One Perspective on 30 years in the Wine Biz
The start of every wine year brings an idealized vision of the future. In our cellar-chair prognostications, we predict zero problems with equipment and health, fruit that is perfectly ripe and on-time to the crush pad, cooperation from Mother Nature, and consistent demand for our products — a commensurate going out to the stuff that is coming in.
It isn’t every time that a whistling past the graveyard is the knell of death, sometimes it is —instead— triumphant walk-up music!
2025 seems different to me. In our increasing devotion to Cab Franc (we are significantly increasing the number of tons coming across the scale this year, even amidst a cyclic downturn for the wine business as a whole) and with the economic realities of our choices unsparingly staring us in the eye, this harvest feels like a new start to me.
This is my 30th year; it shouldn’t feel new. But it does. I feel like, for the first time and after a series of decisions I thought were the right ones at the time that didn’t pan out, our focus on Cab Franc and our ability to make really good versions of the wine and a seeming itch out there for new and appeals to a younger crowd and comparatively inexpensive and low alcohol and food-friendly and minimal intervention puts us in position of potential growth for the first time in three decades. It is an exciting time, indeed.
There is only so much any one of us can control. I can control the amount of time, energy, and creativity I bring to all aspects of my life; I can seed my personal clouds with the life-giving drops of self-confidence, perspective, and I’m-not-going-to-take-no-for-an-answer. These things I can and do…do. The other stuff will come about because…life.
The only answer, then, when times become tough, is being better, more creative, working smarter and harder. My father’s favorite song is Me and Bobbie McGee. “Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose” sure does resonate.
It isn’t every time that a whistling past the graveyard is the knell of death, sometimes it is —instead— triumphant walk-up music!