This month marks a significant milestone for someone special to me—and to many of you. In mid-October, my mom, Kathy, will turn 80 years old. Prior to the last few years, you would find her pouring wine in the tasting room regularly. For those of you who were lucky enough to share time at the tasting bar with her, I am sure she made an impression.
My mom has a tendency to downplay her role in our family legacy. She’s frequently said she was “just a farmer’s wife and mom” and now when she tells the story about the winery, she’ll say “They do the hard stuff and I just got to do the fun part, like pouring wine”. But these pieces are integral to who we are as a family and business.
When my mom was just 19, she married my dad. At the time, my dad worked on the ranch, but he was not in charge. However, in their first year of marriage my great-grandfather, Henry, passed away unexpectedly, and suddenly my dad was in charge of the ranch which included supporting his new wife, my grandmother, and my great-grandmother. My parents’ lives changed very quickly as they were young newlyweds. That’s when my mom gave herself the title “farmer’s wife”.
For those unfamiliar with this lifestyle, being a farmer’s wife means being a true partner in the business, ready to tackle whatever needs to be done. It often requires wearing several different hats. Your roles might include bookkeeper and financial manager, transportation coordinator and equipment mover, chef for on-the-go lunches and certainly pouring a tall glass of wine at the end of a long day.
Being a farming family requires collaborative effort! You jump in to do what is needed where it is needed. It also takes a great deal of heart and trust. You have to be committed and supportive of a farmer’s lifestyle, which includes accepting that much of the outcome is out of your control. You support the process and your family through each season, not knowing the result. This journey demands trust, sleepless nights, and, in my mom’s case, plenty of prayer.
Once we started the winery, she was an essential part of the tasting room, as she was clearly a natural in hospitality. My mom has a unique ability to make people feel comfortable and special right away. Maybe it’s how she shares stories about our family and business. Maybe it’s her skill of remembering the details of conversations with you, our guests. Maybe it’s that she seems genuinely interested in the person she is talking with, which I can attest is true. She frequently shared stories of who she met and what she learned about them. If you have met her, whatever may have stuck with you, I am sure you can agree that that kind of genuine connection is priceless.
Humility is admirable but none of these contributions should be discounted! And while a fancy title didn’t come with it, she has poured into the business, our customers and our team for years and that is worth celebrating! Please raise a glass in a well-deserved toast to this special lady as she hits this milestone!
