Perpetual New Beginnings

The subject of “Spring Cleaning” is an evocative one.  Of course cleaning up the yard or cleaning out the house after a long winter is the primary reference, but it can apply at other times of year as well.  It can describe activities such as raking leaves in the autumn, cleaning windows anytime of the year, cleaning out the kitchen, cupboards, car, etc., whenever fancy strikes.  What the phrase really strikes at is a sense of a fresh start – a new look at an old view, a new use for cluttered space, a new beginning in a small or large way.

In both the winery and vineyard there are perpetual opportunities for new beginnings.  Of course there is still the “Big Clean,” which has been a project we have worked on at Montinore over the last year.  Sorting, donating and recycling unused materials has left us with more space to work on our projects including an expanded barrel program with the white wines.  This has freed our minds – not only is our space feeling less cluttered, but with the clutter gone, it has freed us to focus on new ideas. 

But outside of this clean-up, I find that with each season comes a clean slate– since harvest and the beginning of dormancy, the vines have been pondering what 2012 will be like, and our vineyard managers have been pondering how to coax improved quality from them during the next growing season.  In the winery we have been making our final adjustments to the last of the 2010 wines, striving to help them exhibit their best as we have bottled them, even as we have been guiding the final few barrel fermentations and the beginning of aging for the current vintage.  We have begun working in earnest on blending trials for the 2011 whites, as well, seeing the promise these wines have to offer and looking forward to sharing them with our Montinore friends.

For all of us as wine drinkers, we have further opportunities for new beginnings and fresh experiences.  As we reflect on our favorite wines from the past year and recent holiday season, we can look forward to opening the next bottle from the case we bought, anticipating that it will show even better, or because the last bottle was showing so well we might be trying to find a few more to lay down or putting in an order for the next vintage.  And we can anticipate what characteristics we will find with the release of more 2010 reds and the 2011 whites.  Or perhaps you are dreaming up new menus with which to try your favorite wines and discover even better pairings.

I find that I have not just the New Year celebration or the spring awakening to look forward to, but opportunities year round to find “spring”.  So, open a bottle you’ve wanted to try, create a new menu, invite a new friend and toast to new experiences and the fresh perspective that they bring.