they have become closer.

The following night Paco put more bottles on the table and awoke to more nectar. Paco, who was the first to notice the once bountiful arbour, was beginning to look sparse. The love nectar and the arbour grapes are somehow connected.

He experimented with two bottles. He put them outside of the arbour. He knew he was correct about his suspicion. The arbour grapes were responsible for the love nectar. I now know the magic formula!

He was quick to discover what the others didn’t know. And he kept his mouth shut.

“Hey, boss, I can deliver the formula to you tomorrow, but I don’t want to share how I make it with anyone but you,” Paco announced.

“What do you mean? Of course, I will ensure nobody else gets the formula, as our business will fail if too many get their hands on it,” Guy stated.

“And your son? Who has no interest in your business? What about him? How does he fit into these plans and this potion between you and me?” My question has some validity, and I am right to ask! As nervous as I was, I had to test the waters and figure out if anything would be in it for me since I was the one who figured out how to make the arbour grape potion.

“Are you trying to tell me how to run my business? I know Jamey has no interest in this business and has never worked a day on this farm since he went away to school. That doesn’t mean he will be allowed to walk in here and become the new head grape master brewer! Paco! How could you doubt me after all these years?”

Guy asked; the 6’ man stood with a tortured look at the thought as he ran his hand through his snow white hair holding his hat in his other hand.

“I am sorry, sir; I don’t know what I was thinking! It’s just that this land is so beautiful and the grapes so tasty here. It is magical in this location. Napa Valley has that appeal, but this vineyard is exceptional. We both know that!”

Paco’s eye lit up when he spoke about the vineyard, which made Guy’s heart warm and proud. It was almost as if Paco were his son.

“Jamey will be here tomorrow with some of his college friends. They are going to stay in the bunkhouse. I don’t want you to be out there with them because they can be little assholes, and I don’t want you subjected to that bullshit, Paco. You hear me now? Stay away from those guys,” Guy stated.

Paco nodded and then asked. “So, how much of the potion do you need, sir? Do you have a number in mind?”

“Just keep filling up the bottles, Paco. More is best so keep it coming, son.”

But how to rejuvenate the grapes that cling ever so beautifully and freely to the vine? Paco showed his boss and told him his concerns, which started a contest to see who could take the best care of the arbour grapes. Paco was sure that if they allowed four months to pass, the grapes would have more than enough nectar and more time to rejuvenate the crop in a staggering growth.

I was assigned to the arbour grapes, where I’ll give extra care and attention. I don’t want others to discover and exploit those succulent arbour grapes.

In those four months, the young farmhand, Paco, got busy with hybrids and shoots of the grape that he fostered growth into a new crop and onto a new arbour. This boy knew how to get the most out of plants that would have been all used up in short order if they had kept going at their original production pace. His boss saw his value, an observant little fellow! And promoted him to be his righthand man. Paco was overjoyed and readily accepted the position. It was a surprise that I was ready for.

Jamey was at the house as fast as you could say rat. He was dressed in his three-piece suit and was ready to spit nails. “Paco! Paco! Paco, come out here! It’s Jamey!”

Paco's jeans were a mess, and his apron from working in the grapes was stained various shades of reds, purples, and plum colours when he stepped out of the barn into the sunlight. He wore his straw hat with a wide brim to keep the sun off his brown face and was taking off his gloves, anticipating trouble.

“What can I do for you, Jamey? Is something wrong?” He answered briefly.

“You know there’s something wrong; you rat fink! Trying to take my inheritance right out from under my nose! Becoming head VINTNER! Everyone knows that position is for the owner or the one who will succeed the owner. My daddy is not a dumb man Paco. You are going to be out in the cold. All your hard work is for nothing because you are history when I take over this farm.” Jamey had a gleam in his eye as he took pleasure in telling Paco this and watching him squirm.

Only Paco didn’t squirm or react. “I have no idea what you are talking about, but your daddy is in the barn; let me go get him for you!” Exclaimed Paco.

“No need, Paco; I’m here. I heard the whole thing. Jamey, is this how you talk to your oldest and best friend? You threaten him and tell him he will be out of a job when you take over? Tell me, Jamey, what do you know about the vineyard? What do you know about the grapes we produce around here?”, Asked Guy. He wanted Jamey to squirm a bit.

“Daddy? I’m sorry you had to hear that, but Paco has been trying to take this farm over since we were kids. He knows every nook and cranny and all kinds of grapes we grow. I heard he is your right-hand man now. That makes me nervous about my inheritance.” Jamey declared.

“Well, Jamey, maybe you should have thought about that before you left the farm and split altogether for a different life: Never taking any interest in what we do here. That is on you! I will tell you my will is ironclad and cannot be contested, so what is written is written.” Guy stoically answered.

***

The grapes were fruitful again, as were the hybrids, and little pinches of grape Paco started from those arbour grapes. There are plentiful amounts of grapes around now. Paco tried to make the grapes squeeze one another like they did when they were on the arbour. It just wasn’t happening. What is the issue? Then he asked his boss if he could allow people to eat in the growth area under the grapes. The boss ensured it was safe and okayed it.

That gathering under the grapes was the necessary ingredient that was missing. The grapes are social, and I wanted to see people enjoying them so that the magic enchantment of the grape nectar would work. Seeing the bottles full the following day was such a blessing and relief. Paco corked all the bottles and brought them to his boss. His boss was pleased and gave Paco more responsibility. Paco was now the lead vintner of the entire estate, not just the arbour grapes. This a title that most workers who work at a vineyard want to achieve and be able to say they are working at a winery: Very few ever achieve this goal.

Paco’s success and, ultimately, Guy’s came with constant hybrids and the growth of the magical grapes, ensuring that they had two crops on the go during the time that nobody else was harvesting at all times. Paco stayed ahead of the demand, and his boss was pleased. One day, his boss took ill in the winery, and Paco helped him by bringing him water and making him comfortable; Guy knew it was his last moment on earth.

He said, “Paco, you have served me well. I have left the vineyard to you. I hope you and your family will be thrilled running this vineyard.” He shut his eyes and died. Paco shed a tear and then smiled.

He was a wealthy El Salvadorian American who owned prime real estate in California’s Napa Valley. He owned acres and acres of land full of grapes. He had won the jackpot. He would not disappoint the memory of his boss’ name.

He raised his head high, and the Winery became “La Vida de las Uvas,” He continued making the fanciful potion. The magical potion lasted for a long time after the evening that Paco discovered the magic formula so innocently all those years ago. Paco showed it to his daughter, who was amazed and learned how to manipulate the grapes into giving her that sweet nectar known as the “Arbour Grapes Love Potion.”

People came from miles around to get a glimpse of Paco and his family and take a selfie, after which they purchased a bottle of the love potion wine. Everyone was welcome, and nobody was immune. The love potion wine was something everyone, like it or not, believed in! They let Paco know they were happy about his love potion wine from the arbour grapes, which was never disappointing. The arbour served as the canopy for many a wedding that Paco’s wife ran as her share of the business. It indeed was a Life of Grapes.