The life of a vintner: planting your vineyards, harvesting the grapes, tasting the new vintage as it ages in your elegant wine cave, seeing your name on a bottle sought after around the world.

2004 Edge took top honors in the cabernet sauvignon category of “best wines $20 and under” during Food & Wine magazine’s American Wine Awards, published in the October issue. A panel of judges who deemed Edge the number one choice said, “It’s tough to find any Napa cabernet for $20 these days, much less one this stylish. Ray Signorello Jr. made this full-bodied, lightly oaked wine from grapes purchased all over Napa Valley, including Stags Leap.”

Growers say last week’s light rain didn’t hurt the grapes and this week’s warm weather is most welcome, as most of the valley’s grapegrowers are waiting patiently for flavors to develop before they harvest their grapes. Heron Lake Vineyard’s John Newmeyer said many are adopting the “steady nerves” example of Su Hua Newton and others — be patient, don’t ‘panic pick,’ and wait for full ripe flavors to develop.”