Speaking of wine and sanity, oh was no one talking about wine and sanity? Well you should because it is pretty much the only way you can keep your sanity when high stress and month after month of intensely busy work threatens to drive you insane. Crush (a.k.a. harvest time) has been one hell of an ass kicking this year.
Quick aside for those wondering what this time of year is like for our winery: Our intake of grapes from around the state increased exponentially as did the haul from our own Estate Vineyards. The growth in distribution and tasting room sales as well as a couple exciting partnerships has pushed us into a new bracket of production and the winery is now jam packed with enormous 2000 gallon stainless steel tanks. As with every year, this hectic time of bringing in the harvest and crushing grapes, making wine and bottling in order to make room for the new stuff, is accompanied by huge festivals, private events, exciting opportunities and wine dinners not to mention all the events we host ourselves. It takes all four of us owners and a fabulous staff to accomplish all of it... and, of course, drinking mass amounts of wine is mandatory to keeping our sanity. Of course, as I keep mentioning "sanity", it begs the question 'has she lost hers?'
OK back to staying sane (see, I did it again). I am currently drinking a glass of our "1725 Estate Vineyard Riesling", it is crisp and dry and beautiful, just like the fall leaves clinging to the trees outside. There is a deep sigh of relief after our final huge event of the season fades into a memory and for a moment we feel the pressure is alleviated.
I sit, like a big blob on my sofa and sip my wine and contemplate adding running back into my life. During crush, it is easy to say I am too busy or too tired to run, but now that I have a little bit calmer schedule, the excuses don't fit. Kinda like my big butt in my jeans. I look out the window at the gorgeous fall colors and imagine myself running beneath them. I feel the cold wine in my hand and imagine that cold feeling turning my nose and cheeks pink as I run in the cool air. When I imagine myself running, it's kinda like Charlotte from 'Sex and The City', happy and smiling, filled with euphoria. Yet I know for a fact that when I waddle my now wide load down the road, it won't look anything like that. My face will have a grimace of pain and the pink in my cheeks will be from deep exhaustion. My spandex running tights will be stretched thin to accommodate my plump legs, a constant reminder with each step that I am definitely not the same size as when I wore them last. I sip my wine and wonder if my sports bras will even fit my current full figure. Maybe I should start with yoga instead of running I ponder. Yoga pants are comfy. You can do yoga at home. You can wear a fitted tank top without the need of a sports bra. Hey, I could take a Yoga and Wine Class!
Suddenly a violent thought occurs to me. You could do yoga right NOW! A cold sweat breaks out across my brow and top lip, possibly the most I've sweat in some time, my heart races.
shhhhhh....shhhhhh....hush. Take a calming sip of wine, breath deeply. No one is going to MAKE you do anything right now. In fact, for your mental health, just contemplating working out is a great exercise I quickly tell myself. We have to be gentle with ourselves, ease ourselves into this. Do I sound like Schmiegel from "Lord of The Rings"???
Clearly crush this year, in my now dismal age of 40, has pushed me over the edge. My sanity is being threatened. That calls for more wine STAT and putting off contemplating running for another day. Maybe I should put yoga pants on too. WAIT! If I sit cross legged on the sofa, in yoga pants, and drink wine, I'm pretty sure that counts as a "Yoga and Wine" class. Winning!!
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Running on Wine; from Marathons to Rafting to "Fueling" on the Patio, We are Fueled by Vivác.
Showing posts with label Winery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Winery. Show all posts
Monday, October 22, 2018
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
The Hell of It
One of the many elements of my job is to handle our labels. From the look, feel, content and government requirements to descriptions and working with the printer, labels have a lot of details to cover. Usually it comes together easily, other times it is a real pain and the worst part is if after all that work, time and effort, they are printed, the wine is released, and there is an error. I have literally cried several times over labels.
Two of our wines have specialty labels, they are the Divino and Diavolo red wine blends. They are always released as a pair (one is lighter than the other in body style, think Pinot Noir compared to a Cabernet, skim milk to heavy cream) and the artist for the label changes each year. We call them our Heaven and Hell Artist series and they are some of our most popular. They are also some of the most challenging.
Each year, we get submissions from artists to consider their art for our labels, some are easy to see would be perfect for us and others not so much. The art needs to reflect who we are as a winery; what our branding has been. The art needs to be significantly different than the art that was on the label for the last 2 years because wine shops and restaurants will still have a previous vintage of these wines in stock and it gets very confusing very quickly if the art is similar. They need to be sophisticated and look extremely classy as these are also our most expensive wines. And finally, they need to work with the Heaven and Hell theme, what does Heaven and Hell look like to the artist and will customers connect to that? On our very 1st vintage, after all of these considerations, all the planning, all the details, they were printed and didn't fit on the bottle. There were a lot of tears that day.
The current vintage of labels we are working on are some of the hardest yet. A fabulous artist submitted work 3 different times in order to try to find that sweet spot we are looking for, however, after all these years, navigating these waters are more complicated than ever. As the art continued to raise debates among the 4 of us owners, we realized the clock was ticking and we need those labels done ASAP for the wine's late fall release. We needed to shelve this artist so we could lend more time to finding the right pieces and find someone new STAT. Luckily we have a list of artists excited to work with us so jumping down the list is the easy part. Telling the artist we needed to shelf his label for now, was the hardest thing to do. Squashing his electric enthusiasm over this project felt physically painful. This vintage label isn't even done yet and I'm about to cry.
It isn't easy to pull the plug on something that isn't working when you've put so much effort into it, but sometimes, the way to avoid crying is to make those difficult decisions. So, here we go, from scratch with zero time to waste.
Man, mama needs a drink!
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Two of our wines have specialty labels, they are the Divino and Diavolo red wine blends. They are always released as a pair (one is lighter than the other in body style, think Pinot Noir compared to a Cabernet, skim milk to heavy cream) and the artist for the label changes each year. We call them our Heaven and Hell Artist series and they are some of our most popular. They are also some of the most challenging.
Each year, we get submissions from artists to consider their art for our labels, some are easy to see would be perfect for us and others not so much. The art needs to reflect who we are as a winery; what our branding has been. The art needs to be significantly different than the art that was on the label for the last 2 years because wine shops and restaurants will still have a previous vintage of these wines in stock and it gets very confusing very quickly if the art is similar. They need to be sophisticated and look extremely classy as these are also our most expensive wines. And finally, they need to work with the Heaven and Hell theme, what does Heaven and Hell look like to the artist and will customers connect to that? On our very 1st vintage, after all of these considerations, all the planning, all the details, they were printed and didn't fit on the bottle. There were a lot of tears that day.
The current vintage of labels we are working on are some of the hardest yet. A fabulous artist submitted work 3 different times in order to try to find that sweet spot we are looking for, however, after all these years, navigating these waters are more complicated than ever. As the art continued to raise debates among the 4 of us owners, we realized the clock was ticking and we need those labels done ASAP for the wine's late fall release. We needed to shelve this artist so we could lend more time to finding the right pieces and find someone new STAT. Luckily we have a list of artists excited to work with us so jumping down the list is the easy part. Telling the artist we needed to shelf his label for now, was the hardest thing to do. Squashing his electric enthusiasm over this project felt physically painful. This vintage label isn't even done yet and I'm about to cry.
It isn't easy to pull the plug on something that isn't working when you've put so much effort into it, but sometimes, the way to avoid crying is to make those difficult decisions. So, here we go, from scratch with zero time to waste.
Man, mama needs a drink!
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Crushed by Crush
The summer flew by and before we knew it, we crashed into August and Crush time. We are quadrupling our production so that meant we needed to buy new tanks...2000 gallon tanks that hardly fit in the winery. Pretty much every important piece of equipment has broken and we literally can not get to all the projects that need to happen. It feels a little like drowning...but being really excited and loving the drowning.
20 years after the initial business plan was put in place and Vivac Winery was started, we started to feel like we had crested the wave and were relaxing into an awesome ride when a couple of big opportunities came our way. Taking on these projects has pushed us hard into a growth we weren't ready for and suddenly we find ourselves in another era of intense work, stress and pressure. Maybe it is because now we are in our 40's and we just can't mentally or physically withstand the long days, lack of sleep and high stress that we could in our 20's. Maybe this is just how it is owning a business. Maybe it is just the way it goes in the wine industry. Any which way, it feels daunting. And I think I'm aging rapidly.
On the other side of this, I know we will find ourselves in a far better place, it's just getting there that feels like a Marathon and you all know how much I hate running.
*this mini blog post is brought to you by the mass amounts of Vivac Sangiovese, Syrah and Tempranillo we need to consume to get through the pain of crush.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
20 years after the initial business plan was put in place and Vivac Winery was started, we started to feel like we had crested the wave and were relaxing into an awesome ride when a couple of big opportunities came our way. Taking on these projects has pushed us hard into a growth we weren't ready for and suddenly we find ourselves in another era of intense work, stress and pressure. Maybe it is because now we are in our 40's and we just can't mentally or physically withstand the long days, lack of sleep and high stress that we could in our 20's. Maybe this is just how it is owning a business. Maybe it is just the way it goes in the wine industry. Any which way, it feels daunting. And I think I'm aging rapidly.
On the other side of this, I know we will find ourselves in a far better place, it's just getting there that feels like a Marathon and you all know how much I hate running.
*this mini blog post is brought to you by the mass amounts of Vivac Sangiovese, Syrah and Tempranillo we need to consume to get through the pain of crush.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Thursday, June 28, 2018
The "Mother" of All Diets
I write this, sitting in bed drinking coffee, NOT up exercising like I should. Do you think it counts that at least I am writing about exercising? Actually, I think it is foretelling that I can't even spell exercising on the 1st try and always have to rewrite it. It is as if I'm phobic.
Anyway, July 1st is coming up and that will make a month on this diet. I started on June 1st...but was still drinking for 3 days, it wasn't until the following Monday that I really committed. Then of course came Father's Day. All in all I think I did pretty good, I stayed on my diet essentially (literally 2 small bites of the decadent, rich, luscious Yorkshire Pudding and only 2 very tiny bites of the dense, moist, warm whiskey cake) focusing on the meat and veggies of the meal. The wine was really really hard. As a extended family, we drink A LOT of wine, and good wine at that. If it had been Yellow Tail (Sorry Yellow Tail, but you know you aren't making legendary wines so you feel me right?), I could have said no, but when the good stuff comes out, well...it's my cryptonite. Needless to say, I drank the equivalent of several glasses of wine; started as innocent tiny sips, but the sips did get bigger, I'm not gonna lie, but I was surprisingly better than it could have been.
I have to stop and offer an apology for using the word "moist" in the above description. I know there are people out there that hate the word 'moist' and find reading or hearing "moist", physically disturbing. But lets face it, a cake is crap unless it is MOIST! Hahahahaha...
OK back to my diet. I didn't feel bad about Father's Day because I also went for a run that morning which I believe set me even to the drinking, maybe wobbling slowly for 2 miles doesn't make up for the calories in all that wine, but I choose to think it does. Needless to say, I jumped back into the non-drinking mode and made it another successful week...ok, almost a week.
My job at our winery is to taste and create wine notes, to which I did while spitting. This is outrageously difficult when the new wines are so delectable and the urge to sit and enjoy each one, like watching your child graduate from college, is undeniably strong. Yes, I did pat myself on the back for managing to avoid temptation. Another aspect of my job is to talk to potential businesses about partnering in various ways, for events or in a grander, more long term fashion, all of which are better if we sit and discuss over a glass of wine. Having a glass of wine puts people at ease and doing so together instantly makes you friends rather than the sticky issues of a strict business meeting full of numbers and bottom lines. Lectures, wine classes, staff training, wine analysis, sales...it ALL requires a sip of wine or more, yet I held back. Honestly it was a freaking miracle! Until Friday.
Ever have one of those (personal or work related) things that you have been working on or toward, nurturing, investing in and then have it come time to make it truly happen, it could be the beginning of something huge, or slip through your finger tips? Well, I had 2 in 1 day. The success of back to back, very important aspects to our business and me personally, caused extreme endorphins to course through my body and scream WE NEED TO CELEBRATE!
In a moment of weakness, I gave in. And in, and in, and in. By the next morning, with a raging hangover, I assessed the damage. I did great on the food portion of the day, but I literally lost count on the wine portion. Bad! Bad! Bad!
I reluctantly told my diet guru. I also came to terms with my possible sabotage of all the hard work I'd put in and more importantly, saw that it is the day AFTER excessive drinking that is the real killer. All I wanted was a giant cheeseburger and fries...and a milkshake...and more wine. Getting back on track that day is what is keeping me good now, it was brutal! And watching my husband eat and drink whatever he wanted did not help.
