Ole!

Our final night in Madrid was with a show at the Teatro Falmenco. This little theater is located in a super cool little neighborhood a mere block or two from the bustling Gran Via, yet a world away. The worn brick, winding roads are flanked with old charming buildings. Cafes tumble out onto the sidewalks with bistro tables and big umbrellas. This area exudes casual hip vibes. It made me want to smoke cigarettes and discuss philosophy over an espresso.

Having been told this is THE place to see Flamenco in Madrid, I hoped I could use it in a story I will later shop to my editor. Having used my press pass, they welcomed us through a private side entrance and ushered us up to a private balcony with a bird's eye view of the stage. Glass of wine in hand, the show started. 

After some lively group numbers, the lights dramatically snap off. The spotlight comes on and is illuminating the Bailaroa La Seniora, now solo in the center of the stage. She is dressed all in black lace and has tapped into some soulful loss. Her face tilted up as if looking directly into my eyes, she conjured the most achingly beautiful pain to sweep over her. Her hands beautifully twisted into picture perfect poses and she started to dance. The fast footwork is incredible, the pounding of her steps so intense you can feel them in your chest, but it is her face, her duende, that clutches the breath in your throat. Hot tears streamed heavy down my face as I commiserated with her sorrow and loneliness. When the stage goes black, I try to quickly pull myself together. The lights came up blazing with the Bailaor commanding the stage. He began to stomp the stage in such a powerful fashion that you could see the wood beneath his feet bending under the force. His dancing was a phenomenal feat of the impossible moving so quickly your eyes couldn't distinguish individual moves. The other dancers, singers and guitarist swirled layers of song and rhythm around him, all of them lost in an intimate exchange that we voyeuristically witnessed. Then came La Senorita in a polkadot dress with a train stretching far out behind her, its contrasting red tulle making it slide around the stage as if it were floating. She was the closer of the night and she hunted your admiration like a stealthy jungle cat. Her dance started slow and conservative, castanets clicking, then whipped into a masterpiece of origami work with her skirt while spinning voraciously, the pounding of her feet, the roll of her hips, the cunning look she'd cut over her shoulder at you, it was intoxicating. The show was only an hour, but you felt as if you'd left the planet. My daughter was gobsmacked, vibrating with emotion. I was still trying to grasp a breath and find my heart, the one La Seniora seemed to have ripped out and taken with her, when a theater security person appeared and asked if we would like to meet the artists and have a photo taken. Dumbfounded we followed him backstage where we were suddenly face to face with the sweat soaked magicians. They were just people, extremely talented, hard working people, but just people so why could I not speak? I definitely did not play it cool. We posed for photos together and they thanked us for coming to the show. My daughter gawked, I hoarsely grabbed at Spanish words I was struggling to remember, and then in a flash, we left the theater and were out on the street in the bright light of 9:00pm Madrid. 

We were giddy as we walked the beautiful streets of this hidden neighborhood. We stopped at a cafe for a bite and a drink, but really just to make the night stretch on a little longer. Madrid had been a loving friend the last 4 days while we searched for emotional stability. It was hard to think of leaving, of moving on to a new town to explore. It sounded like a lot of work. So we ordered another drink and let time slow down as the city enfolded us one more time.

The next morning we woke at 5am and hit the dark streets to hail a taxi to the train station. Other families with luggage dotted the large street and nafarious looking people that had clearly been up all night seemed to eye us. The kid working the front desk at the hotel told me he couldn't call a cab. He couldn't or wouldn't I asked myself. Taxi after taxi I waived down said no to either the amount of bags we had (it is a group of 4 with 4 suitcases and a small personal item each, this is not extreme) or to going to the train! Frustrated, I turned to my Uber app which now wouldn't work. For no reason at all it was putting my location a mile away and while I usually can adjust this easily, it was not cooperating. I went back to the hotel person and begged him to call someone. He instead spoke to a taxi driver that was there to take people to the airport, the favored destination for taxis at 5am it seems. Everyone was speaking in fast Spanish and while I couldn't tell what was wrong or why I was missing the idea here, I did understand the "no, no, no". 45mins had ticked away, the only train for Bilbao waiting for us, and I lost it. Trying Uber once again with zero luck, I had a moment where I considered throwing my phone into the street or maybe myself. Just when it seemed all was lost, a taxi pulled up and saved the day. We made it to the station with plenty of time to pass through security ...and have my daughter hauled off to a side cubicle because they claimed she had a knife in her bag.

