Separating the Dreamers from the Dreams

"I'm lookin' California, but I'm feeling Minnesota"

Soundgarden, BadMotorFinger, Outshined

I listened to this song this morning and couldn't get this line out of my head.  My wife and I had planned a date today in the vineyards of Virginia, and we thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful countryside.  The tasting at Narmada were excellent, and Magnolia was just as exceptional.  Recommendations include the Viognier at the former and Hawkins Red Run at the latter.

But as we were on our way back home I was feeling as David Wilcox says it, "metaphorically bugged".

2018 and the beginning of 2019 have been rough on the vineyards of Virginia.  We've had a lot of rain, and that's bad for the vines.  Some vineyards have been wiped out because of it.  Driving up to these vineyards, even these vines don't have nearly as much growth on them as I've remembered in years past.

And it got me to thinking: There's the California wine industry and now there's the much younger Virginia wine community.  Many vineyard owners out here have gotten into it as a second career.  They made a decent amount of money then went all-in on something that they loved.  They rolled the hard six on a dream.  They all put in the hard work, and gave it all they've got.  But then it happened: Just when things started getting traction, just when your dream was beginning to turn the corner into becoming a reality, a curve ball comes and smacks you right in the head.

You lose everything.

That's when you have to make the hard decisions.  Many walk away from the dream, and no one can blame them for it.  They put feet to their dreams where most never even started.  But life happens, and you've got to move on.  They move on to the next dream, holding precious the fond memories.

But there are others who "Re".  Reexamine.  Reinvent. Recalibrate.  They ask themselves, "what do we have that works?"  I could imagine it playing out something like this:  Out of the thousands of vines, there's this one vine on the estate.  It's a Chardonnay.  You planted several varietals.  Viognier, Cab. Sauv, Petit Verdot.  At the beginning you were firing all the torpedoes.  And then there was your pet.  Your cherished varietal that you hoped would be the pièce de ré·sis·tance - Merlot.

But the only thing that survived the rain was that one Chardonnay vine.  You threw it into the mix on that very first day because, eh why not?  But now you set your focus on making that one vine work for your dream.  You're no longer a dreamer.  You've become the dream.  And with that, you make the best danged French Oak aged Chardonnay!  It becomes your passion.  Your favorite varietal - even more than your first love, Merlot.

You're no longer a dreamer.  You're finally living the dream.  No longer looking California.  California wishes they looked like you!

It's seasons like these that separate the men from the boys, the dreamers from the dream.

Stay focused through it all!  The other side is the best glass you've ever had.