What Tom Said

If and when I’m fortunate enough to be the proprietor of my own estate winery, I envision my year breaking down into three distinct phases: 

(1) Spring/Summer – Growing Grapes;

(2) Fall – Making Wine;

(3) Winter – Vacationing in Italy. 

As a home winemaker, I have the joy of experiencing phases 1 and 2 of this lifestyle already, albeit on a much smaller scale.  Phase 3, however, is not currently in the cards.  This troubles me in a couple ways.  First, and most obvious, I’d rather be in Italy right now, because it’s cold as hell in Baltimore and I grew up in the south for God’s sake.  But second, and equally annoying, there’s very little for me to do on my hobby at this moment.  Granted there’s the occasional racking, and there’s always more reading to be done, but the winter months for the home winemaker can be a bit dull.

It’s moments like these, as I ponder what to blog, that I’m struck by the wisdom of my old friend Tom Petty.  While I’m not sure this is what he meant when he said it, it applies here nonetheless.  Whether anticipating the lifestyle that the future might hold, or simply planning for the Spring bud break to arrive, when it comes to making wine, the waiting is the hardest part.