(to be continued)

Drinking in The View

 

Look! Spain me DOES wear hats!

After the jet lag faded, we were able to confirm that, yes, Madrid IS fabulous! Immediately there was a sense of acceptance and ease that I can't quite explain. It isn't just a laid back feeling, it is so much more.

We took the mandatory siesta and ventured out as the sun went down. The heat of the day was starting to dissipate, but it was still worthy of a few moments standing under the misters in the Parque de Espana. We wandered around the stalls in the Festival de Cinema at the outdoor theater. Later a movie would be on the huge screen, people wearing headphones enjoying a show while drinking Tinto de Verano and smoking cigarettes. The smell conjures happy memories of my grandparents, my grandfather enveloped in a cloud of smoke happily humming a tune. The air has some humidity, but is still that thin, fresh crispness I love. There is an aroma of flower scents and someone's perfume that wafts by me. It is all intoxicating. We wander up a street and find a bar with seats outside. Delicious tiny tacos and an unhurried pace let us lean into the night. We return to the hotel and sleep like the dead.

The next morning we keep it simple. We do a little shopping, after all Spain me needs a few things. My daughter is light and laughter incarnate. The weight of living under stress, strain and oppression has lifted and when she cries happy tears and says "mom, I am so happy here" I cry with her. My tears are those of relief. I was so scared to take the leap, head into the unknown. Now standing here, I can't believe how fabulous it feels. We enjoy another siesta and manage to go out as it gets dark aka the proper time, and find a little side street restaurant. The meal is incredible, pork loin on a toasted piece of rustic bread slathered in béchamel cheese sauce and ribs grilled with a Pedro Ximénez sherry. The heat of the day is behind us and the warmth left over wraps us in a gentle hug.

Our second morning we woke late. My daughter's creative juices are flowing so we stayed up all night discussing a new storyline for her next screenplay. Her film career has just recently gotten a little boost with her short being an official selection to the Women's International Film Festival in South Dakota and her mentor, Emmanuel Kervyn, having screened her feature length film and raved about it. Now, with the freedom of being in Spain, out from under the stress of censorship and hostile politics, she is a fountain of excitement! The late start to the day doesn't matter, we have only one plan for today, to follow my friend Norman's suggestion and go to Azotea del Circulo. 

We arrived at the grand building that houses Azotea del Circulo and checked in for our reservation. It seemed this place was a bit of a secret with hidden signs and a quite gesture to the elevator tucked around the side of a large wall. This oasis is a rooftop bar with a view of Madrid you simply cannot believe. Luxury lounge spots and tables poised at the railing to take in the view give you delightful options to while away the afternoon. Aperol Spritz in the glass, a smattering of delicious snacks, and the picture is complete. No one hurries you here. The world has stopped and you get to soak in a new reality. 

The hours unfurl and I am left with one thought: Spain, where have you been hiding?

The Local Time Is...

We have arrived! After a whirlwind few days in New Jersey tasting NJ wines, we flew overnight to Madrid, Spain. The side trip allowed me to be a table Captian for a first of its kind showcase evaluation of 100% New Jersey made wines. It was a stellar experience that deserves its own blog. More on that soon. 

As I exited the plane at the Madrid airport, I was greeted with the fresh, clean aroma of white florals in the air. It was a subtle tint to the environment, but a welcomed introduction to a city I was nervous to meet. It feels a lot like a blind date, I am self-conscious and shy, hoping it is a match. The airport is huge, yet artistic. The giant ceilings constructed of warm wood beams swoops and swirls overhead, like water ebbing and flowing. Giant murals show Picaso's influence and beckon you into the city for new exhibitions, shows and culture. Immigration went smoothly and we got the all to important entrance stamp for our visa submission. The officer looked like Ben Afflict and winked at me, flirting in the most warm and gentle way. Hey now, Spain IS friendly LOL!

