Dormant Vines
Sitting at a bar one night, drinking Bonny Doon wines, I decided I just might be able to write about wine. A story I’ve told many times. But it wasn’t only writing wine that I wanted, it was being around it and being a part of it.
From a family that didn’t care much about wine, where there were no vineyards anywhere near, I feel like an interloper or a late bloomer compared to so many people around me. There’s a part of me that wishes I had grown up around it, and I can’t help but feel a little jealous of them, like with my friend Shauna. She got to spend summers among barrels and bottling lines, sleepovers at the vineyard, and helping with winery events. Or the kids parents bring into tasting rooms and allow them to sniff their glass, asking what they smell. Maybe in those situations, I could have begun improving my palate much earlier and know more sooner. Meanwhile, I won’t tell you about the boxed chardonnay and white zinfandel I drank in college when I had to rely on older friends for my alcohol needs.
When I figured out what was really worth drinking, it didn’t take long for me to start spending more than I should to get the good stuff. Then I bought a book and then, another. A brief stint with Wine Spectator and the need to buy a wine rack, eliminating moments of panic after 10pm and on Sunday when there was no way to pick up a bottle for dinner or after late nights at work.
Then the idea to write about it. I guess with a degree in poetry, it shouldn’t have been a surprise. Hence, winepoet—my id on Twitter and the like. Not sure else how to get into it, I started blogging for several reasons. Though the results are not necessarily the ones I expected.
I’m not sure what’s going to happen right now with the blog. But no matter what, I’ll be writing. At least once a week when I change the tasting room menu. That’s my poetry these days. I might not have as many comments here as I’d like, but I can’t tell you how many people read my notes out loud enthusiastically to their friends, or ask me and my co-workers “Who wrote these? They’re great!” It never gets old, even when it does.
That dream to write about wine drew me out here, but my experiences over the past two and a half years have added more wishes to the list. I would love to be paid to do any of the following: teach wine classes, write about food, start a winery, prepare themed pairing meals, disagree with Robert Parker, and yes, write about wine. Some for pay, some for pleasure—all of those but one I already do. And even that one, kinda, sorta.
We’ll just see where the vines grow over this next little while.
Image source: Farley Walker
Tags: what to do when you don't know what to do, wine blog, wine writingRelated Stories
POSTED IN: about me, blogging issues, wine as it relates to life
12 opinions for Dormant Vines
tyler
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:00 pm
good luck farley! although i’m quite sure you don’t need it.. your dedication to your dreams will take you wherever you want to go.
keep on writin’!
el jefe
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:09 pm
A late bloomer, perhaps, but the important thing is you are blooming! (I didn’t grow up in a wine family either FWIW.) When doors close others open. Perhaps this is your sign to take more control of your own destiny? If you need help getting a new blog started or just want a sounding board, you know where to find me!
Jonathan
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Farley, whatever you are doing, it’s working! I know you are upset about the recent turn of events, but the goal of a teacher and a writer (like you) is to inspire. You have inspired me to write about wine and to begin to blog. I don’t think it is just sheer coincidence that my love for wine has really taken off since you arrived at Rosenblum. Don’t give up, and don’t stop writing.
Carol
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:51 pm
While I don’t always comment, I have been here reading! I enjoy your blog and hope you choose to keep writing, but whatever direction you take I wish you much luck and fulfillment! :-)
Wine Tasting Guy
Jul 20, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I’m just stumbling upon this blog for the first time but I look forward to your poetic wine prose!
David Cole
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:46 pm
I’ve just recently started reading your blog and enjoy it! I hope you’ll keep it up.
I wasn’t raised in a wine family, but chose to jump later in life (42 years old), but stay to the journey! Don’t let other diminish your dream, ideas, enthusiasm or things that drive you each day…these are the things that bring your life to feel fulfilled.
Good Luck in your quest!
Richard A.
Jul 21, 2008 at 8:27 am
Keep writing Farley! When a passion for writing is in one’s blood, you are driven to write no matter what. There are still plenty of venues where you could write so I do hope you continue to do so. Hopefully even on a new blog. Good luck!
Farley
Jul 21, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Everyone, thank you.
Tyler, I will keep writing.
El Jefe, I may call you on that soon.
Jonathan, I am sincerely thankful and surprised. Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, so it’s really nice to hear/read it.
Carol, I appreciate that. I’m also more of a lurker when I read.
Thanks, Wine Tasting Guy. I just don’t know where it will be yet.
David, Wow, that’s amazing that you could go that long without wine! Thanks for the kind words.
Richard, You’re right. I can’t not write. As for the luck, I’m sure I’ll need it no matter what.
doug
Jul 21, 2008 at 6:49 pm
i’m sure things will work out for you farley… it’s a great blog and has a fresh perspective…
Farley
Jul 22, 2008 at 1:08 am
Thanks, Doug. We’ll see what happens.
debbe waggener
Jul 22, 2008 at 8:42 am
Talent like yours can’t stay “bottled” so you just keep on trying to fulfill those dreams of yours! Look how far you’ve come in such a short time… so do not get discouraged. You’ve really only just begun. You are brilliant, beautiful, with a poetic soul, and when you talk/write/think (and of course, drink) about wine you shine. It runs through you and it IS a part of your heritage. Your ancestors on the Melsheimer side dabbled in wine making for quite some time. And we did drink wine, we just didn’t drink wine with knowledge. Don’t you remember getting wine glasses down from the cabinet and putting apple juice in them to pretend you were drinking wine?
Farley, you WILL do great things and I will get to take most of the credit. After all, you are MY daughter!
Farley
Jul 24, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Mrs. Waggener,
Thank you so very much. That means a lot. Except the next to the last sentence.
And I was not dogging my family by any means. Wine just wasn’t around very much.
p.s. I can’t believe I forgot about the wines glasses I used to drag out of Unc’s cabinets!
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