The Mustard Fields

After the grape harvest, mustard is planted to replenish the soil while the vines rest dormant, so that by the end of January you’re faced with the most remarkable explosion of yellow along the valley floor. The mustard flower is akin to that of oilseed rape, which blooms in early summer in England, and the scent brings me back to days spent lost in golden fields and wandering ancient megaliths on those rare hot days you get in the English countryside. Already in Napa we’ve experienced sporadic days of remarkable warmth, and I am increasingly convinced that this is my favorite season here – not least of all for its capacity to evoke seasons passed elsewhere.