Prokupac: Indigenous varietal to Serbia. It’s similar to Pinot Noir. It’s been around since the Middle Ages, but feel like it’s still a mystery. It’s used mostly in rosé. There’s a movement to reignite passion with this varietal to make it a star.
I attended the Serbia #winelover trip in 2017. The #winelover community is a welcoming global online community originally launched by Luiz Alberto years ago that encourages sharing one’s passion for wine. They organize special trips, post questions on Facebook, and discuss all aspects of wine. I had previously attended the Greece trip in 2014 and loved the people, the wine, and the experience. This time I had someone joining me who I knew would love this as much if not more than me. We sailed the Danube, visited a medieval wine village, and attended a wine conference dedicated to Prokupac and more. It was a combination of education, tasting, partying, and friendship. Just like when I visited Greece, I was also able to schedule side trips within Europe.
I returned from Serbia and was soon off to Sonoma for the Wine Bloggers Conference. I had secured a scholarship having had to pass a previous year due to a friend’s wedding. This time there was no one getting married and I was off with a brief stop to see a friend in Oakland. The conference provided a great deal of information on improving my writing and networking opportunities. Again I think the best part was the tasting! There were wines from all over the world, but many hidden gems from California. I participated in a post-conference trip to Livermore and was really surprised by how close it was to San Francisco and Oakland.
After the #winelover trip and Wine Bloggers Conference, I wasn’t sure when I would have the privilege to travel again as that tapped into most of my savings. I was surprised to find one of the organizers from the Wine Bloggers Conferences, Thea, recommended me for a fam trip to DO Montsant. Overjoyed, I immediately agreed and began planning for 2018 with a renewed sense of purpose.
DO Montsant: A newer DO (that’s when an area meets certain qualifications to be considered unique – it varies by country, region, and more including the naming convention) that involved a return to the soil and homeland for many. The wine showcases a sense of place. Many of the stars from the region produce Garnacha or Garnacha blends. But don’t sleep on the other wines.
The DO Montsant trip combined writers and those studying for their Master of Wine. It brought something different to the trip being our reasons why and goals for attending. It also gave me a glimpse of how hard those that study for the Master of Wine work and how much they challenge themselves. DO Monstant returned me to Catalonia and allowed me to really learn more about this region that has wines that exemplify a sense of place.
I slowed down #winechat and began to write less again. I found myself becoming overwhelmed with job search and finally a new job among friendship and life commitments. Side hustles/passion projects can truly be exhilarating and debilitating. It never ends and it’s just you. How hard can you push yourself and for how long?
Norton: An American varietal with a lengthy history. For years it was an underdog against the more well-known varietals, but it offers its own unique take. The wine can age for many years (10-20 years easily) due to its acid structure. There are many producers especially in Missouri making it a star and showing how well it can pair with food especially BBQ.
In 2019, the Missouri Wine and Grape Board approached me for a second time about joining them for a fam trip exploring all that Missouri has to offer. My calendar being free, I jumped at the opportunity. The trip consisted of wine and food writers. I left with a renewed passion for American wines, especially from underrepresented regions. Norton from Missouri is not to be missed and can stand up to 20 years of aging easily due to its mouthwatering acidic structure.
In 2020, I found myself searching for new opportunities and growth in wine. I considered taking courses again (albeit pricey), writing courses, and of course more travel.
COVID struck and turned everyone’s worlds upside down. In July, I received a call from leadership. It was a Monday and they remarked about that. They quickly then informed me I was being laid off as their PPP loan expired. I quietly thanked them and replied I had no questions. I closed my computer and walked upstairs and climbed into bed.
I’ve hit another wall with my creativity and passion for wine. It’s hard to feel hopeful when you are unsure and each day feels like a rerun of a poorly written sitcom. I’m slowly coming out of this funk 3.0 by capturing my journey to date in wine.
Wine is an intoxicant that can exacerbate depression or much worse. Instead of making my depression and anxiety spiral further, I turned to wine for community and purpose. I didn’t turn to it simply as something to drink or make me forget. I turned to it as something to build me up, to find new friends, to travel, to showcase my creativity, to return to my love of writing, and more. Wine provided me with hope and a purpose that my identity is more than a job title, more than whether or not I have children, more than who I am dating or if I get married. It helps me remember that I am much more and have so much to offer.