Our taxi into the city center where hotel Espahotel Gran Via is, was made incredible with a car that had a glass roof allowing us to gaze up at the incredible architecture around us. A couple things immediately surprised me. One was the massive amount of trees incorporated into the city. Somehow with all the talk of how hot the city is, I expected it to be barren and exposed. The other thing was that it is a very European city. OK wait wait, before you start thinking I am a total moron, I did know it was a European city and that Spain is in Europe, but the feeling of the city I had somehow transferred over in my mind to feel like Mexico. Having never been here, but having travelled to Mexico many times, my mind tried to form some kind of imagination of what to expect. I envisioned the warm, vibrant, soulful well worn comfort of Mexico, but what I have found is a city reflecting back old world charm and vigor full of regal authority. With how much time I spend in Europe for work already, this was instantly familiar and I realized how silly it was that I had not imagined it more properly from home. 

Home. 

That word is carrying a lot of weight for me right now. I am currently without a home. Flying in the pilot did the "Welcome to Madrid, thanks for flying with us" bit. Us frequent flyers often stop hearing all these announcements as they sound the same everywhere you go, but this one gave me pause. Two of his sentences were haunting, "If Madrid is your home, welcome home..." and "We look forward to having you fly with us again soon". They hit me in my emotional solar plexus. Whoa, welcome HOME. Whoa, I don't have a return flight. Whoa I am not going to be flying with you any time soon. Reality swept over my forehead in a cold sweat, my breath sucked in sharply and I had a moment of dizziness.

Holy shit, I just moved to Spain. 

***I will be updating the blog regularly so all of you can track this wild adventure. Please subscribe so you get automatic updates!

And Away We Go!

View from my front porch

It is my last day in my house and I am hiding in bed. It feels like if I actually get up and start the final to do list, it will become real. For those that missed my post on Facebook from a week ago, here it is:

I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to announce this, but we are moving to Spain in 10 days. All 3 of us. NOTHING WILL CHANGE WITH THE WINERY! That has been the first concern, understandably, when I have shared this news with the few people I have so far. I work remotely already, so I will just rely on zoom a little more; that worked during the pandemic so well it changed the way we do a lot of business. Jesse will have to travel back and forth to continue to make wine with his brother, work crush (harvest), bottle, plant vines… you get the idea. He also does things like the taxes and grape order planning that he can do remotely from Spain. Denali is lucky enough to have a flexible University Professor that is putting her film classes online so that she can study from afar. And of course, we are relying on our fabulous family and business partners, Chris and Lili, to manage day to day here at the tasting room and winery. I am looking forward to being able to take advantage of more of the opportunities I previously had to decline, to teach, write, and judge in Europe. The film industry in Spain is robust including a real enthusiasm for horror; as you can imagine Denali is excited about that. And Jess will be able to work with winemakers in so many amazing regions to polish his craft.

I know many of you will have tons of questions. How did this come about? Why Spain? Where will you be? Are you selling your house? And some of the answers are too complicated for this post, but the short answer is we are planning on northern Spain, Baque area and will share more when we get settled somewhere. We will airbnb the house (so please do share info when we post about The Vineyard House once it is ready). If you want to message me for more details, please use WhatsApp or download Signal. Both are easier and more reliable when I am in Europe.

It’s big, it’s scary, and we really value your support!

It doesn't seem real. I look around at the new furniture we had to buy to spruce up our living room for Airbnb and feel out of place. Our family photos have come off the walls and our favorite keepsakes have been lovingly wrapped and tucked away. My closet is empty and my beautiful car has been sold, it is as if I'm being erased. Numbness has now replaced the heavy tears and deep pain of saying goodbye. This has been my dream life, it is very hard to let go of it.