Lets stop for a moment and have a little aside. It is so not fair that men can burn so many more calories! Given my husband is training for a off road 1/2 marathon so he is running a lot, but it seems so much easier for him. He asked why I couldn't simply eat less, why the extreme diet (we see anything that asks you not to drink daily as 'extreme'), to which I informed him I had been trying that. Well except for the 2 months in Colombia where I ate wheat and drank beer of course. But I'm 40 and my body isn't responding the way it used to. I'm recovering from a brain tumor that caused hormones to rage out of control (man those hormones are MFs) so my body needs a shock to get it jump-started again. This discrepancy between my husband and I with wight loss makes every pound he losses, while eating green chile and cheese smothered hashbrowns, and every step on the scale where I have not lost a pound while sipping protein shakes and fasting, all that more painful. I literally want to stomp my feet and pout.
Little kid temper-tantrum done, I am dedicated to getting back to my pre-tumor weight. After I had my son, I actually couldn't help but have the weight fall off, it was even difficult to keep from being too skinny while I ate anything I wanted! I know, I hate me too right now. Maybe the only truly perfect diet is breastfeeding. Is there some way I can arrange milk production without a pregnancy? I've heard stories of how in extreme cases, people can lactate! This IS an extreme case people, I think extreme measures are needed.
OK, no more procrastination, I've got work to do. In order to get this body in shape, I evidently will need to find a breast pump. Amazon, here I come!
* this post is brought to you by the wines that I celebrated with, thank you for the party: Vivac Abbott Estate Cabernet Franc, Vivac Abbott Estate Merlot, Vivac Rose of Sangiovese, and some non Vivac wines (yes we drink wines from everywhere...that's how we know just how fantastic ours are).
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Anyway, July 1st is coming up and that will make a month on this diet. I started on June 1st...but was still drinking for 3 days, it wasn't until the following Monday that I really committed. Then of course came Father's Day. All in all I think I did pretty good, I stayed on my diet essentially (literally 2 small bites of the decadent, rich, luscious Yorkshire Pudding and only 2 very tiny bites of the dense, moist, warm whiskey cake) focusing on the meat and veggies of the meal. The wine was really really hard. As a extended family, we drink A LOT of wine, and good wine at that. If it had been Yellow Tail (Sorry Yellow Tail, but you know you aren't making legendary wines so you feel me right?), I could have said no, but when the good stuff comes out, well...it's my cryptonite. Needless to say, I drank the equivalent of several glasses of wine; started as innocent tiny sips, but the sips did get bigger, I'm not gonna lie, but I was surprisingly better than it could have been.
I have to stop and offer an apology for using the word "moist" in the above description. I know there are people out there that hate the word 'moist' and find reading or hearing "moist", physically disturbing. But lets face it, a cake is crap unless it is MOIST! Hahahahaha...
OK back to my diet. I didn't feel bad about Father's Day because I also went for a run that morning which I believe set me even to the drinking, maybe wobbling slowly for 2 miles doesn't make up for the calories in all that wine, but I choose to think it does. Needless to say, I jumped back into the non-drinking mode and made it another successful week...ok, almost a week.
My job at our winery is to taste and create wine notes, to which I did while spitting. This is outrageously difficult when the new wines are so delectable and the urge to sit and enjoy each one, like watching your child graduate from college, is undeniably strong. Yes, I did pat myself on the back for managing to avoid temptation. Another aspect of my job is to talk to potential businesses about partnering in various ways, for events or in a grander, more long term fashion, all of which are better if we sit and discuss over a glass of wine. Having a glass of wine puts people at ease and doing so together instantly makes you friends rather than the sticky issues of a strict business meeting full of numbers and bottom lines. Lectures, wine classes, staff training, wine analysis, sales...it ALL requires a sip of wine or more, yet I held back. Honestly it was a freaking miracle! Until Friday.
Ever have one of those (personal or work related) things that you have been working on or toward, nurturing, investing in and then have it come time to make it truly happen, it could be the beginning of something huge, or slip through your finger tips? Well, I had 2 in 1 day. The success of back to back, very important aspects to our business and me personally, caused extreme endorphins to course through my body and scream WE NEED TO CELEBRATE!
In a moment of weakness, I gave in. And in, and in, and in. By the next morning, with a raging hangover, I assessed the damage. I did great on the food portion of the day, but I literally lost count on the wine portion. Bad! Bad! Bad!
I reluctantly told my diet guru. I also came to terms with my possible sabotage of all the hard work I'd put in and more importantly, saw that it is the day AFTER excessive drinking that is the real killer. All I wanted was a giant cheeseburger and fries...and a milkshake...and more wine. Getting back on track that day is what is keeping me good now, it was brutal! And watching my husband eat and drink whatever he wanted did not help.
Lets stop for a moment and have a little aside. It is so not fair that men can burn so many more calories! Given my husband is training for a off road 1/2 marathon so he is running a lot, but it seems so much easier for him. He asked why I couldn't simply eat less, why the extreme diet (we see anything that asks you not to drink daily as 'extreme'), to which I informed him I had been trying that. Well except for the 2 months in Colombia where I ate wheat and drank beer of course. But I'm 40 and my body isn't responding the way it used to. I'm recovering from a brain tumor that caused hormones to rage out of control (man those hormones are MFs) so my body needs a shock to get it jump-started again. This discrepancy between my husband and I with wight loss makes every pound he losses, while eating green chile and cheese smothered hashbrowns, and every step on the scale where I have not lost a pound while sipping protein shakes and fasting, all that more painful. I literally want to stomp my feet and pout.
Little kid temper-tantrum done, I am dedicated to getting back to my pre-tumor weight. After I had my son, I actually couldn't help but have the weight fall off, it was even difficult to keep from being too skinny while I ate anything I wanted! I know, I hate me too right now. Maybe the only truly perfect diet is breastfeeding. Is there some way I can arrange milk production without a pregnancy? I've heard stories of how in extreme cases, people can lactate! This IS an extreme case people, I think extreme measures are needed.
OK, no more procrastination, I've got work to do. In order to get this body in shape, I evidently will need to find a breast pump. Amazon, here I come!
* this post is brought to you by the wines that I celebrated with, thank you for the party: Vivac Abbott Estate Cabernet Franc, Vivac Abbott Estate Merlot, Vivac Rose of Sangiovese, and some non Vivac wines (yes we drink wines from everywhere...that's how we know just how fantastic ours are).
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Thursday, June 14, 2018
The Good, The Bad & The Fatty
Well, it has been 4 months exactly since we got back from Colombia. The 2 months there seemed to ooze in a sweet slow way. Life in Colombia was like submerging yourself under water in a pool; everything goes quiet and you become weightless. By the same right, being back home is like that inevitable moment when you finally have to come back up for air and the noise of the poolside chaos jarringly hits you as you break the surface. Since being back, everything seems to be on fast forward, I'm unable to keep up and I long for that cool, calm of deep water. I even dream about it each night.
But reality is, we gotta work! And, my waistline seriously can't be on vacation permanently. As all of you that follow this blog know, I had some "health issues" (to put it mildly) over the last few years and had uncontrollable weight gain. As I got healthier, weight fell off, then stopped. In an attempt to 'love myself the way I am' and be grateful for my improving health, regardless of the train-wreck that was left in its wake, I turned the other cheek to that mean voice in my head. And by "turn the other cheek", evidently I mean go ahead and let my big ass just stay big. Finally I had had it and decided to stop being 'cheeky' and do something about it.
Now if you recall, another fun thing I got from the 'health issue' was compromised ligaments and tendons. So when I jumped off a sailboat and landed on a docking cleat (1 year ago), I literally blew out my ankle (full rupture of 2 ligaments and badly tearing 2 tendons with a high ankle sprain), ya, no bueno. Then, in a series of unfortunate events, kinda like the popular show/ movie/ books by that name, tragic yet funny, I dislocated my shoulder...2 days later. I told you my sh*t was compromised! Anyway, it has taken a year to get my ankle to the point where I can now do some low impact exercise. Being that I had turned into a delicate marionette with my fragile ligaments and tendons, I actually listened to the doctors and have been very very careful. Now, full of fear, it is time to start to test my body. Ahhhh...my "Fueled by Vivac" fans, you are starting to see where this is going aren't you? Yes my dears, I am going to start complaining about running again! Woohoo!
My adventures in Colombia may have been full of thrills, but nothing will be as momentous as hauling my giant ass down the road on a wobbly ankle. And with hardly any physical activity over the last year combined with drinking beer and eating wheat while I was traveling, I now have to try to get back in shape while going through wheat withdrawals. Oh, didn't you know? Yep, I am also one of those annoying people that don't eat wheat. To add insult to injury (no pun intended...ok, maybe it was intended) I'm going to attempt a diet plan that requires me to give up my one true passion in life, wine (GASP!). Nothing should set up complaining like the lack of wine and wheat mixed with making me run. God save my husband and child, this could be scary.
So sit back, relax, open a bottle of wine for me and enjoy the impending doom.
* This blog is sponsored by 'the wines I want to be drinking so freaking bad!': Vivac Abbott Estate Merlot & Vivac Abbott Cab Franc. Oh and Vivac Rose of Sangiovese & Vivac Chardonnay. Oh and also Vivac Tempranillo and Vivac Club Select.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
But reality is, we gotta work! And, my waistline seriously can't be on vacation permanently. As all of you that follow this blog know, I had some "health issues" (to put it mildly) over the last few years and had uncontrollable weight gain. As I got healthier, weight fell off, then stopped. In an attempt to 'love myself the way I am' and be grateful for my improving health, regardless of the train-wreck that was left in its wake, I turned the other cheek to that mean voice in my head. And by "turn the other cheek", evidently I mean go ahead and let my big ass just stay big. Finally I had had it and decided to stop being 'cheeky' and do something about it.
Now if you recall, another fun thing I got from the 'health issue' was compromised ligaments and tendons. So when I jumped off a sailboat and landed on a docking cleat (1 year ago), I literally blew out my ankle (full rupture of 2 ligaments and badly tearing 2 tendons with a high ankle sprain), ya, no bueno. Then, in a series of unfortunate events, kinda like the popular show/ movie/ books by that name, tragic yet funny, I dislocated my shoulder...2 days later. I told you my sh*t was compromised! Anyway, it has taken a year to get my ankle to the point where I can now do some low impact exercise. Being that I had turned into a delicate marionette with my fragile ligaments and tendons, I actually listened to the doctors and have been very very careful. Now, full of fear, it is time to start to test my body. Ahhhh...my "Fueled by Vivac" fans, you are starting to see where this is going aren't you? Yes my dears, I am going to start complaining about running again! Woohoo!
My adventures in Colombia may have been full of thrills, but nothing will be as momentous as hauling my giant ass down the road on a wobbly ankle. And with hardly any physical activity over the last year combined with drinking beer and eating wheat while I was traveling, I now have to try to get back in shape while going through wheat withdrawals. Oh, didn't you know? Yep, I am also one of those annoying people that don't eat wheat. To add insult to injury (no pun intended...ok, maybe it was intended) I'm going to attempt a diet plan that requires me to give up my one true passion in life, wine (GASP!). Nothing should set up complaining like the lack of wine and wheat mixed with making me run. God save my husband and child, this could be scary.
So sit back, relax, open a bottle of wine for me and enjoy the impending doom.
* This blog is sponsored by 'the wines I want to be drinking so freaking bad!': Vivac Abbott Estate Merlot & Vivac Abbott Cab Franc. Oh and Vivac Rose of Sangiovese & Vivac Chardonnay. Oh and also Vivac Tempranillo and Vivac Club Select.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Monday, May 21, 2018
Really? REALLY? No, but...Really???
Home from Colombia, we were hit hard with the reality of work and ignored projects. While sorting the million miles of emails, request upon request of donations and people trying to sell me something, I find an alert to send wines in to the Great American International Wine Competition. Having recently decided to participate in these International Competitions (and having won Golds at the Finger Lakes International), we thought we'd roll the dice with this one too. However, my computer decided to have a fit and I couldn't get our wine info to upload; I contacted the organization. The organizers were very helpful and I had success!
A few days later, I receive an email asking if I would like to be a judge at the Great American International Wine Competition. I'm suspicious. Why me? What kind of scam is this? Are they going to need my credit card to "reserve my tickets"? Did they need "only" 8 cases of wine to secure my seat? I had questions.
"I googled you after you contacted us with website issues and was very impressed!". Turns out all the little side projects, the articles I've written, the classes I've taught, the guest speaker engagements I've had and my Sommelier Certifications seem to have caught their attention. I was still skeptical. "Thank you" I started, "but we do not have the budget at this time to send me to NY to participate". Nice try I thought. Nothing like a little flattery to work your victim into letting down their guard right?
With a little more back and forth, it was clarified that THEY would fly me to NY and pay for the hotel ...and the meals. Well now, NOW I'm interested! But still...me??? It just didn't seem real. Surely they made a mistake and will figure out that I am not their gal, or of course there will be a hidden catch. I told Jesse (who is perhaps 1st a winemaker and 2nd my husband) who was immediately concerned that if I did judge, would we still be able to enter our wines? Turns out, they are very fastidious and make sure that the wines are tracked and sent to judges that are not involved with that particular winery. That detail out of the way, Jesse got super excited! I continued to have an eyebrow raised.
