It's been a few months since the last post. Indicative of how busy we have been this summer. In order to stick to my pledge to post at least once a month, I asked our new tasting room associate, Lakin, if she'd like to write a post for the blog. Lakin came to work for us about a month ago and I immediately took a curious liking to her. She is an old soul and quite interesting to talk to. I am always impressed with her insight. She agreed to write something and emailed the post below to me a few days ago. I've just now had the time to sit down and read it. I had to read it twice to fully appreciate what she has observed during her little time here. Sometimes it takes fresh eyes to reopen your own. It's easy to get distracted by the minutia of "work" and overlook what is really priceless . Thank you Lakin.
_____________________________________
The
Sun drenched it's light, slightly refracted, into the windshield. The
tree branches covering the road tickled the light, producing it in
flashes and portions
throughout the long curves in old Santa Rosa Creek Road. The sounds of
the wind vibrated in through the partly cracked passenger window. Bach's
cello quartet sending it's milky sounds throughout the vehicle. With
each bend a new view unfolded. The hills rolled on like the curves of
some ancient creature full of beauty and agelessness. Soon the vibrant
green braids of vineyards rise into view and not long after the well
polished, new looking, sign "Stolo Family Winery" at the base, like a
well placed door knocker inviting it's guests to enter. I pulled into
the graveled pathway as the red pointed arrows asked, and parked. The
silent sounds of the countryside almost shocked me due to the peace
found in-between these rolling hills. As I made my way up the smoothly
paved walkway I once again stopped and stood taking in the shear beauty
and calmness that make up the estate.
Being
new to the wine industry, my knowledge was minimal. I had no idea what
to expect at my new job, the place I would come to call my "vacation"
work. I took a deep breath of the fresh coastal air, reached out to turn
the handle to the front door and was greeted by a friendly smile
stretched across the friendly face of my new Tasting Room Manager, "Hi,
nice to see you again", said Lisa.
The
flight of wines were all in a row ready for us to run through a
tasting, I was instructed to do so due to the pristine quality the family upholds in the flavor of their wines. I informed Lisa that I have
never really been privy to white wine. She gave me a look, I'll not
soon forget, followed by, " Well, you haven't even tasted these yet!"
she laughed. She was right about that. First we started off with the
2013 Sauvignon Blanc.
"Wow, I cannot believe it, I am truly taken aback." I said.
"This wine sells itself, really" Lisa chuckled.
From
there on out I have been a whites fan! Boy was she right about the wine
selling itself. As soon as we restock our tasting room bottles we are
back at it again complying with the popularity of our wines.
The
people I've come to meet here at the winery are varied and usually
wonderful to get to know. I have shared stories and emotional
conversations with folks that have really changed my life. Hearing
people rave about how relaxing and wonderful their experience was truly
makes me proud to call myself part of the Stolo extended family.
Learning
and growing are
part of the job here. They have us so well informed and I'm always
learning something new each bright new day I pop in for my shift. Right
now as I write this I can hear the goats bahh-ing away near the rich
dark brown barn…. I recall a time, during one of my shifts, upon my
arrival to start the day I could hear singing coming from the hill tops
where our Reds are blanketing the hillside. When I looked I saw the
workers out pruning and low and behold they were singing! It was
magical! Their voices echoed through the valley, ridding on the winds
back down to my ears. I realized in that moment that we all have our
place to fill here on the estate. Not as coworkers, not as laborors, but
as equals in the fact that we are happy here. We are happy to work for
such passionate people. We are happy if just for the few moments in this
little slice of heaven. There is not much more you could ask for in
what most of us are forced to do, which is
"work".
In
conclusion to this little insight into the thoughts of a humble wine
room attendant, I now understand why the flavor and textures in our wines are so sought after. I know now it takes the love and dedication
of a family, as well as the beauty of life itself, and a unison of happy
equals working together with nature to represent sunlight captured in
water. Fruit's metamorphosis into the beverage of the Gods, tendered by
happy people. ~By Lakin Hamilton
