"A Passion For Wine"

Recently in California during a very busy week while bottling two wines, walking numerous vineyards each day and enjoying so many great wines in the beautiful Russian River Valley and  Napa Valley, I had the chance to take a moment to "take stock" and really consider just what wine itself really represents and truly means to me! Not the competitive and dynamic business side of wine or the analytical dissection of a wines taste, color, aroma and structure. No I mean the true essence, passion and love of wine and all that it helps to enhance and create.

Wine has been a part of our lives and intertwined in our agriculture, food and civilization for thousands of years. One archaeological account even suggests evidence shows that the possible earliest known wine production occurred in what is now known as the country of Georgia around 7000BC!
The ancient Roman novelist Petronius once wrote "Wine is Life" where in our more modern era,
American wine pioneer Robert Mondavi once said "Wine is Art"!

Well for me, wine is all these things and much more. For me, wine is all about people! From the family and friends you share and enjoy it with, to the new acquaintances and relationships it helps foster and introduce you to at so many wonderful wine dinners, tastings, festivals and gatherings. For me, wine is the perfect chaperon to any social function.

However, wine is also a lifestyle for me. One that celebrates creativity, enthusiastic living, travel, food, people, constant learning and the pure enjoyment of living! In my life at least, wine has been and is such a wonderful part of so many great experiences, friendships and memories.

While I have been very fortunate to taste and enjoy so many historic wines and wines from some of the world's classic vintages and greatest producers, I must admit I still feel excitement and anticipation tasting a wine for the first time, regardless of price point or origin! It's a new discovery, experience and opportunity. Whats not to get excited about?!

Course over the years wine has been a catalyst and common ingredient in my own personal lifestyle that celebrates and so enjoys my exposure and interaction with friends, associates and extraordinary people from all around the world. These moments of conversation, fellowship and friendship have and continue to "feed my soul" and stimulate my spirit. I simply can't think of many more enjoyable evenings than to relax and share a fantastic bottle of wine with a loved one, friend or enthusiastic group of new friends!

While we all often focus and put so much energy and thought into wine scores and technicalities of wine, for me it will always be about the feelings and joy wine instills in me, as well as the inspiration and motivation I gain each day from all the dedicated wine artisans who grow grapes, make wine and market and deliver wine to all of us! I raise my glass to you all!!

However in addition to the simple enjoyment of and passion for wine, in the past decade especially, wine has become a vehicle and platform for charitable and non-profit donations, fund-raising and benefiting of so many wonderful and worthy organizations and missions. I have been fortunate and blessed to participate and be involved first hand in the charitable side and influence of wine. I have been constantly amazed and gratified at the incredible generosity from wine producers and professionals AND all the equally generous wine enthusiasts, collectors, event sponsors and wine event patrons that give so much and help raise millions of dollars annually for non profit organizations around the world. Their passion, excitement and love of wine, community and life are truly inspiring to me!

So next time you open a wonderful bottle of wine, in addition to the normal evaluation, investigation and exploration of the wine, simply take a moment to sit back, sip and ENJOY!

As Oliver Wendell Holmes once said:
"When wine enlivens the heart, may friendship surround the table".

Cheers Everyone!!