Dinner parties and events filtered through our world and I avoided telling people the "big news". I told myself I would share when I had an airline ticket in hand. This really was a big deal, this International Wine Competition touts incredible judges from around the world and to be selected as one was not only an honor, but a very exciting experience!
Then it happened. I felt my face flush as my heart beat accelerated simply seeing the email heading "flight itinerary". I opened and printed the details of my flight and hotel stay. It was actually real. I would be flying to Rochester, NY to judge the world of wines! Oh shit, I'm not sure I can do this. My nasty negative self talk kicked in big time.
I think we all have it, that nagging voice in the back of your head that sheds self doubt at the most inopportune times. The one that creeps up when you think you left it far far behind. Mine showed up and decided to yell at me at 3:00am that I was a fraud. There was no way I had what it takes to hang with this caliber of wine expert. It left me shaken and worried. My husband, my confidant and best friend, reassured me. He pointed out how I had already proven myself in various ways. He encouraged me to remember my gift for exactly this type of wine work. He even, adorably, became my excited cheerleader talking me up to friends and family. I have to say, it did help. Until the day I had to board the plane.
My palms were sweaty. I needed a glass of wine. Two different flights, two glasses of wine and hours later, I landed at the tiny Rochester airport. I made the call to summon the hotel van and stood waiting, wondering how I would make it through this experience without my cheerleader holding my hand. Amazing that at 40 years old, I still feel like I need someone to be by my side at all times. I felt like a ridiculous little girl, wide eyed on the 1st day of school.
Suddenly a raspy voice bellowed behind me, someone talking on her cell phone. This woman walked right up to me and instantly knew I was there for the competition. Was it the suit jacket and heels or the stained purple teeth that gave it away? I quickly found out that she was there to judge Spirits, (the drinking kind, not the afterlife kind. Although from her appearance she could have done either) and that she knew her stuff, BUT she was delightful and friendly and after a high five and a hug, I was immediately put at ease. If she was any indication, this would be much more fun than I thought. I released a deep breath and let my shoulders reveal the neck they had been hiding.
My room was lovely and the view of the charming, historic downtown was already whispering seductively in my ear. I was good enough, I could do this, and gosh darn people like me! I couldn't help but think of the SNL skit and recognize how ridiculous I was being.
The next morning, I got breakfast, consciously avoiding strong flavors and focusing on protein for a long day of tasting. I arrived at the ballroom, the hallway lined with tall banners touting the importance of this competition, and marched right up to the check in table. I informed the friendly faces that I'd gotten in late the night before and needed to pick up my name tag and check in. She looked and looked, nope not on the list. She had me check at another table, nope nothing there. Crap, bad sign. Back at table one, she scanned my outfit and said "I know you are dressed nice, but are you ok washing glasses?" I wasn't sure what to say, at our winery, even after 20 years and National publicity we still have zero attitude about doing the dirty jobs, we do what needs to be done to help our staff. I smiled and said slowly "well...sure...I'm supposed to judge wine so...I'm not sure how I will do both, but..." The collection of women behind the table stopped what they were doing and like the screetch of a record player needle, looked at me in shock. "OMG! I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were a judge! I'm so embarrassed!" The group surrounded me and repeatedly thanked me for being there, they laughed that they had asked a wine judge to wash dishes, and they escorted me to the correct check in.
I had to have been bright red by the time I reached the packet pick up for judges, the flattery seemingly misplaced and wasted on little old me. The founders of the competition greeted me warmly and showed me to my seat, introducing me to some of the phenomenal people of the wine world I would be working with. I was told the room was broken into spirits judging, amateur wine judging and commercial wine judging. Ahhhhh...I get it, I'm going to be an amateur wine judge, that makes sense. I had found the missing piece to the puzzle and my excitement dropped a little. I've done a great deal of amateur wine tasting in order to give feedback to enthusiastic winemakers trying to get into the biz, and it isn't always pleasant. New winemakers tend to make some typical errors that result in undrinkable wines. This would be 2 days of "eeewwwww".
It was time for the room to be introduced, we quickly sped through the room of 40 judges and were assigned categories. My table would be commercial wines. I would be working with the Robert Mondavi of Slovenia with multiple Doctorates of varying aspects of the wine industry, a wine writer who has written for most of the big wine magazines, the marketing person for Rodney Strong winery in Napa who is a regular judge at many other International Wine Competitions and the owner of the largest wine shop in NY who has a reputation far and wide. Across the isle was the esteemed gentleman that set up the Sommelier Certification program in Bordeaux.. he is literally a Wine God. My mouth dropped open.
Flight after flight of wine appeared, numbered and with corresponding judging sheets. Discussion after discussion ensued of why one of us had marked a wine up or down and if it should medal or not. By mid day I had people saying "oh wow Michele, I hadn't picked that up, I'm glad you pointed that out" and by day two, other judges were bringing me wines at lunch to discuss. The staff of volunteers bent over backwards to assist in any way possible, I'm pretty sure I could have asked for them to peel grapes for me and they would have done it. It was awesome!
Before I knew it, it was time to go back home. I felt like a princess as I said goodbye to people I was in awe of and staff thanked me again, and again, and again. I floated through the long day of travel and airplane changes, the two hour drive home from the airport and walked into my home ready for a mini parade of appreciation from my husband and son who I was sure had missed me and would want to hear every last detail of this extraordinary event.
Nothing. I walked in to nothing. My husband was taking a nap, heard me come in and yelled "hi" sleepily from his nap spot. My son, engrossed in reading, barely looked up. Several hours later, they remembered to ask me about my trip. I couldn't help but see the irony of this. Thank you family for keeping me humble.
Vivac WInery Great American International Wine Competition Awards:
*Sangiovese GOLD (also our new Rose is made from the same Sangiovese)
*Abbott White Wine SILVER
*Cabernet Sauvignon BRONZE
*1725 Riesling (Dry) BRONZE
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
A few days later, I receive an email asking if I would like to be a judge at the Great American International Wine Competition. I'm suspicious. Why me? What kind of scam is this? Are they going to need my credit card to "reserve my tickets"? Did they need "only" 8 cases of wine to secure my seat? I had questions.
"I googled you after you contacted us with website issues and was very impressed!". Turns out all the little side projects, the articles I've written, the classes I've taught, the guest speaker engagements I've had and my Sommelier Certifications seem to have caught their attention. I was still skeptical. "Thank you" I started, "but we do not have the budget at this time to send me to NY to participate". Nice try I thought. Nothing like a little flattery to work your victim into letting down their guard right?
With a little more back and forth, it was clarified that THEY would fly me to NY and pay for the hotel ...and the meals. Well now, NOW I'm interested! But still...me??? It just didn't seem real. Surely they made a mistake and will figure out that I am not their gal, or of course there will be a hidden catch. I told Jesse (who is perhaps 1st a winemaker and 2nd my husband) who was immediately concerned that if I did judge, would we still be able to enter our wines? Turns out, they are very fastidious and make sure that the wines are tracked and sent to judges that are not involved with that particular winery. That detail out of the way, Jesse got super excited! I continued to have an eyebrow raised.
Dinner parties and events filtered through our world and I avoided telling people the "big news". I told myself I would share when I had an airline ticket in hand. This really was a big deal, this International Wine Competition touts incredible judges from around the world and to be selected as one was not only an honor, but a very exciting experience!
Then it happened. I felt my face flush as my heart beat accelerated simply seeing the email heading "flight itinerary". I opened and printed the details of my flight and hotel stay. It was actually real. I would be flying to Rochester, NY to judge the world of wines! Oh shit, I'm not sure I can do this. My nasty negative self talk kicked in big time.
I think we all have it, that nagging voice in the back of your head that sheds self doubt at the most inopportune times. The one that creeps up when you think you left it far far behind. Mine showed up and decided to yell at me at 3:00am that I was a fraud. There was no way I had what it takes to hang with this caliber of wine expert. It left me shaken and worried. My husband, my confidant and best friend, reassured me. He pointed out how I had already proven myself in various ways. He encouraged me to remember my gift for exactly this type of wine work. He even, adorably, became my excited cheerleader talking me up to friends and family. I have to say, it did help. Until the day I had to board the plane.
My palms were sweaty. I needed a glass of wine. Two different flights, two glasses of wine and hours later, I landed at the tiny Rochester airport. I made the call to summon the hotel van and stood waiting, wondering how I would make it through this experience without my cheerleader holding my hand. Amazing that at 40 years old, I still feel like I need someone to be by my side at all times. I felt like a ridiculous little girl, wide eyed on the 1st day of school.
Suddenly a raspy voice bellowed behind me, someone talking on her cell phone. This woman walked right up to me and instantly knew I was there for the competition. Was it the suit jacket and heels or the stained purple teeth that gave it away? I quickly found out that she was there to judge Spirits, (the drinking kind, not the afterlife kind. Although from her appearance she could have done either) and that she knew her stuff, BUT she was delightful and friendly and after a high five and a hug, I was immediately put at ease. If she was any indication, this would be much more fun than I thought. I released a deep breath and let my shoulders reveal the neck they had been hiding.
My room was lovely and the view of the charming, historic downtown was already whispering seductively in my ear. I was good enough, I could do this, and gosh darn people like me! I couldn't help but think of the SNL skit and recognize how ridiculous I was being.
The next morning, I got breakfast, consciously avoiding strong flavors and focusing on protein for a long day of tasting. I arrived at the ballroom, the hallway lined with tall banners touting the importance of this competition, and marched right up to the check in table. I informed the friendly faces that I'd gotten in late the night before and needed to pick up my name tag and check in. She looked and looked, nope not on the list. She had me check at another table, nope nothing there. Crap, bad sign. Back at table one, she scanned my outfit and said "I know you are dressed nice, but are you ok washing glasses?" I wasn't sure what to say, at our winery, even after 20 years and National publicity we still have zero attitude about doing the dirty jobs, we do what needs to be done to help our staff. I smiled and said slowly "well...sure...I'm supposed to judge wine so...I'm not sure how I will do both, but..." The collection of women behind the table stopped what they were doing and like the screetch of a record player needle, looked at me in shock. "OMG! I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were a judge! I'm so embarrassed!" The group surrounded me and repeatedly thanked me for being there, they laughed that they had asked a wine judge to wash dishes, and they escorted me to the correct check in.
I had to have been bright red by the time I reached the packet pick up for judges, the flattery seemingly misplaced and wasted on little old me. The founders of the competition greeted me warmly and showed me to my seat, introducing me to some of the phenomenal people of the wine world I would be working with. I was told the room was broken into spirits judging, amateur wine judging and commercial wine judging. Ahhhhh...I get it, I'm going to be an amateur wine judge, that makes sense. I had found the missing piece to the puzzle and my excitement dropped a little. I've done a great deal of amateur wine tasting in order to give feedback to enthusiastic winemakers trying to get into the biz, and it isn't always pleasant. New winemakers tend to make some typical errors that result in undrinkable wines. This would be 2 days of "eeewwwww".
It was time for the room to be introduced, we quickly sped through the room of 40 judges and were assigned categories. My table would be commercial wines. I would be working with the Robert Mondavi of Slovenia with multiple Doctorates of varying aspects of the wine industry, a wine writer who has written for most of the big wine magazines, the marketing person for Rodney Strong winery in Napa who is a regular judge at many other International Wine Competitions and the owner of the largest wine shop in NY who has a reputation far and wide. Across the isle was the esteemed gentleman that set up the Sommelier Certification program in Bordeaux.. he is literally a Wine God. My mouth dropped open.
Flight after flight of wine appeared, numbered and with corresponding judging sheets. Discussion after discussion ensued of why one of us had marked a wine up or down and if it should medal or not. By mid day I had people saying "oh wow Michele, I hadn't picked that up, I'm glad you pointed that out" and by day two, other judges were bringing me wines at lunch to discuss. The staff of volunteers bent over backwards to assist in any way possible, I'm pretty sure I could have asked for them to peel grapes for me and they would have done it. It was awesome!
Before I knew it, it was time to go back home. I felt like a princess as I said goodbye to people I was in awe of and staff thanked me again, and again, and again. I floated through the long day of travel and airplane changes, the two hour drive home from the airport and walked into my home ready for a mini parade of appreciation from my husband and son who I was sure had missed me and would want to hear every last detail of this extraordinary event.
Nothing. I walked in to nothing. My husband was taking a nap, heard me come in and yelled "hi" sleepily from his nap spot. My son, engrossed in reading, barely looked up. Several hours later, they remembered to ask me about my trip. I couldn't help but see the irony of this. Thank you family for keeping me humble.
Vivac WInery Great American International Wine Competition Awards:
*Sangiovese GOLD (also our new Rose is made from the same Sangiovese)
*Abbott White Wine SILVER
*Cabernet Sauvignon BRONZE
*1725 Riesling (Dry) BRONZE
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Monday, November 20, 2017
Thankful for Wine in the Glass: A Tour of NM Wineries
It's Thanksgiving week so this post will be about what we are thankful for...at the winery.
