Most of us in the wine industry can vividly recall the moment when we first knew it was love. As Valentine’s Day nears, we asked our team to share their own wine love stories as a way to celebrate and reflect on this wondrous beverage that brings us all together.
We would love to hear from you, too. When was the moment you first fell in love with wine? Tell us about it or share your story online with #mywinelovestory #harneylanewine.
When did you fall in love with wine? Whilst in college, when I visited Sonoma tasting rooms with my friends and learned about the different wines.
What wine was it that hooked you? Hearty Burgundy and Blossom Hill. You could get 1.5L with a cork, and I thought this was classier than Carlo Rossi jug wine.
What is currently your favorite wine? I love Mendocino Pinot Noir (Domaine Anderson & Handley Cellars). Every vintage tells a different story – lighter on cooler years and robust on warmer years. I just love the complexity and ease to which they drink, and they really are a good companion to the food to I like to make.
How do you enjoy it? My favorite time is the first time I tasted it at the tasting room with my wife during our trips through Mendocino. Then, I enjoy sharing it with some with friends while we are making dinner and hanging out. The wine always tastes different at home than when I first tasted it at the tasting room.
Experience Coordinator Sarah Powell:
When did you fall in love with wine? When I moved back to California in my early 20s.
What wine was it that hooked you? Barbera. There was something about the fruity and mild earthy tones and smooth finish that gripped me. I ended up falling in love with most of the wines from the Piedmont, Italy region.
What is currently your favorite wine? Our Harney Lane Primitivo – the second sip just opens up and there are so many silky flavors that linger. It’s soft, will pair well with food, but is a sipper for savoring also.
How do you enjoy it? I’m content to sit on my porch and watch the sunset with a nice big glass. I’m not opposed to an Italian dinner date with it as well!
Wine Club Manager Carson Wick:
When did you fall in love with wine? I actually get the honor of saying I fell in love with wine HERE! The summer between my junior and senior year of college, as a fresh 21-year-old, I started working at Harney Lane in the Tasting Room and had to quickly figure out what wine was all about. I love the science and history behind it, but didn’t realize that I would quickly fall in love with the product even more! Also, starting out with Harney Lane wine as a young wine drinker made me picky from day 1! Thankfully I skipped that beginning wine phase of drinking sweet wine and boxed wine that I watched many of my other college friends go through!
What wine was it that hooked you? The first one I specifically remember thinking was my favorite was the Tempranillo. I remember doing a lineup tasting after one of my first days of work and that one just stood out to me above all the others! It smelled amazing, it was totally different than the other wines we had, and it was just outstanding. I remember bringing home a bottle to my parents for them to try too, and we had it with BBQ – my first real “pairing” and I’ll never forget it! And it just so happens, this is still one of my favorite wines of ours to this day! We even served it at our wedding this past fall.
What is your current favorite wine? Lately I have been obsessed with our Primitivo. I think it’s one of those wines that I LOVE and then somewhat forget my love for it while it’s sold out until the next year’s lot is released. Then I fall in love with it all over again! Each year seems to get better and better, and then you try a Library edition and it’s mind blowing – how a newly released wine can be just as amazing but in a different way than a perfectly aged wine of the same varietal. I also love the Primitivo program – the blend of vintages and how it captures the bright fruit and clean acidity, but still has the baked cherry and spices aspect, all in the perfect amounts. It’s just superb!
How do you enjoy it? My number one favorite way to enjoy a glass of wine is while I’m cooking. It’s one of the few times of day that I have to myself, and when I’m cooking I am able to express some creativity and I feel like senses are all heightened! The smells in the kitchen and taste-tests I sneak while cooking, just add some great wine, and the experience is just that much better.
I also think that a great bottle of wine shared with other wine lovers who appreciate it as much as you do… there’s not much that compares to that! We love to open a nice bottle of wine with my husband’s grandpa – we always try to impress him with something new that he hasn’t had before, and there’s nothing better than hearing him say, “That – that’s a good bottle of wine.”
When did you fall in love with wine? Wine was a frequent in our home growing up since we had been in the grape growing industry for years. I think my dad really taught me the love of fine wine and a more discerning palate. My parents and I loved the stories, the wines and the experiences. In our early married life, we enjoyed some great wine tasting trips with friends.
What wine was it that hooked you? Prior to our own wines, I have to say it was probably a Caymus Cabernet. This was probably over 30 years ago.
What is your current favorite wine? My favorite is always our Lizzy James Old Vine Zinfandel. The vineyard always tells its story in the wine!
How do you enjoy it? Lizzy is a great wine with a lot of different foods but I love it with just a glass. It deserves my full attention.
Tasting Room Associate Andie Cortez:
When did you fall in love with wine? I fell in love with wine in 2014, my brother likes to do a lot of wine tasting and poured my mom and I a glass of Riesling from the Washington area.
What wine was it that hooked you? The wine that got me “hooked” was the Harney Lane Albariño (aka ‘Albi’). My brother was a wine club member and gifted me a wine club membership. It literally changed my life!
What is your current favorite wine? My favorite wine is our Dry Rosé! Funny story, our wine club manager pulled up a report showing who purchased the most Rosé…wait for it…I was at the TOP, it was me! I will refrain from telling you exactly how many bottles I’ve purchased! What I love about it is how layered it is, it goes well with everything and it brings so much joy to my life.
How do you enjoy it? Dare I say it……anytime! Wine:30 is probably my favorite time, but I do love to enjoy Rosé in almost any setting!
Regardless of what’s in your glass, we believe wine does deserve your full attention. It provides a chance to breathe, a moment to focus, and the possibility of discovering something new and exciting with every sip. We would love to hear your recommendations! Share your wine stories with us and don’t forget to tag @harneylanewinery. Cheers!
