What an exciting month. I’ve seen more rainbows and more white puffy clouds than I can ever remember. The long time Oregonians complain about the rain and I find it funny thinking, “Geez, if you only knew how good you have it here.” It’s all about perspective.
I’m still working on my website. In between work and taking care of my household, I spend all the time I can working on it. I’m really excited how it’s turning out and although it’s taking longer than I expected to get it up and running, it will be great. The research I’ve had to do for the website is tedious. At least the typing and writing is the tedious part. The other part of my “research,” I have to say, isn’t so bad, in fact it’s remarkable.
My friend Holly and her husband Tom came down to visit a couple of weekends ago to help me in my, “research.” We spent two days visiting wineries and restaurants. It was really tough……NOT! We made it a point to find ones we had not visited before. (I found out that because I am in the “industry” with my website to come, we got free tastings everywhere we went, one of the perks of my research.) Even in the middle of winter the spectacular views, the beautiful winery décor and architecture transported us to another place and time.
After the Pinot Noir Clone seminar I attended in January, my knowledge and tasting palate has been changed. I was able to ask intelligent questions about the wine, read labels and taste with a general idea of what to expect from each bottle. However, each blend is a work of art and always a surprise.
On one of the vineyard and winery owner’s websites, they said this “The only thing romantic about owning a vineyard is the wine, the rest of it is consistent hard, hard work.” I can see how this is true. Making wine is similar to an artist painting a masterpiece. It requires passion, knowledge and devotion.
A couple of my favorites from that weekend were not necessarily the wines, although they were spectacular, but, the tasting room employees and my friends. We met a guy named Matt, who for me exemplifies how I always pictured men in Oregon; the big red beautiful beard, the flannel shirt, the gregarious smile and great laugh, definitely not your typical wine snob. Of course there aren’t many of those here. I managed to really embarrass him however, by making a big deal about how he should be the poster child for “Men of Oregon.” He was a good sport.
Matt sent us to a couple of other wineries as a suggestion. After going down dirt gravel roads for awhile and looking for the “red barn”, turn left, the “old school house,” turn right, we found them. When we pulled up to VIDON vineyard and winery, we came upon a small house and small garage type building out back where the tasting room resides. Dave the tasting room expert was fantastic. The vineyard is very small, the owner an astrophysicist turned winery owner who worked on several of the Apollo missions, who turned out some fantastic wines. They were my favorite of the day. The best taste however, came not from a bottle but, from the barrel [2010 Pinot Noir Pommard 115 Clone] There is nothing like tasting wine right from the barrel. A long glass tube is inserted into the barrel, pulled out and then drizzled right into your glass. Of course Dave was handing out chocolates as well from, “the Dark chocolatier” of Dundee. Giddy with happiness and laughter aptly describes the moment. These are the moments in life to look back on, that keep us going when times get tough.
My husband thinks I live in fairy tale land. I realize there is a lot going on in our world right now. There is a lot of “reality” out there that I could focus on, news I could watch, videos I could view, articles I could read about how the world is coming to an end. Our world is turning up-side-down but, when I’m sitting at a winery with Tuscan architecture, looking out over beautiful valleys I am transported to another time and another place. When I’m walking near our enchanted forest by the river near our house, looking at ferns growing on the branches of trees and beautiful birds flying over head, I forget the world out there and appreciate God’s creation. There is so much about life that is beautiful. Just hearing my daughter’s voice on the phone and knowing she’s happy, is beautiful. Talking with my son and getting a glimpse of his journey in college is beautiful. Hearing my step-daughter ask me for advice, okay that’s beautiful and it took a long time for that to happen. The media wants us to believe that life is ugly and terrifying. I choose to live in the world, which I create. A beautiful life.
We are putting together our survival kit for the end of the world but, you can be sure there will be a few bottles of enchanting Oregon Pinot as part of the package.
Live in your bliss. Be prepared but, still live. I know I do.
Blessings to you all,
Jenni
