These two, in Geyserville I think, back in 2016 when I was just starting to help at Dutcher Crossing.  One of my favorite wineries, still.

The vineyard is where I’m the most me, as a writer and much as a person too, I think.  Not sure why I write ‘I think’, I know that’s true.  Where do I go when I want to take pictures?  To meditate and just be with SELF?

The vineyard, wherever.  Varietal and valley not important.  Or maybe they are, depending on mood.  These vines I’m willing to bet are Zinfandel….  Sonoma County’s Queen grape, I think most would say.  Telling me to go back, to wine and its business and world, and don’t you dare fucking leave.

Get a chill thinking about it, being back, and away from certain work stresses and demands, metrics and spreadsheets and other hamster wheels.  Wine, making me ask myself what I really want to do, how do I want to feel a night before work… A Sunday night.  What do you want to see in the morning, just getting to your “office”, sipping coffee and saying hello to others, checking day’s schedule, what I have to do.  What wines are featured, and what I want to feel when the day ends.

The possibilities and this new Story feeding me.  Like a Beat of Beats, made for me, reciting to the pushes of these laptop keys.  This story, books surrounding and these posts, about getting to passion.  Arriving.  Asking yourself, “Why did I ever leave?”

I will be back in these rows, watching clusters form and grow, change color, get dropped during fruit-drop orders, then Harvest.

Looking through my phone, this is my life’s work.  My Road, what has me ablaze.  And this morning, lecturing me on the contour, how to get there….

Mike Madigan, writing wine and ONLY wine.  Business and passion, life and peace, Happiness .

IMAGINE THAT.