I am hoping to embrace the adventure of this move. My immediate emotions are those of being overwhelmed, sad and scared. I have never been to Spain so the unknown is daunting. We have joked about "Spain me" in reference to what to pack. Does Spain me wear hats? Yes, I think so! Does Spain me wear that dress that has been untouched for years? Absolutely. Now the big questions are worming their way in. Does Spain me know how to navigate renting a place, finding a home, in another language in a country I know little about? Does Spain me know how to live months at a time without my husband? That is a big one. Jesse is staying back to work crush for the winery and my heart hurts thinking of being without him for so long. This move will be an incredible test of my strength and resilience. I hope Spain me is up for the task.

I have promised that I will be on top of sharing our story so stay tuned! Spain me knows it will be a wild ride, wish me luck!

Scary Movie Suggestions & Wine Pairings That Are a Scream!

One of my favorite Halloween costumes I've done, Victorian Ghost with head wound.

If you are anything like my family, it turns October 1st and the horror movie marathon hits in full force. In fact we are such big horror movie fans that we watch horror movies year round. As such, we have become many people's go to horror movie experts offering suggestions to friends and family when they feel the need to scream. Add my love of wine to the mix and it is only natural that I offer all of you my wine and horror movie pairing suggestions! 

Movie recommendations:

Movies you probably don't know: Eyes of My Mother, Mandy, The House That Jack Built

    This is probably the section I get most excited about because I LOVE turning people onto fabulous finds! Eyes of My Mother (heads up, it is in subtitles) is visually beautiful, it is truly a piece of art. It also showcases excellent cinematography and a truly horrific concept. Mandy stars Nic Cage, need I say more?!? This is a crazy movie in so many ways, but offers a vengeance story that is really unique. The House That Jack Built has an amazing cast (Matt Dillon, Uma Thurman, Riley Keough, Willem Dafoe...) and is darkly funny while being truly disturbing. This group of movies are like slow trains dragging you along for the ride with scene after scene becoming more horrific yet you can't stop watching! They are brilliant examples of acting (OK maybe not Nic Cage, but he is amazing to watch as a spectacle), writing, plot, and directing. These are the kinds of movies that you want to talk about later and you wake up in the night thinking about.

    I would pair these artistic horror suggestions with a wine that requires a bit more concentration, like a fantastic Cab Franc from the Loire Valley or NY Finger Lakes. 

Smart Horror: Gerald's Game, The Babadook, Talk to Me

    Smart horror is a sector that I feel should be allowed as a category at the Oscars. Some of the horror movies that are being made these days are absolutely incredible! Mix great acting with a well scripted, new concept that keeps you on the edge of your seat and you have a knock out movie. Let's start with Gerald's Game, an adaptation of a Stephen King novel, this movie is not the typical horror movie with jump scares and blood everywhere, but believe me it's gonna getcha! The Babadook is actually one of my favorite movies, period. Acting is key in order to make a great horror movie work and The Babadook has it in spades. It also has a clever story, has great jump scares, and a crushing truth that asks that we all look at mental health in a much more serious way. Talk to Me is a brand spanking new movie that is a possession idea, completely reinvented, and perfectly done. I mean this movie is BRILLIANT! It has superb acting and directing, a clever script, and really great jump scares. 

    This group requires you to drink a wine that has depth, like a Right Bank Bordeaux or Washington State Merlot. BUT a warning for jump scare options! Make sure to set your wine down and only pick it up when you want a sip. I learned this the hard way. As a hold-the-wine-in-your-hand-all-the-time person, I have drenched our sofa, splattered our blinds and ruined outfits.

Classic Horror: The Excercist, The Shining, Psycho

    Yeeeeeessssss the classics! I could have listed so so many in this category, but these are my top 3 that I watch over and over. The Excercist IS horror am I right? I mean even people that don't watch horror know the vomit scene reference. This movie is just so rewarding with its creepy little girl, handsome priest and dipshit mom. Good always wins...or does it? The Shinning, boy does that Stephen King know how to spin a story, doesn't he? Throw in Stanley Kubrick trying to drive Shelley Duvall crazy on set and an epic performance from Jack Nicholson and you have movie gold no matter what genre! Psycho, the definition of classic horror. If you haven't seen it, then what have you been doing in your life?!? It is slow on the build and then a fast paced spiral into madness. There is a debate about the remake staring Vince Vaughn, is it sacrilege that they even tried to make it? Did Vince do justice to Anthony Perkins' version? Maybe, maybe not, but the new one is great! I like Vince's version of campy creep, but nothing will ever match the incredible original. The original is amazing.

