I was asked today about how I began writing about wine, and was going to refer her to this post. A post I began over a year ago and just now realized I never finished or published.  So, you may be saying, part 3?  What happened to part 1 and part 2?  Lucky for you, they are archived.  Lucky for me, I still remember how this happened. So, as random as this seems, it had a purpose when I began writing it.  I’ve had a dizzying sinus infection for days, so since I can’t drink any new inspiration, I’ll use this post from the past.

At the Gundlach Bundschu luncheon, held in April of 2011 during their time in Austin, my DH and I had the privilege of meeting  Jeff, Liz, Jim, and Nancy Bundschu.  I was invited to read my poem during the luncheon, which, although I was not prepared to do so, was quite an honor for me.   Even more so was Jim Bundschu’s reaction.  To date, his reaction to my poem has been the most flattering, affirming response that I have had to anything I have written.  With tears in his eyes, he told me how much it had moved him, how he put it to the side to come back to.  He felt that I had been able to capture the essence of his family’s story and the story of all who farmed.  What an honor to hear those words.  So humbling, so encouraging.

So how did I get from there to here?  Later that summer we visited the Bundschus again and were on a tour with Rob, who happens to be a writer.  I spoke of the thrill it was for me to have my writing chosen by them and I how I had enjoyed the process.  I shared with him and the marketing director, Susan, how I hoped to continue writing, perhaps start a wine blog for the average drinker.  They both responded with the idea that if I wanted to write, I just had to write.  And write, and write, and then write some more.

The final push I needed was from a sweet friend, Keri.  She was starting a recipe and home organization site and wanted me to help with wine pairings.  I thought that I should simply start my own page that she should link to and I, in turn, could link to her.  That was the last push I needed.  So in August of 2011, with no experience, I set up a website, chose a name, and Pulled the Cork. 

I’ve alluded to the pieces of this story in other posts, I’ve shared the story with many, but I have not put it together in one, (well, three) package (s).   I certainly did not imagine at the time the joy I would get from writing, the friends I would meet, and the opportunities that would come from one poem, written during one episode of Elmo.