Happy Father’s day. My dad is so many things and has taught me so much about everything but this is a wine blog so this is the story of how my dad introduced me to the world of wine. It started when I was young and he made wine in the basement with our neighbor Carmelo from Sicily, Ragusa specifically. They made a fruity red in our basement from Zinfandel grapes I was told. No yeasts were added and my dad swears the wine was delicious. I now make wine with him in that same basement.
His second contribution to my love of wine was the fact that he bought a store which had been a liquor store and he bought the store with its inventory so we had wine at home all the time when I was growing up. I also grew up in one of the first states where you could buy wine from abroad and ship it home. My Dad did that too at one point.
His third contribution was his love of all things French. We went to France very often when I was growing up and since he drinks very little, I always was able to have some or more than some of the wine that graced our table. I distinctly remember being in Venice at 15 with my parents and drinking too much wine while eating pizza on the Giudecca.
Lastly, Dad is insatiably curious about everything and has encouraged me to be as well. As an entrepreneur, he’s always also encouraged me to be my own boss and forge my own path. While it might not be the easiest way to go, it has been mine these last 12 years in the wine industry and he has been supportive all the way.
Did I mention he loves boats, and fishing and reading and Greek and Chinese food. He contains multitudes..
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Love this soooooo much! What great memories! Your Dad is one of a kind!!
Thanks Leslie friend.
Reblogged this on avvinare and commented:
I thought I would repost this because it is still all true. This year, more or less since the Covid outbreak, we have been living with my parents so I see my Dad everyday. It’s not always easy but we are managing and he has mellowed in some areas albeit not all. Then again, neither have I. In these trying times, we have been drinking the wines that we’ve made together, been making sushi and both are very taken with politics. He still runs circles around me in most areas. Tonight he regaled me with tales of Alexander the Great and his endeavors in India, shocked that I didn’t remember the extent of Alexander’s reach or when the Jews were kicked out of England even though the exodus from Spain’s date easily rolled off my tongue. Again, he contains multitudes. My son is so pleased to be living with his grandparents for this time that it makes it all that much sweeter.