Vivac is owned and run by my husband and his brother, myself and my sister-in-law. The 4 of us have given blood, sweat and tears to the winery over almost 2 decades and hope to reach a point where we can pass it on to our children as a lucrative inheritance. As we built this winery, literally from the ground up, we have moved from working outside jobs to fund buying grapes and barrels, bottling at night at the end of a long shift and doing every last part of the process personally, to now having a division of labor, a fantastic staff and we are no longer on food stamps! As the winery has grown, so have we. We have won International wine competition awards, learned the hard way what works for us and what does not and are deeply involved in the development of the industry in the state as a whole. We have learned not to take every last thing so damn seriously and that taking time off is just as important as the time put in. So what better idea is there than to gather up our staff and visit some of our friends wineries to do a little compare and contrast; give us perspective on what we can be grateful for and where we need to improve?
We hired Cindy with New Mexico Wine Tours to take us around Albuquerque on her luxury bus and back home to Dixon. I highly recommend doing this at some point, Cindy is fabulous and having a bus allows you to imbibe safely. She can tailor the tour to your needs/ wants and get you up to visit us where you can drink in the view. There are several wineries on the way up to us and (cue unabashed plug) with phenomenal wines, local beers on tap, local cider, handmade chocolates, handmade cheeses, and all kinds of goodies, you really shouldn't visit NM or live in NM and not make it up to see us.
We couldn't include every single winery we wanted to or we'd drown, so we selected a variety to show different sized wineries as well as different approaches to winemaking and/ or customer experiences. I hesitate to name the wineries we visited because I want to share some of the things we learned and some of that may color your idea of that winery, which isn't fair. We all have off days or things that don't go smoothly. It is important to go out and visit all the wonderful wineries in our state without prejudice.
And let the complaining begin! You didn't think you'd escape my complaining just because this is a post about being thankful and doesn't include running did you? Silly readers, I always complain!
Of all the wineries, the thing we walked away with is that we are a thirsty group and most of the time the wine flowed like molasses. No joke! Perhaps you have had the same experience? It took too long to get a glass in your hand or too long between pours or too little of a pour...whatever it is (and we have dealt with complaints too), it comes down to POUR THE DAMN WINE! It is a legal standard that we all have to adhere to with how much to pour, but if the tasting is going so slowly that you spend most of the time twirling your empty glass, it feels like you were not given enough wine. Also, if you are not being entertained, the lack of wine becomes your focus. At one winery, we had to wait so long between pours and with absolutely no information or "entertainment" that we left. Lets face it, we are in the service industry and people expect you to 'dance' for them...so do it! At another winery conversation became too personal with the server oversharing to the point that it felt more like a therapy session...AND we had no wine in our glasses. It was borderline painful, clearly not the experience customers want. We are thankful for those that are not shy to ask for a taste of the next wine.
At one of the wineries, there was actually too much entertainment which made the tasting take too long. We all agreed too much was better than too little, but that the focus also needs to be on the group enjoying themselves and a little less about the winery's need to lecture. That said, the wine flowed well and constantly which made for a happy group. We are thankful for drinking wine in the morning.
At another winery, they relied on reputation to do all the work for them. This made that winery pale in comparison to other wineries. This is definitely not the desired goal. I don't think any of us want people leaving our tasting room saying "that was nice, but..." and while reputation may have gotten people in the door, it is your job to wow them while they are there. Here it is again, do the dance people! We are thankful for delicious wines even if there is no fanfare.
We also managed to sneak in lunch at a place that was fabulous with beautiful atmosphere but crap service. I am pretty understanding and give people a lot of slack, but this poor girl couldn't have figured out how to take an order or remember what she was supposed to do to save her life. It was a great lesson to our staff in how being distracted or flustered makes for a terrible experience for the customer. Breath, slow down and BE NICE! Seems simple, but over and over again that seems to be the challenge, just being nice. We are thankful for getting to finally leave.
Then there was the winery that had such screwy hours that it became difficult to visit, even with a scheduled appointment. When we were late (we know that is an annoying thing to do to someone that is waiting to meet you, but also unavoidable that day) and we could not connect with the owner to update our timing, we showed up to a locked gate. The high number of signs during this interaction that said to us "I don't care" really wasn't good for business. Talk about a good learning opportunity! We are thankful for ordering drinks at lunch to get us through the dry patch.
Not to sound full of myself, but in truth, most wineries, even in high profile areas like Napa, roll out the red carpet when they hear winemakers are visiting (yes, we are now totally spoiled). We hope that our staff does the same in return. However at one winery, the staff was so busy that they were not only distracted, but gave us the distinct impression that we were a pain in the ass for being there. Pretty sure that winery did NOT want us to have that experience. Server after server came through, trading off who would throw wine at us, each server worse than the last. At one point when I asked the server to share with our group the story of the winery, she said with an exasperated huff "I really don't know". Hmmm...that sucks. We are thankful for knowing when to leave an abusive relationship. Yes, our experience tasting wine is a relationship.
It wasn't all negative though. Over all the wineries were lovely and welcoming and we had an amazing day tasting wines that were different than ours. We had a wonderful time with a group of incredible people that made us so thankful they are our staff. We were able to make that trip happen and take a day off to play, boy oh boy are we thankful to be at a point where we can do that! We saw that our staff is engaged and excited and that they are doing a fabulous job. Each one of them is always trying their best, and for that we are so very thankful. We also saw that the industry as a whole is growing and evolving and yet showing individual personality and that is very exciting. We learned that we are doing so much right and that we need to be grateful for how far we have come.
So this Thanksgiving, be thankful for the little family owned businesses around you, be thankful for the people that make your dreams come true, be thankful for the changes you've made in your life and above all, lets be thankful for the wine in our glasses!
*this post is brought to you by the newly released Heaven & Hell Artist Series wines: Divino & Diavolo. These wines are off the charts amazing, the label art by Jessamyn Lovell is mind blowing and they are a must have for your Thanksgiving meal.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Vivac is owned and run by my husband and his brother, myself and my sister-in-law. The 4 of us have given blood, sweat and tears to the winery over almost 2 decades and hope to reach a point where we can pass it on to our children as a lucrative inheritance. As we built this winery, literally from the ground up, we have moved from working outside jobs to fund buying grapes and barrels, bottling at night at the end of a long shift and doing every last part of the process personally, to now having a division of labor, a fantastic staff and we are no longer on food stamps! As the winery has grown, so have we. We have won International wine competition awards, learned the hard way what works for us and what does not and are deeply involved in the development of the industry in the state as a whole. We have learned not to take every last thing so damn seriously and that taking time off is just as important as the time put in. So what better idea is there than to gather up our staff and visit some of our friends wineries to do a little compare and contrast; give us perspective on what we can be grateful for and where we need to improve?
We hired Cindy with New Mexico Wine Tours to take us around Albuquerque on her luxury bus and back home to Dixon. I highly recommend doing this at some point, Cindy is fabulous and having a bus allows you to imbibe safely. She can tailor the tour to your needs/ wants and get you up to visit us where you can drink in the view. There are several wineries on the way up to us and (cue unabashed plug) with phenomenal wines, local beers on tap, local cider, handmade chocolates, handmade cheeses, and all kinds of goodies, you really shouldn't visit NM or live in NM and not make it up to see us.
We couldn't include every single winery we wanted to or we'd drown, so we selected a variety to show different sized wineries as well as different approaches to winemaking and/ or customer experiences. I hesitate to name the wineries we visited because I want to share some of the things we learned and some of that may color your idea of that winery, which isn't fair. We all have off days or things that don't go smoothly. It is important to go out and visit all the wonderful wineries in our state without prejudice.
And let the complaining begin! You didn't think you'd escape my complaining just because this is a post about being thankful and doesn't include running did you? Silly readers, I always complain!
Of all the wineries, the thing we walked away with is that we are a thirsty group and most of the time the wine flowed like molasses. No joke! Perhaps you have had the same experience? It took too long to get a glass in your hand or too long between pours or too little of a pour...whatever it is (and we have dealt with complaints too), it comes down to POUR THE DAMN WINE! It is a legal standard that we all have to adhere to with how much to pour, but if the tasting is going so slowly that you spend most of the time twirling your empty glass, it feels like you were not given enough wine. Also, if you are not being entertained, the lack of wine becomes your focus. At one winery, we had to wait so long between pours and with absolutely no information or "entertainment" that we left. Lets face it, we are in the service industry and people expect you to 'dance' for them...so do it! At another winery conversation became too personal with the server oversharing to the point that it felt more like a therapy session...AND we had no wine in our glasses. It was borderline painful, clearly not the experience customers want. We are thankful for those that are not shy to ask for a taste of the next wine.
At one of the wineries, there was actually too much entertainment which made the tasting take too long. We all agreed too much was better than too little, but that the focus also needs to be on the group enjoying themselves and a little less about the winery's need to lecture. That said, the wine flowed well and constantly which made for a happy group. We are thankful for drinking wine in the morning.
At another winery, they relied on reputation to do all the work for them. This made that winery pale in comparison to other wineries. This is definitely not the desired goal. I don't think any of us want people leaving our tasting room saying "that was nice, but..." and while reputation may have gotten people in the door, it is your job to wow them while they are there. Here it is again, do the dance people! We are thankful for delicious wines even if there is no fanfare.
We also managed to sneak in lunch at a place that was fabulous with beautiful atmosphere but crap service. I am pretty understanding and give people a lot of slack, but this poor girl couldn't have figured out how to take an order or remember what she was supposed to do to save her life. It was a great lesson to our staff in how being distracted or flustered makes for a terrible experience for the customer. Breath, slow down and BE NICE! Seems simple, but over and over again that seems to be the challenge, just being nice. We are thankful for getting to finally leave.
Then there was the winery that had such screwy hours that it became difficult to visit, even with a scheduled appointment. When we were late (we know that is an annoying thing to do to someone that is waiting to meet you, but also unavoidable that day) and we could not connect with the owner to update our timing, we showed up to a locked gate. The high number of signs during this interaction that said to us "I don't care" really wasn't good for business. Talk about a good learning opportunity! We are thankful for ordering drinks at lunch to get us through the dry patch.
Not to sound full of myself, but in truth, most wineries, even in high profile areas like Napa, roll out the red carpet when they hear winemakers are visiting (yes, we are now totally spoiled). We hope that our staff does the same in return. However at one winery, the staff was so busy that they were not only distracted, but gave us the distinct impression that we were a pain in the ass for being there. Pretty sure that winery did NOT want us to have that experience. Server after server came through, trading off who would throw wine at us, each server worse than the last. At one point when I asked the server to share with our group the story of the winery, she said with an exasperated huff "I really don't know". Hmmm...that sucks. We are thankful for knowing when to leave an abusive relationship. Yes, our experience tasting wine is a relationship.
It wasn't all negative though. Over all the wineries were lovely and welcoming and we had an amazing day tasting wines that were different than ours. We had a wonderful time with a group of incredible people that made us so thankful they are our staff. We were able to make that trip happen and take a day off to play, boy oh boy are we thankful to be at a point where we can do that! We saw that our staff is engaged and excited and that they are doing a fabulous job. Each one of them is always trying their best, and for that we are so very thankful. We also saw that the industry as a whole is growing and evolving and yet showing individual personality and that is very exciting. We learned that we are doing so much right and that we need to be grateful for how far we have come.
So this Thanksgiving, be thankful for the little family owned businesses around you, be thankful for the people that make your dreams come true, be thankful for the changes you've made in your life and above all, lets be thankful for the wine in our glasses!
*this post is brought to you by the newly released Heaven & Hell Artist Series wines: Divino & Diavolo. These wines are off the charts amazing, the label art by Jessamyn Lovell is mind blowing and they are a must have for your Thanksgiving meal.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Diet? What Diet?
I'm starting to wonder if I should have named this blog "Complainie Complainerton". But then that is half of what all of you seem to love... at least your private messages to me say that; you are a shy group! So why make excuses, let's get this complaining party started!
Crush is heavy under way (the time when we get grapes coming in from all the vineyards and wine making starts) which coincides with huge fun filled wine festivals and events. During this time, we are exhausted, excited and stressed. So of course I decided that NOW was the time to really kick my butt and start a diet. I mean why head into your busiest time and be easy on yourself? No, no, why not add a complex diet to your stress load so you can intermittently fail and add hating yourself to the fun? Clearly that is the correct choice.
You thought I was already on a diet from reading my previous posts didn't you? See? I'm a spaz! I was and then realized that I suck at dieting. I hate meal prepping. I hate cooking so spending a full day cooking all the crap, I don't want to eat, for the week sounds like torture. Not to mention I drink when I cook so that leads to a tipsy lady by the end of the prep day. In an effort to be safe, I cut out dealing with sharp objects and fire and just sat on the sofa and drank. No prepped meals, but soooo much more enjoyable AND I believe me when I promise to eat 'right' all week.
Every single weekend, as I sit on the sofa and drink wine, I also promise to workout all week. They talk about "beer goggles", well I think I have "wine-exercise goggles". Every time I have a couple glasses of wine, I think I am going to train for the Olympics the next day. Guess what? I don't. In fact, I am not even doing very well keeping up with my Physical Therapy exercises. I know, it is pathetic. And to end your curiosity, I do NOT eat 'right' during the week.
