Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
D'Vine Path student Kai Kroeger stands by his adopted vine.
Louisa Todisco supports D'Vine Path by generously donating to the nonprofit as well as helping to harvest the grapes.
D'Vine Path's youngest volunteer, Julian Olson, helps pick grapes at the Batali vineyard.
A bucket of grapes is ready for the de-stemming machine.
D'Vine Path student Shawn Lemmon, left, and volunteer Mason unload the new grape pressing machine after the harvest.
Wine making expert Matt Sherman of Myrtle Creek Winery, standing left, supports D'Vine Path by sharing his knowledge and assisting in the pressing and bottling.
Pressing in winemaking is the process where the juice is extracted from the grapes with the aid of a wine press, by hand, or even by the weight of the grape berries and clusters.
Students Shawn Lemmon and Marina Kroeger help remove the pressed grapes from the presser in preparation for the next batch.
Grapes are fermenting during D'Vine Path's winemaking session.
D'Vine Path, a Fallbrook vocational
program, earned statewide visibility when it was showcased in the California
State Council on Developmental Disability's online event, the Festival of
Learning.
The event in August was part of a series of webinar-style seminars that are
focused on creating change in the lives of people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities.
D'Vine Path is a nonprofit organization that provides vocational training for people with autism and other disabilities in agriculture, viticulture, hospitality and the arts. In the webinar, founder Lenila Batali was joined by Kai Kroeger, who developed a passion for viticulture through his participation in D'Vine Path's immersive educational program. That passion led him to the Wine Industry and Hospitality Program and Mt. San Jacinto College, where he is now pursuing an employment certificate while working part time at Batali Ranch.
"When Kai started the program, he was very shy and was kind of hesitant. But in our program the students kind of run it," said Batali. "We have a lot of events and we start out with a lot of guest speakers teaching them about viticulture, about wine making. When the students come in, they adopt one vine and from the beginning of the year to the end they learn how to take care of the vine. They're really hands-on."
This experience was illuminating for Kroeger, who enrolled at D'Vine Path after a year of seeking employment without success. He said that he was initially indifferent to wine, and he did not know what to expect when the program began.
"When I first started D'Vine Path, I never thought I would be so interested in vineyards, viticulture and wine,"
said Kroeger. He recalls being shy to begin with, but as he developed his
skills and his knowledge of viticulture, his confidence grew. Kroeger gave a
presentation at D'Vine Path's year-end event in front of a crowd of 250 people.
"It was easy for him," said Batali.
"Everyone came up to me and said that is not the same Kai that came here a year
ago."
"This program really changed my life. I could not be more grateful," Kroeger said. He proudly showed off a small grape
vine, grown from the clippings he took home with him after pruning at the
vineyard. He said that he has developed a talent for growing grapes, and
currently has more than 400 vines. He hopes to one day own a vineyard of his
own.
The next Festival of Learning webinar is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 23 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
For more information, including the link to join, email [email protected]. The
recording of the last Festival of Learning that features Kai Kroeger can be watched
at scdd.ca.gov.
Beth Hurn is on the staff of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.
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