    Classic movies should have a classic wine don't you think? I suggest bubbly. You pick your favorite, but for me it is a classic Brut sparkling. I do recommend that you explore options outside Champagne or other than Prosecco. Cava is a great bargain option and British sparklings are my new obsession.  

Sleepover Fun: Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th

    When I was growing up, watching horror movies at sleepovers was where it was at! Do people say that anymore "where it is at" meaning what is cool? Do kids these days have sleepovers and watch horror movies? I still watch these movies with nostalgia. They are the type of movies you laugh at, throw popcorn at the TV, and yell at the characters through. In case you are not familiar with these movies, Halloween is about a psycho that escaped from an insane asylum and walks around in a scary mask with a butcher's knife killing teenagers. Nightmare on Elm Street is about a child molester come back from the dead to haunt teenagers in their dreams with a glove made of knives. Friday the 13th is about teenage camp counselors being murdered by... someone in a hockey mask (I hate to spoil the surprise). Describing these movies, they sound really disgusting, but they are actually funny with how bad they are.

    Maybe it is because I picture popcorn while watching these movies, but my go to pairing is the perfect popcorn pairing... Chardonnay. If you like your popcorn plain, go with a crisp Chablis. If you like a rounder more fruity Chard, add butter to your popcorn, and if you like your Chard big and bold, add nutritional yeast on top of the butter!

Comedy Horror: House, The Voices, What We Do in The Shadows (movie not show)

   What We Do in The Shadows is such a brilliant movie! Taika Waititi is so freaking talented, I love his movies! This little nugget of awesomeness is a mocumentary about 4 vampires from different centuries living together as roommates. Filmed like the MTV Real World show from the 1990s, they bicker about everyday issues... only in a vampire way. I still laugh out loud every time I watch it. Then I have two suggestions that I feel like may not be everyone's cup of tea. The Voices stars Ryan Reynolds and Anna Kendrick, slow down this is NOT a rom-com! It is about Ryan's character who thinks his cat and dog can talk to him which does sound cute, but I warn you, it is DARK! If you have a sick sense of humor like me, then this is a must see. And finally, House. Korean fantasy storytelling that is weird from the start, then it gets weirder. When the movie finally really gets going it becomes so outlandish you can't help but howl with laughter! I don't know what else to say about this strange, disturbing, horror feast of movies, but who doesn't love to laugh and scream simultaneously? 

    Pairings for this group are tricky because What We Do in The Shadows needs a Gin and Tonic, The Voices needs a margarita and House... House needs psilocybin mushroom tea. If I have to pick a wine, I'd say a Syrah with some funk, like a northern Rhone.

TV Shows: American Horror Story, Dahmer, Twin Peaks  

    There are SO many great murder/ crime shows out there these days! It was crazy hard to pick just a few, but at the top of the list is a classic, Twin Peaks! I can't believe there are people out there that missed seeing this series when it first came out in 1990. This cheeper of a show is strange even by today's standards, with characters that make zero sense and a plot so twisting you are left to ponder what the hell happened, yet it is still a must see. American Horror Story is epic! Each season has its own theme with a sensational cast that brings complex characters to life. The writing is poetic, captivating and poignant while propelling a twisted, strange plot that you never fully see coming, all while also being shocking, scary, and sometimes traumatizing. This show, even if you don't like every season, is pure magic. Dahmer, OK I can feel you backing away on this one. Yes it is disgusting to prop real serial killers up like stars, but hear me out. Evan Peters does a phenomenal job morphing into the character and they manage to tell the story of the victims, their families and how badly the police screwed up  which shifts it from simply glorifying the horrific deeds of a lunatic to actually understanding the stories behind the name. And nothing is more horrific than how horrible people can be in real life.