I am also not surrounded by much support. My talented winemaker husband MAKES me taste new wines. Famous Guest Chef's to our events MAKE me taste their special dishes. Travelling winemakers from prestigious wineries around the world MAKE me taste their award winners. Friends with free tickets to specialty events MAKE me go eat lobster and fried oysters and duck and little delightful pastries and then wash it down with the world's very best wines! I mean, really it is a cruel cruel world when you are trying to diet.
Needless to say a friend recommended a lazy person's option with protein shakes and limited calorie meals. I decided if I ever wanted to take this 'brain tumor weight' off, I needed to do it before I got so comfortable with my humpty-dumpty shape, I stopped seeing it. I immediately lost weight and felt good on the diet! I felt so great about it, that I decided I was invincible and attended some of the aforementioned events. It started slow with a work event and a few sips of wine, I skipped the enticing food and felt I'd escaped fairly unscathed! I was a dieting badass. Next was the event with friends where I decided calories didn't count, boy was that a fun day! Clearly less of a badass day. And then finally I closed the week with an event that had lots of wine, lots of phenomenal food and ended with tequila shots and a bowl of pita chips. That day was zero badass and 100% dumbass. Amazingly, I didn't loose any weight that week.
"Enough woman!" I screamed into the empty wine bottle. The next day I got right back on my shake train and vowed to kick this pudgy butt to the curb. It's going pretty well too. All I have to do to stay away from delicious food and choose to eat vegetables, say no to the beautiful ruby liquid of the Gods and just drink water...is to go to bed at 7:00pm. It is really amazing how much willpower I have when I experience the world from the other side of a locked bedroom door, wearing an eye mask and ear plugs.
* This post is sponsored by all my scorned lovers: Vivac Malbec, Vivac Aglianico, Vivac Refosco
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Crush is heavy under way (the time when we get grapes coming in from all the vineyards and wine making starts) which coincides with huge fun filled wine festivals and events. During this time, we are exhausted, excited and stressed. So of course I decided that NOW was the time to really kick my butt and start a diet. I mean why head into your busiest time and be easy on yourself? No, no, why not add a complex diet to your stress load so you can intermittently fail and add hating yourself to the fun? Clearly that is the correct choice.
You thought I was already on a diet from reading my previous posts didn't you? See? I'm a spaz! I was and then realized that I suck at dieting. I hate meal prepping. I hate cooking so spending a full day cooking all the crap, I don't want to eat, for the week sounds like torture. Not to mention I drink when I cook so that leads to a tipsy lady by the end of the prep day. In an effort to be safe, I cut out dealing with sharp objects and fire and just sat on the sofa and drank. No prepped meals, but soooo much more enjoyable AND I believe me when I promise to eat 'right' all week.
Every single weekend, as I sit on the sofa and drink wine, I also promise to workout all week. They talk about "beer goggles", well I think I have "wine-exercise goggles". Every time I have a couple glasses of wine, I think I am going to train for the Olympics the next day. Guess what? I don't. In fact, I am not even doing very well keeping up with my Physical Therapy exercises. I know, it is pathetic. And to end your curiosity, I do NOT eat 'right' during the week.
I am also not surrounded by much support. My talented winemaker husband MAKES me taste new wines. Famous Guest Chef's to our events MAKE me taste their special dishes. Travelling winemakers from prestigious wineries around the world MAKE me taste their award winners. Friends with free tickets to specialty events MAKE me go eat lobster and fried oysters and duck and little delightful pastries and then wash it down with the world's very best wines! I mean, really it is a cruel cruel world when you are trying to diet.
Needless to say a friend recommended a lazy person's option with protein shakes and limited calorie meals. I decided if I ever wanted to take this 'brain tumor weight' off, I needed to do it before I got so comfortable with my humpty-dumpty shape, I stopped seeing it. I immediately lost weight and felt good on the diet! I felt so great about it, that I decided I was invincible and attended some of the aforementioned events. It started slow with a work event and a few sips of wine, I skipped the enticing food and felt I'd escaped fairly unscathed! I was a dieting badass. Next was the event with friends where I decided calories didn't count, boy was that a fun day! Clearly less of a badass day. And then finally I closed the week with an event that had lots of wine, lots of phenomenal food and ended with tequila shots and a bowl of pita chips. That day was zero badass and 100% dumbass. Amazingly, I didn't loose any weight that week.
"Enough woman!" I screamed into the empty wine bottle. The next day I got right back on my shake train and vowed to kick this pudgy butt to the curb. It's going pretty well too. All I have to do to stay away from delicious food and choose to eat vegetables, say no to the beautiful ruby liquid of the Gods and just drink water...is to go to bed at 7:00pm. It is really amazing how much willpower I have when I experience the world from the other side of a locked bedroom door, wearing an eye mask and ear plugs.
* This post is sponsored by all my scorned lovers: Vivac Malbec, Vivac Aglianico, Vivac Refosco
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Monday, September 4, 2017
Celebrating the Labor
Ever notice that people that are in the food/ beverage/ hospitality industry are never excited about the big holiday weekends? That's because, while YOU have off to play with your family and friends, WE are working... A LOT.
For winery people, not only are the tasting rooms bustling with events and promos, but in September, we are smack in the middle of crush (harvest). This means that grapes are coming in that need to be made into wine; with constant attention and care during fermentation. We are also making more space in the winery for the wave upon wave of grapes needing to be processed. THEN we have the wine festivals. Whomever decided that it was an ideal time to have a huge wine festival when we are all at our wit's end in not just one city, but two (Albuquerque & Las Cruses), should be tortured by a long slow death... of restricted wine.
Needless to say, we are happy to do what we do and love seeing all your happy faces at the festivals and our tasting rooms. This is a time when people flock to their favorite local spots and enjoy an extra laugh or two. We know that you work hard for your money and when you choose to help us live our dream by spending that money at our place, it not only makes working extra over the weekend worth while, but warms our hearts. Thank you for making us a part of your holiday!
* followup to my 2 previous posts about dieting...you simply can NOT diet on a holiday weekend. Also, I am typing this with a glass of wine in hand. I know all of you are drinking this weekend and it isn't good to drink alone so I'm having a glass of wine "with" you. You're welcome.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
For winery people, not only are the tasting rooms bustling with events and promos, but in September, we are smack in the middle of crush (harvest). This means that grapes are coming in that need to be made into wine; with constant attention and care during fermentation. We are also making more space in the winery for the wave upon wave of grapes needing to be processed. THEN we have the wine festivals. Whomever decided that it was an ideal time to have a huge wine festival when we are all at our wit's end in not just one city, but two (Albuquerque & Las Cruses), should be tortured by a long slow death... of restricted wine.
Needless to say, we are happy to do what we do and love seeing all your happy faces at the festivals and our tasting rooms. This is a time when people flock to their favorite local spots and enjoy an extra laugh or two. We know that you work hard for your money and when you choose to help us live our dream by spending that money at our place, it not only makes working extra over the weekend worth while, but warms our hearts. Thank you for making us a part of your holiday!
* followup to my 2 previous posts about dieting...you simply can NOT diet on a holiday weekend. Also, I am typing this with a glass of wine in hand. I know all of you are drinking this weekend and it isn't good to drink alone so I'm having a glass of wine "with" you. You're welcome.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Monday, August 28, 2017
She's Been a Bad Bad Girl
I feel like a complete loser. I started a diet, was off to a grand start and then I seriously dropped the ball.
My son had a camp-out so my husband and I had one of those stay-up-talking-all-hours-of-the-night kind of nights which I love, but I have to admit, they always have wine involved. I had not been drinking my beloved wine, but when your winemaker husband comes home with different vintages of Syrah to taste side by side...well, you HAVE to! Ok, maybe I was the one that suggested we taste them side by side, but let's not point guilty fingers, the point is we then had multiple open bottles of wine that were begging to be enjoyed.
The next day I had a marathon of a hangover. Why is it that when you haven't been drinking, it hurts so much more? Shouldn't your body be in a happy place and able to weather the storm better? Biology class aside, I simply could not stay on my diet and succumbed to every desire my tummy threw at me. Flour tortillas? YES (those are definitely NOT on my gluten free diet). Candy? YES! More wine? Uhhhhh duh, I said I was hungover didn't I?
OK so 2 days in a row and back to the diet. Or so I thought. I am now on day 5 of having wine and honestly, I don't think I will be skipping it tonight. I feel a cold coming on and clearly need the alcohol to burn the germs out. I will work on being good on my diet on Wednesday, Wednesday has a nice ring to it.
*This post was brought to you by Vivac Winery Syrah, available in wine growlers from our wine kegs. The perfect way to fall off your diet.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
My son had a camp-out so my husband and I had one of those stay-up-talking-all-hours-of-the-night kind of nights which I love, but I have to admit, they always have wine involved. I had not been drinking my beloved wine, but when your winemaker husband comes home with different vintages of Syrah to taste side by side...well, you HAVE to! Ok, maybe I was the one that suggested we taste them side by side, but let's not point guilty fingers, the point is we then had multiple open bottles of wine that were begging to be enjoyed.
The next day I had a marathon of a hangover. Why is it that when you haven't been drinking, it hurts so much more? Shouldn't your body be in a happy place and able to weather the storm better? Biology class aside, I simply could not stay on my diet and succumbed to every desire my tummy threw at me. Flour tortillas? YES (those are definitely NOT on my gluten free diet). Candy? YES! More wine? Uhhhhh duh, I said I was hungover didn't I?
OK so 2 days in a row and back to the diet. Or so I thought. I am now on day 5 of having wine and honestly, I don't think I will be skipping it tonight. I feel a cold coming on and clearly need the alcohol to burn the germs out. I will work on being good on my diet on Wednesday, Wednesday has a nice ring to it.
*This post was brought to you by Vivac Winery Syrah, available in wine growlers from our wine kegs. The perfect way to fall off your diet.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Monday, August 21, 2017
Take it Off Baby!
OK people, long time no post! Summer flew by and if you are anything like me, you did NOT start that workout plan and did NOT diet. I have some "brain tumor" weight lingering that I would like to take off, but food tastes so good! And wine tastes even better.
I've had it with carrying this extra weight though. I'm feeling better now so I want to look better too. I still have my ankle injury to contend with, but I'm serious in my focus. I have already gone over a week with very limited alcohol intake and a Gluten Free diet. I know you are all thinking "limited" wine in my diet must mean I'm down to a bottle a day, but I swear, over this past week I only had 4 glasses of wine! One glass on two different nights and 2 glasses of sparkling wine on another day. It is impossible to only have one glass of sparkling wine... and maybe illegal. Anyway, that means lots of nights without anything. It isn't fun, but I'm already down 4 pounds so lets keep this train movin!
I know that exercise coupled with calorie restriction is the best way to shed pounds, yet each of the days this past week, as I went to bed each night, I would plan the next day to start working out and each and every day, I forgot. I even looked up YouTube exercise videos, but still, the next morning I woke with a fresh, blank memory.
So now that my son is back in school and I can focus on me a little more, I am determined to start working out. I mean, not today. Today is the 1st day back at school and I wore a cute skirt without thinking about it (see?!? I completely forgot that I had ANY intention to work out today). BUT I am going to research possible workouts I'd like to try...so that I can forget about them tomorrow.
Cheers! Wait, not cheers for me, I'm not drinking today. Will you drink for me? A good friend would drink for me.
* this post is brought to you by the wines I am fantasizing about today: Vivac Winery Gruner Veltliner, Vivac Winery Montepulciano & Vivac Winery Malbec
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
I've had it with carrying this extra weight though. I'm feeling better now so I want to look better too. I still have my ankle injury to contend with, but I'm serious in my focus. I have already gone over a week with very limited alcohol intake and a Gluten Free diet. I know you are all thinking "limited" wine in my diet must mean I'm down to a bottle a day, but I swear, over this past week I only had 4 glasses of wine! One glass on two different nights and 2 glasses of sparkling wine on another day. It is impossible to only have one glass of sparkling wine... and maybe illegal. Anyway, that means lots of nights without anything. It isn't fun, but I'm already down 4 pounds so lets keep this train movin!
I know that exercise coupled with calorie restriction is the best way to shed pounds, yet each of the days this past week, as I went to bed each night, I would plan the next day to start working out and each and every day, I forgot. I even looked up YouTube exercise videos, but still, the next morning I woke with a fresh, blank memory.
So now that my son is back in school and I can focus on me a little more, I am determined to start working out. I mean, not today. Today is the 1st day back at school and I wore a cute skirt without thinking about it (see?!? I completely forgot that I had ANY intention to work out today). BUT I am going to research possible workouts I'd like to try...so that I can forget about them tomorrow.
Cheers! Wait, not cheers for me, I'm not drinking today. Will you drink for me? A good friend would drink for me.
