Tolosa

(or the Finer Things in Life)  
 
My wife and I took a drive up the California coast  
To wine country  
Up to SLO  
To where the rolling hills are green and full  
After the rains  
To cooler weather and open Pacific skies  
Where vineyards seem to go on forever  
 
It was there where we met Johnny  
An older gentleman  
With a jacket and hat  
As he spoke about the Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs  
And how the soil and climate are perfect here  
He spoke about how some of the wind that comes in from the ocean  
Ripens the delicate grapes  
The intertwining of cold air and warm soil  
 
And the vineyards…  
They look like a painted landscapes  
 
With every tiny serving  
Our noses are treated to a scintillating aroma  
Our tastebuds indulge in some untold story  
Our senses are elevated  
Making us imagine  
This must be how art tastes like  
 
I’m no wine connoisseur  
But Johnny describes the grapes  
And the fermentation process like it’s poetry  
Like it’s his passion  
The finer things in life  
 
If you ever find yourself in the California coast  
In San Luis Obispo  
Check out old Johnny  
He’ll make you smile  
He’ll retire soon before he turns 80  
And you’ll be in for a treat