If you are going to bing watch a show, then I suggest a rose wine. Rose is a wine you can drink at any time of day and it doesn't saturate the palate so you also can drink a glass with each episode! If you want to treat yourself, my all time favorite are roses from Tavel, France. If you are looking for a cheap grab, New Zealand is actually putting out some tasty wines for bargain prices. If you are going to tease the series out with an episode per night, I recommend a wine that you can savor, look forward to having more each night... like a fantastic Sangiovese, if you can spoil yourself with a Brunello.

Serious Blood Baths: The Terrifier, The Evil Dead 1981, Martyrs 2008

    Yikes, this section comes with a warning. Let's start with the easy going one, The Evil Dead. This campy, fun, low budget miracle is one of my all time favorite movies and would easily have been in the comedy section except that it is actually listed as one of the bloodiest movies of all time soooo... here we are. It is seriously a riot of a film and so much fun to watch. The Terrifier (1 and 2) is about a satanic clown. I don't know where to start with this movie or movies because the 2nd one is maybe more heinous than the first and that is saying something. What they do manage to do really really really well with these movies is horrify you and isn't that what we are after? I think I had a lot of you at the word clowns, but if you have any doubt, let me say that these movies have scenes you will never, ever forget. Final movie of the list is Martyrs. This is a smart, hidden gem that most people have missed, probably because it has subtitles. It has great scares, an in-depth and gut wrenching plot, is extremely well done and leaves you unbelievably disturbed. 

Pairings for this group seems obvious, big bright reds, maybe a little over the top... like a Beaujolais Nouveau or Central European Zweigelt. Something that can be a lot is certain situations, but is just right when you want to scream with flavor.

Happy Halloween Season everyone!

And Then There was Just Me

 

This is a photo of me & my daughter at the Tate Modern in London. 

My husband refused to go.

Back to school time is always a little melancholy for me. Having an only child shifts that parent child dynamic and having our daughter go off to college has definitely left a void. 

OK OK I will come clean, our daughter is attending the college in town near us and still lives at home. I don't have any right to be so dramatic when other parents are flying across the country to drop their kids off. But I swear it is still an adjustment and it is still time to reassess who I am, what I want, and where I am going. There also seems to be a little bit of who-the-hell-is-this-guy-I-live-with about my husband. I mean has he always taken two naps in front of the TV every night? Has he always walked away in the middle of me telling him something? Did I not catch these things because our daughter was there picking up the slack? The answer is yes. After all she is wickedly funny and endlessly entertaining which is distracting. She listens with interest to what I say and asks me probing questions. It is easy to focus my attention there instead of on the guy ignoring me.

So now I have "time" to deal with. I'm not used to time alone in the house. I travel a lot so my alone time is on the road. At first I hated it, I felt awkward sitting by myself in a restaurant, and I felt silly when I did a touristy thing alone because I felt like everyone was sad for me. Or maybe they thought I was crazy because I think I am funny and crack myself up... even when I am alone. Over time I realized it was simply tragic to not make the most of my trips and I started taking myself out on dates! One of my all time favorite dates was in Berlin, Germany, which included taking multiple trains to an Italian restaurant and seeing an opera, alone. Maybe some of you are the adventurous types and travel solo is no big deal, but for me, I was a wimp traveling without my husband who is my foreign country guide. But on this one trip, I just jumped in and was so shocked at how amazing I am at dates! I got to order anything I wanted at dinner, no sharing, no compromise, and no limitations. Then I saw my favorite opera, Madame Butterfly. My husband isn't the biggest fan of opera, well I guess he isn't the biggest fan of theatre, in fact after we saw Wicked on Broadway, he said "I think I am just over live performances". Do you need to read that again? Ya, I was flabbergasted as well. As a BFA Theatre major, I took it personally. I bet everyone can already picture how many times I have quoted that back to him over the years. 

    "Honey can you throw a load of bike stuff in the washer for me?" 

    with a Cheshire Cat grin I respond "You know, I think I am just over doing your laundry". 

