What a difference a day makes! Last weekend, while cleaning up the garden after our abundant rains, I planned to rip out last year’s tomato plants (put in the ground far too late and woefully unproductive) but didn’t get to the final bed before darkness hit. By the next morning, I found the formerly doomed plant was covered in blossoms, sure to be a bumper crop of Sweet 100s by summer! A reprieve was granted.
         A similar robust flowering has occurred at our local farmers’ markets. Here in California, it seems like suddenly the piles have grown higher, the green hues more varied and vivid, and the accompanying rainbow posies perch everywhere like a hundred fancy ladies’ hats.
         It’s also time to lighten up our palate after a long winter of ponderous reds and weighty whites and to turn to fresher wines with a good dose of vim and vigor that pair well with the bounty of spring produce cropping up (see what I did there?). To that end, we’ve put together a 4-pack sampler of sprightly and dynamic wines with suggestions for spring vegetable-inspired pairings. So head out to the market or garden, get cooking and drink in the joys of spring!