When it comes to wine, there are tasting rooms, there are wineries, and then there are farms.

Belle Pente Vineyard and Winery is a true farm, with a range of biodiversity that might surprise those who visit, including me. I arrived expecting to find rows of grapes, but instead came upon a diverse collection of animals grazing in the pastures surrounding the Belle Pente estate vineyard.

Case in point, a small herd of Scottish highland cows with two six month old calves. Their moms were highly attentive to anyone approaching the fence, especially with a camera pointed at them making strange sounds as the shutter clicked.

While I was a bit humbled by these gentle giants, I found humor in the parade that several geese organized upon my arrival at the pen they shared with dozens of chickens. These vociferous four made the biggest ruckus when I was taking pictures of the chickens, as if demanding they become the center of attention.

And if the cow and calf weren't cute enough, this goat and two kids (assuming they were hers) were fun to watch. These three were curious but cautious as I was standing at the fence line taking shots of the rest of the goat herd, which also included a group of sheep.

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Harvest at Belle Pente (Fall 2010)