Anyway, I digress. So I got to enjoy my favorite opera without anyone fidgeting in their chair next to me. I took the train back to my hotel, in the dark (gasp!) and managed the whole thing confidently. The next day I spoke to my husband on the phone. He expected the usual homesick routine I had had on previous trips, but instead I was elated! I said I was having a great time and wasn't ready to come home yet. Luckily I have the most supportive and loving husband on the planet. He knew exactly what I meant by that and his response was to be overjoyed and proud of me. He is pretty awesome, even if he hates theatre. 

So here I am now, sitting in the house... by myself. 

Whoa. 

There is literally nothing new or exciting to "visit" in my house. There is also a very limited number of operas happening at my house. It is just me, sitting awkwardly by myself, thinking how sad I must look.

*** I have to add that my husband has sat through 4 seasons of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival plays (lifetime points earned for that) and recently went with me to see The Book of Mormons in London, England and he LOVED that so there is still hope for him.

Hello From the Other Side!

Look! Jess and I found a real Fern between us! LOL!

Holy cow, where does the time go?!? Most of you were tracking with me as I did the "Fueled by Vivac: Emotional Sanitizer Wine Show" with our winery Vivac Winery through the pandemic and subsequent years later. That allowed me to be super lazy on the blog front. Realizing, mostly because people keep asking where I've been, I need to start writing again. 

Speaking of writing, I have been lucky enough to have regular pieces being published in Edible Magazine the last couple years spotlighting wineries around New Mexico, my favorite travel spots, and fun pairings. I have enjoyed teaching a variety of wine classes and lectures at big conferences, beautiful homes, our winery, over zoom and over seas! I have also had the incredible honor of being chosen to join the prestigious Association of Wine Educators membership. 

Judging has continued to take me on fantastic adventures, the most recent was a coveted seat at the International Wine Challenge in London, England. It was an intense experience and I hope I impressed them with my skills enough to be invited back, fingers crossed! I took my family with me on that trip and we definitely made the most out of it. 12 days touring London, a jaunt to Scotland and one to Ireland rounded out our 6 weeks in the UK. We even got down to the incredible wine region of Sussex which was filled with astoundingly good wines and the most glorious fields of bluebells.

In between the work and travel, I had a hysterectomy. It was the best thing in the world for me and I still celebrate every month that I am without that angry beast of a uterus. My RA is still a thing. I did have some of my meds reduced so that is a great direction to go, but I still need to be careful with myself. Too much stress, over working or pushing my body will result in a full blown flareup. Those that don't know what an RA flareup is, imagine you have the beginning signs of the flu. Exhausted, chills, aches, headache, feel sick to your stomach, then add INSIDE your joints it hurts really really bad and there is no way to alleviate it. The other part is that RA is an auto immune disease meaning my body thinks it should attack itself instead of any virus or bug I come in contact with so if someone has a cold (or covid) near me, I have a greater probability of catching it. Also the drugs that help the RA tell my body to stop attacking itself... by stopping my immune reaction... that means I'm doubling down on the 'I'll catch that' part of this.  Anyway, I am grateful I am doing as well as I am and I will leave it at that. 

The winery continues to grow and do fabulously. We had a great review recently in an article written by a wine critic who has a reputation for being hard to please. We put in a new section of vineyard, 3 acres in front of my house so I am almost living my dream, I just need the big black wide brimmed hat and someone to bring me martinis. Denali turned 18 which has a whole set of complicated emotions for mom. She is finishing the full length film she took a gap year to create and starts at UNM Taos as a Film Major in just 2 weeks! Jess had his 30 year high school reunion, has been biking as much as possible and hasn't broken ribs, sliced open his hand or fallen off anything in weeks! oh, wait, he did just fall hard trying to unload the truck. What can I say, crush crushes him every year. 

Next up is being a panel speaker at the CAB Symposium in Paso Robles, CA at the end of October/ early November! I am thrilled to have been asked to speak along side Master Somm Michael Jordan (no not that one, the wine guy) at this conference dedicated to Bordeaux varietals. After that, we shall see. I have a couple things in the works that I am hoping work out, if they do, it will be big news, if they don't, well... I might have to change my name and move to Antartica.

Have a subject you want me to write about? Message me @winefirst / @winefirstsomm on social media!