* this post is brought to you by the wines I am fantasizing about today: Vivac Winery Gruner Veltliner, Vivac Winery Montepulciano & Vivac Winery Malbec
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Anxiety Wine Pairings
Anxiety wine pairings...this is not for people that have anxiety ABOUT pairing wines, this is for people that suffer from anxiety and need wine. Anxiety pairs with pretty much any wine you can drink in copious amounts, of course I am a professional so that means literally any wine I can get my hands on. Only problem is the medication I was on to pull my cortisol levels down and return me to a human being, was extremely hard on my liver meaning I have to be super careful with adding alcohol back into my diet...which causes my anxiety to rise. Sounds like a fun merry-go-round doesn't it?
Why are you so full of anxiety you ask? Didn't that tumor in your head shrink and haven't you started feeling good? YES and yes, but due to the mega amount of cortisol that made itself at home in my body for a year and a half (tumor had my body make excess cortisol and not dump used cortisol so a 6-19 normal range for cortisol became 47 for me); that cortisol then damaged my tendons and ligaments...all of them. I feel like a marionette liable to break free from its strings and fall into a heap on the floor. Let's face it, with the ankle sprain that tore 2 tendons and ruptured 2 ligaments completely, coupled with the dislocated shoulder from doing practically nothing, that is a close reality.
I am now clunking around in the boot the doctor gave me to help my ankle, giving me a lopsided hobble that puts stress on my hips, knees and supporting ankle...just waiting for the strings of one of these spots to break free too. I also worry about the possibility to actually heal these injuries. See the cortisol damaging the ligaments and tendons also makes it take longer to heal. If I am not properly healing, then surgery will need to happen to reconnect the ruptured ligaments. An MRI will determine if significant damage was done to my shoulder which then could result in surgery as well. My body is just so damned excited about having surgery that evidently when the brain surgery was put on the back burner (if the tumor starts to grow, surgery is a possibility once again) that it is having a party trying to get me on that operating table! Feeling like a bottle of wine a day for each individual injury should be mandatory, don't you agree?
Then, my son got sick. A strange cold of sorts that has given him headaches and a bout of the crummies. I THINK I may be catching his bug, a headache has attacked me, but having a headache sends me into a panic that would rival a tsunami warning for someone living beach side. I try to relax, but evil thoughts swarm inside my head like a beehive "Maybe it's back! Maybe it's growing! Maybe you are getting sick again!". Headaches should not be this stressful. Surely an additional bottle of wine daily should be prescribed. Oh and I can't sleep due to all my crazy thoughts so probably another bottle for that. What are we up to? 4 bottles a day? Sounds like liver failure for sure. Great another stressful thought.
So back to anxiety pairings: a bright light wine like our Gruner Veltliner should start off your morning. Something happy you know? Then mid-morning a lighter bodied red, like our Pinot Noir, it can even be served slightly chilled making it a perfect choice for running from your problems. This will be followed by our Divino red wine blend, because your anxiety levels at this point in the day are driving you to start praying to the heavens for help. And finally our Diavolo red wine blend in the evening, because after a day of juggling depressing thoughts and surges of adrenaline from the anxiety, you feel like you are in hell. Big bold reds also are equivalent to comfort food so you can have it as dinner and not feel guilty. Oh wait we need to add in a glass of our port style wine Amante (not a bottle, a glass! See how restrained I am?) with cheese because you skipped dinner. I don't know if that cures anxiety, but you'd be so drunk you probably wouldn't care. We can call it the anxiety medicine diet. The word medicine makes it not just OK, but good for you.
Not being able to drink all this delicious "medicine" makes me mad all over again at that bitch cortisol. Man who knew a hormone could reek such havoc? I should probably create a pairing for punching cortisol in the face. Wouldn't that be great if drinking a specific wine was actually like physically punching your problem in the face? Well, and not make you a raging alcoholic of course.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Why are you so full of anxiety you ask? Didn't that tumor in your head shrink and haven't you started feeling good? YES and yes, but due to the mega amount of cortisol that made itself at home in my body for a year and a half (tumor had my body make excess cortisol and not dump used cortisol so a 6-19 normal range for cortisol became 47 for me); that cortisol then damaged my tendons and ligaments...all of them. I feel like a marionette liable to break free from its strings and fall into a heap on the floor. Let's face it, with the ankle sprain that tore 2 tendons and ruptured 2 ligaments completely, coupled with the dislocated shoulder from doing practically nothing, that is a close reality.
I am now clunking around in the boot the doctor gave me to help my ankle, giving me a lopsided hobble that puts stress on my hips, knees and supporting ankle...just waiting for the strings of one of these spots to break free too. I also worry about the possibility to actually heal these injuries. See the cortisol damaging the ligaments and tendons also makes it take longer to heal. If I am not properly healing, then surgery will need to happen to reconnect the ruptured ligaments. An MRI will determine if significant damage was done to my shoulder which then could result in surgery as well. My body is just so damned excited about having surgery that evidently when the brain surgery was put on the back burner (if the tumor starts to grow, surgery is a possibility once again) that it is having a party trying to get me on that operating table! Feeling like a bottle of wine a day for each individual injury should be mandatory, don't you agree?
Then, my son got sick. A strange cold of sorts that has given him headaches and a bout of the crummies. I THINK I may be catching his bug, a headache has attacked me, but having a headache sends me into a panic that would rival a tsunami warning for someone living beach side. I try to relax, but evil thoughts swarm inside my head like a beehive "Maybe it's back! Maybe it's growing! Maybe you are getting sick again!". Headaches should not be this stressful. Surely an additional bottle of wine daily should be prescribed. Oh and I can't sleep due to all my crazy thoughts so probably another bottle for that. What are we up to? 4 bottles a day? Sounds like liver failure for sure. Great another stressful thought.
So back to anxiety pairings: a bright light wine like our Gruner Veltliner should start off your morning. Something happy you know? Then mid-morning a lighter bodied red, like our Pinot Noir, it can even be served slightly chilled making it a perfect choice for running from your problems. This will be followed by our Divino red wine blend, because your anxiety levels at this point in the day are driving you to start praying to the heavens for help. And finally our Diavolo red wine blend in the evening, because after a day of juggling depressing thoughts and surges of adrenaline from the anxiety, you feel like you are in hell. Big bold reds also are equivalent to comfort food so you can have it as dinner and not feel guilty. Oh wait we need to add in a glass of our port style wine Amante (not a bottle, a glass! See how restrained I am?) with cheese because you skipped dinner. I don't know if that cures anxiety, but you'd be so drunk you probably wouldn't care. We can call it the anxiety medicine diet. The word medicine makes it not just OK, but good for you.
Not being able to drink all this delicious "medicine" makes me mad all over again at that bitch cortisol. Man who knew a hormone could reek such havoc? I should probably create a pairing for punching cortisol in the face. Wouldn't that be great if drinking a specific wine was actually like physically punching your problem in the face? Well, and not make you a raging alcoholic of course.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Monday, February 13, 2017
The Valentine's Day Wine List You Actually Need
Let's face it, Valentine's Day is not friendly to most people, either you hold your significant other to an impossibly high standard that is a set-up to fail or you are single and it is suddenly glaringly obvious you are alone. No matter what your situation is, it is best to avoid the drama and take care of yourself. After all, if you don't love yourself, how can anyone else love you? And love is always shown in wine.
Valentine's Day Vivac Wine Pairings:
Vivac Chenin Blanc (wht) - to brighten your day, maybe even drink it in the morning?
buy Vivac Chenin Blanc now
Vivac Chardonnay (wht) - the creaminess will sooth your nerves as people post obnoxious photos of their Valentine's Day treats on social media.
buy Vivac Chardonnay now
Vivac Pinot Noir (red) - because gosh darn, you deserve it!
buy Vivac Pinot now
Vivac Cabernet Sauvignon (red) - you have to have your chocolate with wine don't you?
buy Vivac Cab now
Vivac Divino (red) - a wow wine to really impress yourself with. "oh self, you shouldn't have!"
buy Vivac Divino red blend now
Vivac Late Harvest Riesling (dessert) - pairing it with strawberries means it has no calories and the smaller bottle means you don't have to feel bad for drinking the whole thing by yourself.
buy Vivac Late Harvest now
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Valentine's Day Vivac Wine Pairings:
Vivac Chenin Blanc (wht) - to brighten your day, maybe even drink it in the morning?
buy Vivac Chenin Blanc now
Vivac Chardonnay (wht) - the creaminess will sooth your nerves as people post obnoxious photos of their Valentine's Day treats on social media.
buy Vivac Chardonnay now
Vivac Pinot Noir (red) - because gosh darn, you deserve it!
buy Vivac Pinot now
buy Vivac Cab now
Vivac Divino (red) - a wow wine to really impress yourself with. "oh self, you shouldn't have!"
buy Vivac Divino red blend now
Vivac Late Harvest Riesling (dessert) - pairing it with strawberries means it has no calories and the smaller bottle means you don't have to feel bad for drinking the whole thing by yourself.
buy Vivac Late Harvest now
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Feisty Feisty Feisty!
Welcome to 2017 and a very feisty me!
Going without wine can make people feisty. Maybe that's it? When I started on this new medication to assist the symptoms of my brain tumor, I knew I was agreeing to a sad road of zero wine for 12 weeks. For some that wouldn't seem like much, for me, one of the owners of a winery, that sounded like a death sentence.
6 weeks into the medication and I am starting to feel a little relief, more energy and my body is starting to return to a recognizable shape. Maybe the relief from the constant sickness has made me feisty?
Living without wine has been interesting, but not in the way I had thought. I hadn't been drinking all that much prior to starting the meds simply because most of the time I was too sick to have any, yet out of habit, I think of a glass of wine at the end of the day. Heading out to a special dinner, I think of the celebration wines to be opened. Every time I open my refrigerator I instinctively grab a bottle of wine. But I don't actually crave it. I miss it like an old friend I only now get to skype with, but my life has gone on fine without it. Maybe changing an ingrained habit has made me feisty?
WARNING: I am not recommending going without wine! As one of the owners of Vivac Winery, I have to take a moment to say, all people should be drinking wine because it reduces stress, is good for your heath and makes you smarter. That last one might be my opinion, but you should regard my opinion as fact.
What has been surprising is that zero booze doesn't mean zero hangover. I still wake up with a blistering headache and nausea every morning. Could headaches be making me feisty? I'm also surprised at people's reaction to me not drinking. It's as if I have checked into rehab. People are panicky and uncomfortable as if I may, in my lack of wine craze, freak out and slap their wine out of their hands and scream nonsense at them. I swear I don't do that. However, in my new feisty mood, I do think that would be really funny to do. I also find it interesting that people are sure that I could make an exception "just this once" yet I have liver failure as a possibility if I do...even I don't love wine THAT much! Maybe it is the reactions I'm getting from people that's making me feisty?
A final surprise has been the idea that I can't do my job without drinking. Scheduled meetings that find out I am not drinking offer to reschedule for a time after I can drink again. Family members have worried about how I would have to compensate for the lack of drinking. Funny thing is, other than my memory issues, due to my brain tumor, my wine knowledge is locked in my head and accessible to me even when I'm NOT drinking wine. I know it IS amazing. I'm probably part unicorn. Maybe that's why I'm so feisty, I have a unicorn horn growing out of my forehead?
Lots of people are also sure that the lack of booze is why my body is finally returning to a somewhat normal shape. But before the meds, I wasn't drinking much AND I was vomiting profusely. I managed to continue carrying the pregnancy belly, have a flattened pig face and gain weight uncontrollably. These are the symptoms of the illness and not body dysmorphia. It is a fact that that is what happened to my body, yet talking about it makes people so uncomfortable! I've never been told so much, how important it is to "love my body", as if noting changes and feeling good with the loss of symptoms that made me self conscious, unhappy and uncomfortable translates to hating my body. Maybe the frustration is making me feisty?
Needless to say, the feisty new me knows that life is too short and too unpredictable to be caught up in these things. I will have to watch this brain tumor for the rest of my life, and it is a gift. This past year, I had to learn to delegate, how to appreciate little wins and to focus on hugging and kissing those I love as much as possible. Because this thing could start growing again, I will always be forced to make choices based on the now. How many people have the luck to live life that conscious of life's precarious nature? Well I do and it has made me feisty!
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Going without wine can make people feisty. Maybe that's it? When I started on this new medication to assist the symptoms of my brain tumor, I knew I was agreeing to a sad road of zero wine for 12 weeks. For some that wouldn't seem like much, for me, one of the owners of a winery, that sounded like a death sentence.
6 weeks into the medication and I am starting to feel a little relief, more energy and my body is starting to return to a recognizable shape. Maybe the relief from the constant sickness has made me feisty?
Living without wine has been interesting, but not in the way I had thought. I hadn't been drinking all that much prior to starting the meds simply because most of the time I was too sick to have any, yet out of habit, I think of a glass of wine at the end of the day. Heading out to a special dinner, I think of the celebration wines to be opened. Every time I open my refrigerator I instinctively grab a bottle of wine. But I don't actually crave it. I miss it like an old friend I only now get to skype with, but my life has gone on fine without it. Maybe changing an ingrained habit has made me feisty?
