It is late afternoon. The winds have died and the air has grown soft and welcoming. In the foreground a thick weave of green vines mimic the undulating contours of the Santa Maria Bench. In the background, the distant sun transforms the atmosphere from cerulean blue to blood red and gold. There is a shifting of wavelength and frequency as the light cascades through a glass of Pinot Noir. The link between the land and the wine is unmistakable and complete.