Here, There and Everywhere

I am writing this in a NY airport bar. It is 10:30 am and I have a glass of Chardonnay sitting next to me. I feel like a character in a Romantic Comedy with this cliche scene. So how did I end up here? And if it is 4:30 pm in Budapest, does it really make it OK for me to be drinking at this time of day? If you answered that question in your head with "duh, YES!", then we can be friends.

I have just completed a long weekend judging at the Great American International Wine Competition and am now flying back to Central Europe where I have been judging International Wine Competitions in Czech Republic and Hungary. My husband and son eagerly await my return as we continue our 2 month adventure. This whirlwind wine extravaganza has included once in a lifetime meetings with epic winemakers and the discovery of incredible new grape varietals. Ironically this has come in very handy at the recent USA located competition as there was a huge number of Central European wines entered. As I type this, I feel like I'm in a half daze, compound jet lag and a bit of a where-the-hell-am-I feeling. Maybe it is also the crap wine in my glass. Who the hell made this Chardonnay?!?

Central Europe has been so impressive... and actually has beautiful Chardonnays; I wish I had one of those in my glass. If you haven't been to that part of the world, stop picturing the communist infected era images we were all fed growing up and start imagining countries that are thriving, rebuilding and making some of the best wines on the planet. The food is fantastic and this plump woman is likely to get plumper as I obsess over the fun new grape varieties and finding food pairings that rock. What can I say, I love food and wine!

As we investigate these new varietals, we have been gathering wines that show just how beautiful they can be in a glass to take back to our business partners (my husband's brother, Chris, and his wife, Liliana). In fact the only reason why our fabulous foursome can take our families on 2 month travel adventures is because there are four of us and two stay back to hold down the fort. I know what you are thinking, 'those bastards!', I know, we are super lucky. We are well aware that at our ages, we should not be even close to this kind of phenomenal freedom, but I will say, we have busted our butts to get to this point. And it isn't because we are rolling in money, we are still paid far less than our employees and have to hardcore budget all year to make these trips possible. But I am a big believer in 'do it now!' (insert the suggestion to go back and read previous blog posts to figure out why I'm so committed to this idea). Needless to say, we are going to go broke buying wines to take home.

If you are wondering why we think the grapes that grow in Central Europe might work in little old Dixon, NM, it is because the climate and growing conditions are similar. We already are having incredible success growing Gruner Veltliner and Riesling, winning awards and wowing with their mineral aspects and incredible acid. We will look into finding a nursery that has the varietals in the USA and plant test plots, baby them for 5 years and see if we can create something dynamic and beautiful. It is absolutely a labor of love. Speaking of which, Chris and Liliana, back in NM are currently monitoring bud-break on our '1725 Vineyard' and the temperature changes. If a big frost is coming in, they will need to create one of our "Save The Gruner!" parties that require friends and family, wine club members and our community neighbors to stoke fires set around the edge of the vineyard through the coldest hours of the night. Being a farmer is not easy and raising these vines to maturity is much like the process of raising your children...you do everything you can and hope for the best. And drink a lot of wine to cope.

*this post is brought to you buy crap wine poured in airport bars. Don't be like me, drink great wines...like Vivac Winery makes...like Gruner Veltliner, Dry Riesling and the amazing Petit Verdot.  

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com