With mixed emotions I am sharing something more personal
It all ties into how I got into wine... there is a point.
This isn’t my typical kind of post, but sometimes you just need to write something or you will explode. It is part of the healing process, or so I am told.
Father’s day used to be a huge celebration in my house. Huge meal, usually a BBQ on the deck or patio, depending on what house we were at. We always had lots of stunning wines. There was always a Champagne, a red and a white and of course delicious dessert. But this wasn’t just on Father’s day. It was every weekend and holiday growing up. Work hard, play hard was kind of the unofficial house rule growing up.
I owe my love and thirst for wine knowledge to my father. It is one of the things I cherish most about that relationship. Even though it has been 8 years since I have seen him and I don’t know if I ever will again, I have a lot of really great memories and those are the only ones I want to hold onto at this point in my life.
This is the last photo I have of us from NYE 2017 at the Four Seasons in Orlando. It was quite a trip. I didn’t realize it would be the last time I spent time with my dad. I am not sure if I would do anything differently if I knew. I was in south Florida finally driving my things from storage to my cabin in Michigan and got to spend the holiday with my dad in Orlando and Gainesville. He is a man that likes to be flashy and this vacation was nothing but flash. I am the complete opposite, in fact, it kind of made me uncomfortable. But, that is my dad, love him or hate him. I can’t complain too much, I got to travel the world and drink amazing wines with him.
His passion for wine, food, art and reading are what we have most in common. My love of wine came from the incredible wines he exposed me to since I was a teenager. These wines are not in my budget now, but I am so thankful I was exposed to some absolutely breathtaking wines through him. I have memories that I will cherish forever. It took me a really long time to get to this point, but now I am here and I can actually remember the good moments and smile… or ugly cry. Mostly ugly cry, and boy, when I say ugly cry I mean mascara running down my red chipmunk cheeks and all. Hope you like the visual!
He is a French wine lover and is definitely responsible for me falling in love with French wine as well. Exposure to it really paved the way. But he also loves Napa Valley and at one point thought of buying a vineyard in the Monterey area. Man, kind of wish he had. But he didn’t discern where the wines were from, he just loves really spectacular wine.
Many years ago, I wanted to get my MW to prove to him that I could do it. Then I grew up, and realized he wasn’t funding the wine education or the wines and that you don’t need an MW to have passion and dedication to the subject. I mean, if I had nothing better to do and to not worry about, you know, paying rent, medical bills and all that boring stuff, I probably would pursue it. But at this stage in life, I am where I was meant to be. For now. One day I will be living in Portugal (you hear that Universe).
All that nonsense and memories to say, on Father’s day, I am thankful that my dad shared his passion for wine with me. Regardless of everything else. Every bottle we shared is a memory that makes my eyes water. It is remembering all the good times.
To all the wine dad’s out there, share your love and passion for wine with your kids at a young age. Even if they can’t drink the wine, teach them about the regions, the history, the grapes. Let them responsibly taste wine with you. One day it may be the bridge that holds your relationship together.