WARNING: I am not recommending going without wine! As one of the owners of Vivac Winery, I have to take a moment to say, all people should be drinking wine because it reduces stress, is good for your heath and makes you smarter. That last one might be my opinion, but you should regard my opinion as fact.
What has been surprising is that zero booze doesn't mean zero hangover. I still wake up with a blistering headache and nausea every morning. Could headaches be making me feisty? I'm also surprised at people's reaction to me not drinking. It's as if I have checked into rehab. People are panicky and uncomfortable as if I may, in my lack of wine craze, freak out and slap their wine out of their hands and scream nonsense at them. I swear I don't do that. However, in my new feisty mood, I do think that would be really funny to do. I also find it interesting that people are sure that I could make an exception "just this once" yet I have liver failure as a possibility if I do...even I don't love wine THAT much! Maybe it is the reactions I'm getting from people that's making me feisty?
A final surprise has been the idea that I can't do my job without drinking. Scheduled meetings that find out I am not drinking offer to reschedule for a time after I can drink again. Family members have worried about how I would have to compensate for the lack of drinking. Funny thing is, other than my memory issues, due to my brain tumor, my wine knowledge is locked in my head and accessible to me even when I'm NOT drinking wine. I know it IS amazing. I'm probably part unicorn. Maybe that's why I'm so feisty, I have a unicorn horn growing out of my forehead?
Lots of people are also sure that the lack of booze is why my body is finally returning to a somewhat normal shape. But before the meds, I wasn't drinking much AND I was vomiting profusely. I managed to continue carrying the pregnancy belly, have a flattened pig face and gain weight uncontrollably. These are the symptoms of the illness and not body dysmorphia. It is a fact that that is what happened to my body, yet talking about it makes people so uncomfortable! I've never been told so much, how important it is to "love my body", as if noting changes and feeling good with the loss of symptoms that made me self conscious, unhappy and uncomfortable translates to hating my body. Maybe the frustration is making me feisty?
Needless to say, the feisty new me knows that life is too short and too unpredictable to be caught up in these things. I will have to watch this brain tumor for the rest of my life, and it is a gift. This past year, I had to learn to delegate, how to appreciate little wins and to focus on hugging and kissing those I love as much as possible. Because this thing could start growing again, I will always be forced to make choices based on the now. How many people have the luck to live life that conscious of life's precarious nature? Well I do and it has made me feisty!
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Friday, January 6, 2017
New Year, New Me
2016 came with many challenges, for some the year was glorious, for many it was torturous. As you all have followed my torture, I failed to update you with the way the year ended.
I have had a frustrating journey from diagnosis of a tumor on my pituitary, symptoms mounting and a crew of Doctors that couldn't figure out what to do with me. While the symptoms said 'tumor on the pituitary' and the MRI showed a 'tumor on the pituitary', treatment was NOT that easy. They just do not want to mess with the brain if they can at all avoid it. A news flash for me since all of my TV and movie expertise left me thinking brain surgery was an everyday occurrence. That being said, I am now very familiar with protocol around the brain and the various specialists, Hollywood should really hire me to consult on movies and shows, they get a lot wrong.
I digress, the point is, it has been a painful, long, scary journey, so when one specialist suggested we try a trial of a drug that had a 50/50 chance of helping, I said HELL YES! When they said absolutely zero alcohol, I still said HELL YES! When they said, seriously, no wine...at all...for the entire 12 weeks. I still said HELL YES! And then the world ended. OK, the world didn't end, but it did seemed apocalyptic as friends and family frantically worried about my lack of wine intake. It was almost as if everyone thought I was the wine vampire and without wine, I would literally shrivel up and die.
As the 2nd week on this medication comes to an end, I haven't had a drop of alcohol and haven't missed it either. Truth is, I wasn't drinking that much for a while now, I just felt so ill I couldn't. The down side is that I still wake up with horrific headaches, nausea and body pain, which doesn't seem fair. BUT I am starting to see glimmers of positive results that encourage me to continue. I'm still no where near going out for a jog, but I woke up the other day happy, a 1st in a long long time.
2017 seemed to be like a magic switch. After a fun filled, alcohol free New Years Eve (I had no idea that sentence could exist prior to this experience), I optimistically looked to the future. That's when I got the results from my recent MRI.
A few days before NYE, I went in for a new MRI. My limbs had started to fall asleep intermittently throughout the day and a new type of headache was added to the mix. Now along with my regular, all day long headaches, I have a piercing stab that occurs at the right temple and rounds over the eyebrow and deep into the eye socket at the bridge of my nose. I was pretty sure the tumor had probably doubled in size and that this would be the solid proof that we needed to go in and get that sucker. I have battled the pain and agony of this for so long that I actually excitedly looked forward to brain surgery. 2016 was desperate times.
The MRI had been a pain in the ass just like everything else in 2016. The computer went down after 90% completion of the test resulting in me spending an additional 20 mins stuck in the tiny tube, cage mask clamped over my face and the same 5 John Denver songs playing on a never ending loop. It was the longest hour of my life. I hate John Denver.
On New Years Day, I looked forward to a year that would offer me a solution.
On New Years Day, I found out that "the tumor has infarcted (loss of blood supply), and partially necrossed (died) therefore decreasing is size and function". Also my football team, the Giants, won. It was a big day.
I'll give you a moment to let this information soak in.
I didn't even know what to do with this information. I sat, numb and bewildered. Just as strange was the appearance of this thing as its shrinkage. Just as confusing as well. Why do I still feel like crap? Do I keep taking these crazy meds? Will it disappear completely? Will it come back?
Not all of these questions can be answered, but I will stay on the medication, which is a cortisol inhibitor (which is what is actually causing these terrible symptoms) and in combination with the shrinking tumor, should result in a dramatic drop in cortisol and me feeling better. No surgery.
I'm afraid of getting my hopes up that I am "cured". Hope feels foreign to me. Until I feel myself again, I probably won't believe it. I'm also plagued with other new emotions. For the 1st time, I've felt angry. Angry that this happened, that my loved ones had to suffer through this, that I've had to experience this at all. But more than anything, I'm relieved. Relieved that my body will start to feel like my own soon. Relieved that I don't have to risk becoming blind during the surgery or die. Relieved that I get to have many more healthy years with my incredible family, with my heart and soul, my son. Relieved that this horror is coming to an end.
Now I need to find something GREAT to toast with for when I'm off the meds and can celebrate. Seems this New Year, really will be a new me.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
I have had a frustrating journey from diagnosis of a tumor on my pituitary, symptoms mounting and a crew of Doctors that couldn't figure out what to do with me. While the symptoms said 'tumor on the pituitary' and the MRI showed a 'tumor on the pituitary', treatment was NOT that easy. They just do not want to mess with the brain if they can at all avoid it. A news flash for me since all of my TV and movie expertise left me thinking brain surgery was an everyday occurrence. That being said, I am now very familiar with protocol around the brain and the various specialists, Hollywood should really hire me to consult on movies and shows, they get a lot wrong.
I digress, the point is, it has been a painful, long, scary journey, so when one specialist suggested we try a trial of a drug that had a 50/50 chance of helping, I said HELL YES! When they said absolutely zero alcohol, I still said HELL YES! When they said, seriously, no wine...at all...for the entire 12 weeks. I still said HELL YES! And then the world ended. OK, the world didn't end, but it did seemed apocalyptic as friends and family frantically worried about my lack of wine intake. It was almost as if everyone thought I was the wine vampire and without wine, I would literally shrivel up and die.
As the 2nd week on this medication comes to an end, I haven't had a drop of alcohol and haven't missed it either. Truth is, I wasn't drinking that much for a while now, I just felt so ill I couldn't. The down side is that I still wake up with horrific headaches, nausea and body pain, which doesn't seem fair. BUT I am starting to see glimmers of positive results that encourage me to continue. I'm still no where near going out for a jog, but I woke up the other day happy, a 1st in a long long time.
2017 seemed to be like a magic switch. After a fun filled, alcohol free New Years Eve (I had no idea that sentence could exist prior to this experience), I optimistically looked to the future. That's when I got the results from my recent MRI.
A few days before NYE, I went in for a new MRI. My limbs had started to fall asleep intermittently throughout the day and a new type of headache was added to the mix. Now along with my regular, all day long headaches, I have a piercing stab that occurs at the right temple and rounds over the eyebrow and deep into the eye socket at the bridge of my nose. I was pretty sure the tumor had probably doubled in size and that this would be the solid proof that we needed to go in and get that sucker. I have battled the pain and agony of this for so long that I actually excitedly looked forward to brain surgery. 2016 was desperate times.
The MRI had been a pain in the ass just like everything else in 2016. The computer went down after 90% completion of the test resulting in me spending an additional 20 mins stuck in the tiny tube, cage mask clamped over my face and the same 5 John Denver songs playing on a never ending loop. It was the longest hour of my life. I hate John Denver.
On New Years Day, I looked forward to a year that would offer me a solution.
On New Years Day, I found out that "the tumor has infarcted (loss of blood supply), and partially necrossed (died) therefore decreasing is size and function". Also my football team, the Giants, won. It was a big day.
I'll give you a moment to let this information soak in.
I didn't even know what to do with this information. I sat, numb and bewildered. Just as strange was the appearance of this thing as its shrinkage. Just as confusing as well. Why do I still feel like crap? Do I keep taking these crazy meds? Will it disappear completely? Will it come back?
Not all of these questions can be answered, but I will stay on the medication, which is a cortisol inhibitor (which is what is actually causing these terrible symptoms) and in combination with the shrinking tumor, should result in a dramatic drop in cortisol and me feeling better. No surgery.
I'm afraid of getting my hopes up that I am "cured". Hope feels foreign to me. Until I feel myself again, I probably won't believe it. I'm also plagued with other new emotions. For the 1st time, I've felt angry. Angry that this happened, that my loved ones had to suffer through this, that I've had to experience this at all. But more than anything, I'm relieved. Relieved that my body will start to feel like my own soon. Relieved that I don't have to risk becoming blind during the surgery or die. Relieved that I get to have many more healthy years with my incredible family, with my heart and soul, my son. Relieved that this horror is coming to an end.
Now I need to find something GREAT to toast with for when I'm off the meds and can celebrate. Seems this New Year, really will be a new me.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
Monday, October 31, 2016
10 Reasons to Binge on Candy & Wine Today
10 reasons you should get to binge eat candy & drink as much wine as you want on Halloween:
1) Do you have kids? Are there kids that live near you? Do you know someone that has kids that you will have to talk to today? ALL children are spastic on Halloween. They can't believe they get to dress up and the promise of a giant bag of candy has created little gremlins. You NEED candy and wine to dull the roaring headache caused by their screaming.
2) You have to work today. It's a Monday and you are an adult...with adulting to do. Now if that doesn't crush the spirit of the little kid living deep inside you, then you are already dead. Either way, you need copious amounts of candy and wine to handle this depressing day.
3) You probably celebrated Halloween over the weekend and are now severely hung over...obviously the only way to right this wrong is more wine and candy.
4) You DIDN'T celebrate this weekend, nor do you plan to dress up or attend any festivities today. In fact you plan on pretending you are not at home while children incessantly ring your doorbell trick or treating. This depressing fact has earned you a private bowl of candy and a bottle of wine all to yourself.
5) You're partner is obnoxiously into Halloween and you have been forced to talk about/ think about/ plan your costumes while decorating your house to look like a Halloween theme park attraction. The fun unseen aspect to this is that the real cobwebs look like the fake ones you decorated with so now you live in actual filth and it isn't funny. You sooooo deserve to over indulge today just to celebrate the end of the torture.
6) You ARE the insane partner obsessed with Halloween and this is the blow out day! It is also a little sad, because your favorite holiday is over and you have to take down all the decorations...soon...soon-ish. You need to medicate with wine and candy to deal with this depressing idea.
7) You have watched far too many horror movies in lead up to today and your anxiety is sky high. Every time you blink or try to sleep, you picture a combination of horrible characters lurking under your bed or behind the door. You seriously need the wine and candy to calm the hell down!
8) You spent your pay check on the over the top costume you invented only to not win the costume contest and realize that tomorrow, that sequined bustier or killer mask you paid a small fortune for is on sale for $.99 and you have no groceries...except for the Halloween candy and left over wine from the weekend parties. There is clearly a solution for tonight's dinner and it isn't that you try to eat the mask.
9) Tomorrow is Day of the Dead! You need to prime your liver for the party tomorrow. No you are probably not going to visit the graves of those who have passed away, but you know they would want you to be warm in your cozy house and drink extra wine for them tomorrow. One has to prepare for this kind of self sacrifice.
10) You absolutely HAVE to eat candy in a manic shovel-it-in sort of a way while washing it down with gulps of wine because there are real people dressing like clowns, wielding sharp weapons and chasing people!!! Don't you watch the news? It is a scary as shit place out there these days and the combination of heavy wine mixed with the intense sugar high is just the combo needed to be relaxed enough to leave the house and alert enough to fight for your life should you encounter a psycho clown.
Halloween Pairings: Vivac Chardonnay with candy corn, Vivac Rose with red licorice, Vivac Tempranillo with peanut butter cups, Vivac Cabernet with snickers, Vivac Club Select red wine blend with milk-duds.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
1) Do you have kids? Are there kids that live near you? Do you know someone that has kids that you will have to talk to today? ALL children are spastic on Halloween. They can't believe they get to dress up and the promise of a giant bag of candy has created little gremlins. You NEED candy and wine to dull the roaring headache caused by their screaming.
2) You have to work today. It's a Monday and you are an adult...with adulting to do. Now if that doesn't crush the spirit of the little kid living deep inside you, then you are already dead. Either way, you need copious amounts of candy and wine to handle this depressing day.
3) You probably celebrated Halloween over the weekend and are now severely hung over...obviously the only way to right this wrong is more wine and candy.
4) You DIDN'T celebrate this weekend, nor do you plan to dress up or attend any festivities today. In fact you plan on pretending you are not at home while children incessantly ring your doorbell trick or treating. This depressing fact has earned you a private bowl of candy and a bottle of wine all to yourself.
5) You're partner is obnoxiously into Halloween and you have been forced to talk about/ think about/ plan your costumes while decorating your house to look like a Halloween theme park attraction. The fun unseen aspect to this is that the real cobwebs look like the fake ones you decorated with so now you live in actual filth and it isn't funny. You sooooo deserve to over indulge today just to celebrate the end of the torture.
6) You ARE the insane partner obsessed with Halloween and this is the blow out day! It is also a little sad, because your favorite holiday is over and you have to take down all the decorations...soon...soon-ish. You need to medicate with wine and candy to deal with this depressing idea.
7) You have watched far too many horror movies in lead up to today and your anxiety is sky high. Every time you blink or try to sleep, you picture a combination of horrible characters lurking under your bed or behind the door. You seriously need the wine and candy to calm the hell down!
8) You spent your pay check on the over the top costume you invented only to not win the costume contest and realize that tomorrow, that sequined bustier or killer mask you paid a small fortune for is on sale for $.99 and you have no groceries...except for the Halloween candy and left over wine from the weekend parties. There is clearly a solution for tonight's dinner and it isn't that you try to eat the mask.
9) Tomorrow is Day of the Dead! You need to prime your liver for the party tomorrow. No you are probably not going to visit the graves of those who have passed away, but you know they would want you to be warm in your cozy house and drink extra wine for them tomorrow. One has to prepare for this kind of self sacrifice.
10) You absolutely HAVE to eat candy in a manic shovel-it-in sort of a way while washing it down with gulps of wine because there are real people dressing like clowns, wielding sharp weapons and chasing people!!! Don't you watch the news? It is a scary as shit place out there these days and the combination of heavy wine mixed with the intense sugar high is just the combo needed to be relaxed enough to leave the house and alert enough to fight for your life should you encounter a psycho clown.
Halloween Pairings: Vivac Chardonnay with candy corn, Vivac Rose with red licorice, Vivac Tempranillo with peanut butter cups, Vivac Cabernet with snickers, Vivac Club Select red wine blend with milk-duds.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Monday, October 3, 2016
Treading Water
Treading water might be a good workout, but it is exhausting. I've been treading water for months now as my health continues to be compromised and getting worse. I'm past frustration, I'm now at surviving.
So what are the facts? I have a long list of symptoms that all point to a tumor on my pituitary. We have MRI images of a tumor on my pituitary. So lets take that sucker out right? Wrong. My blood tests are all over the place so the Doctor's are not willing to do a surgery that while it is "the easiest of brain surgeries", it has very real risks. Until they have 110% positive proof that that is the only way to handle this, we just keep testing. I'm surprised I have any blood left in my body. In the mean time my symptoms that used to kick into full gear after I exerted myself, are now everyday requiring CBD tincture to keep the violent vomiting at bay. If I now exert myself, I am restricted to bed with crushing pain and cancer patient style vomiting.
(side note, cannabis is an amazing plant that is saving me, the fact that they can separate out the THC so I can take the CBD all day is incredible)
I have resisted writing an update because I have become sour. I'm officially the "if you don't have something nice to say, come sit next to me" person. Chronic pain can do that to you. Of course you will have to find me 1st, the other part of this is that the effort to put on the mask of 'everything is ok' is too much sometimes and I'd rather be a recluse. Just give me a glass of wine and a movie please!
I did manage to go on our Annual Gourmet Wine Raft Trip down the Rio Chama. I couldn't imagine a float trip being that hard on me especially with the incredible guides at New Mexico River Adventures who take impeccable care of you, waiting on you hand and foot and the phenomenal 4 course dinners each night by Chef Rocky Durham are paired with all of our delicious wines...I mean it is almost like I HAD to go for my health! But by day 3 and the final stretch home, it was unbearable. My mask was non-existent and I was afraid my weak body, crippled in pain and nausea would topple over into the river where I would literally be treading water. Luckily I stayed in the boat, but I haven't been the same since.
On the up side, the trip was filled with people that start out as strangers and end up best friends. It really is unlike any other trip n the world. On the down side, I spent the days following vomiting uncontrollably, shaking and scaring the crap out of my family. We start therapy for my 10 year old this week.
I'd like to be able to make jokes like I usually do, sound like I'm staying positive, but I'm afraid I actually could die from this before they figure out how to help me.
If I do die, please bury me with a bottle of wine.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
So what are the facts? I have a long list of symptoms that all point to a tumor on my pituitary. We have MRI images of a tumor on my pituitary. So lets take that sucker out right? Wrong. My blood tests are all over the place so the Doctor's are not willing to do a surgery that while it is "the easiest of brain surgeries", it has very real risks. Until they have 110% positive proof that that is the only way to handle this, we just keep testing. I'm surprised I have any blood left in my body. In the mean time my symptoms that used to kick into full gear after I exerted myself, are now everyday requiring CBD tincture to keep the violent vomiting at bay. If I now exert myself, I am restricted to bed with crushing pain and cancer patient style vomiting.
(side note, cannabis is an amazing plant that is saving me, the fact that they can separate out the THC so I can take the CBD all day is incredible)
I have resisted writing an update because I have become sour. I'm officially the "if you don't have something nice to say, come sit next to me" person. Chronic pain can do that to you. Of course you will have to find me 1st, the other part of this is that the effort to put on the mask of 'everything is ok' is too much sometimes and I'd rather be a recluse. Just give me a glass of wine and a movie please!
I did manage to go on our Annual Gourmet Wine Raft Trip down the Rio Chama. I couldn't imagine a float trip being that hard on me especially with the incredible guides at New Mexico River Adventures who take impeccable care of you, waiting on you hand and foot and the phenomenal 4 course dinners each night by Chef Rocky Durham are paired with all of our delicious wines...I mean it is almost like I HAD to go for my health! But by day 3 and the final stretch home, it was unbearable. My mask was non-existent and I was afraid my weak body, crippled in pain and nausea would topple over into the river where I would literally be treading water. Luckily I stayed in the boat, but I haven't been the same since.
On the up side, the trip was filled with people that start out as strangers and end up best friends. It really is unlike any other trip n the world. On the down side, I spent the days following vomiting uncontrollably, shaking and scaring the crap out of my family. We start therapy for my 10 year old this week.
I'd like to be able to make jokes like I usually do, sound like I'm staying positive, but I'm afraid I actually could die from this before they figure out how to help me.
If I do die, please bury me with a bottle of wine.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Unmanageable
Fueled by Vivác use to mean something much different. Four years ago I ran my first full Marathon in Napa, it was Fueled by so much more than just Vivác... it was Fueled by the whole Napa Valley; I love me some Napa wines! But now my Fueling looks so different.
Getting up in the morning chasing after the kiddo, work work work and more work only to finish, come home and have to clean, do laundry and cook dinner oh yes and be a wife and mom! That's when I really need to start Fueling. There's no way to possibly Fuel enough at the end of a day. I realized that I'm running on fumes. But now I'm too tired and I need to just go to bed. The next day it starts all over again. I am being Fueled by irritability and coffee and my precious wine has (gasp) become a once in a while treat. Clearly I will be going to Hell for this.
That's when I hit bottom. I realized my life was unmanageable without proper Fueling. Why are we living lives that are so out of balance? Where is the time to stop and smell the Rosé (FYI Rosé is different than blush, it is a pink wine that gets its color from the grape skins, maintains great acidity with fuller fruit notes than many white wines)? How is it that when we were on food stamps and starting our winery, starting our family, we were LESS stressed? Was it that we made sure to Fuel more? Those late nights spent at the kitchen table, talking for hours with my husband have been swapped for lists of errands the other can do the next day. Somehow the shift happened and left us in the dust... parched.
But life is not over...despite the fact that we have been shoved into our 40's (ok actually only my husband is 40, but I'm close), we don't have to let the world of "To Do's" knock us off course. We can regain our will to properly Fuel once again and save our souls from the depths of a wineless world.
I'll just need a gallon of water, 6 Ibuprofen and 3 days to recover.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!www.vivacwinery.com
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
The Dark Side
It has been an intense month or so since I last blogged...and published it. I lost someone who I loved and admired. I had, since I was a child, felt a part of his family as I grew up with his kids. I'd spent holidays laughing with him and his family, weddings, babies and everyday happenings filled the years...and then suddenly he was gone. It was crushing for me, but down right demolishing for my pseudo siblings. The experience was very difficult to say the least. I will spare you a long drawn out explanation of the weeks that have passed and get into the present and the reason you actually read this thing (thank you so much for doing so)...FUELING!
During hard times, working out seems like a complete joke. Yet, with time and distance, the distraction and exertion becomes welcome. Even for a self proclaimed lazy person such as myself, a workout of some sort needed to happen.
OK, let's clarify, obviously I never stopped "Fueling" because...we own a winery for one, wine is mourning's best friend, and lastly...my body might shut down if I did something so rash as to stop drinking.
Now back to my story. A few short runs in, I decided I might be part sloth. My running just gets slower each time I return to it! Since I am easily discouraged, and with my hormones raging (because it seems I am also going through very early menopause...or hell, I can't tell which) I decided a softer approach was needed. Yoga, yes yoga is going to be better.
Some of you may remember a somewhat recent blog about my experience with stinky yoga, so let me explain to you guys...I am SO lazy that returning to the packed room full of smelly people seemed like more of a possibility than running. See? Part sloth.
When you are unmotivated, depressed and have hormones raging, it is no surprise that your clothes may start shrinking on you. My workout clothes seem to have decided that they belong to my child because they gripped my fat in ways most unpleasant. As I wiggled into various yoga contortions, the said clothing rolled into rubber bands of pain. Various parts of my body became sausaged into bulging sections with each new position. I tried to quietly tug at the various scraps of cloth, hoping they would stretch to encompass the embarrassing naked skin now revealed to the world, but the more I tugged, the more I brought attention to myself and distracted the very serious yogis around me.
To add insult to injury (literally), the old lady in-front of me started farting. Not once, but every few minutes she just let it rip. I'm sure you are thinking to yourself that I should have simply moved my mat out of the current of her ass, but these classes are literally packed with extreme garlic eaters and do gooders so my only option would have been going to the front and center of the room...in my new rubber band fat revealing fun suit. I decided face full of fart was better than THAT misery.
All I can say is that that one hour yoga glass deserved a full dose of Fueling.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
During hard times, working out seems like a complete joke. Yet, with time and distance, the distraction and exertion becomes welcome. Even for a self proclaimed lazy person such as myself, a workout of some sort needed to happen.
OK, let's clarify, obviously I never stopped "Fueling" because...we own a winery for one, wine is mourning's best friend, and lastly...my body might shut down if I did something so rash as to stop drinking.
Now back to my story. A few short runs in, I decided I might be part sloth. My running just gets slower each time I return to it! Since I am easily discouraged, and with my hormones raging (because it seems I am also going through very early menopause...or hell, I can't tell which) I decided a softer approach was needed. Yoga, yes yoga is going to be better.
Some of you may remember a somewhat recent blog about my experience with stinky yoga, so let me explain to you guys...I am SO lazy that returning to the packed room full of smelly people seemed like more of a possibility than running. See? Part sloth.
When you are unmotivated, depressed and have hormones raging, it is no surprise that your clothes may start shrinking on you. My workout clothes seem to have decided that they belong to my child because they gripped my fat in ways most unpleasant. As I wiggled into various yoga contortions, the said clothing rolled into rubber bands of pain. Various parts of my body became sausaged into bulging sections with each new position. I tried to quietly tug at the various scraps of cloth, hoping they would stretch to encompass the embarrassing naked skin now revealed to the world, but the more I tugged, the more I brought attention to myself and distracted the very serious yogis around me.
To add insult to injury (literally), the old lady in-front of me started farting. Not once, but every few minutes she just let it rip. I'm sure you are thinking to yourself that I should have simply moved my mat out of the current of her ass, but these classes are literally packed with extreme garlic eaters and do gooders so my only option would have been going to the front and center of the room...in my new rubber band fat revealing fun suit. I decided face full of fart was better than THAT misery.
All I can say is that that one hour yoga glass deserved a full dose of Fueling.
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
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