Author: SAHMmelier

Being a stay- at-home mom can leave one thirsting for a taste of the outside world, a world in which sentences are composed of more than three words. Being an educator means one is always seeking an opportunity to explore and learn. Being a woman with a need to connect can be a challenge when adult conversations are rare. In wine, I find the marriage of art and science, agriculture and storytelling provides limitless areas to explore. But it is the people that keep me engaged. The tenacity needed to keep the family dream alive, the risk to start anew, the trials and principles. I love the history of the vine, the impact of a season, the sentiment in the bottle. That is why I write. I write to tell their stories, to share a piece of mine. I write to learn as I teach others. I write to connect with new friends, to disconnect from the world. I write to celebrate what makes each of us unique, and that which ties us together.

Transitions Part 2

June 5, 2013.Reading time 6 minutes.

Nearly two years ago I put my lack of web design skills to the test and threw together a WordPress site. I hesitantly put my thoughts together in a concrete form. I gave it a name, a face, and tried to build an identity. It is a daunting task when you know where you are going, with purpose […]

Send in the Reserves

May 19, 2013.Reading time 3 minutes.

A few weeks ago I hosted a dinner party to sample some Petite Sirah that I was graciously sent from members of P.S. I Love You. I chose to limit it to six bottles that night for a few reasons. I feel like that is about the max I can evaluate fairly before palate fatigue sets in and I […]

May Looks Great for June

May 15, 2013.Reading time 3 minutes.

There is no question that Austin is a hot spot on the food and wine radar right now. Some spots are hotter than others, of course, and one Sommelier in town seems to be at the center of it all. June Rodil began her career in the industry at The Driskill Hotel under the leadership […]

Just Like You, Mama

May 12, 2013.Reading time 2 minutes.

My dear friend in high school had a nick name for my mother, “Florabunda.” She named her that because my mom has always had an affinity for flowers. Many times along our cross-country trips we would hear, “Oh Gene! Look at the flowers.” It became a family joke, but it is one thing I love […]

Being Enough this Mother’s Day

May 8, 2013.Reading time 9 minutes.

Last week I had the pleasure of chatting with other wine lovers and professionals about the great wines coming out of the Finger Lakes. We tasted Lemberger, Pinot Noir, and two Russian grapes that were new for me, Sapervi and Sereksiya. I always learn something from the producers and writers, but this year, one 140 […]

“Simi”lar stories, Fabulous Pairings

April 29, 2013.Reading time 5 minutes.

They have similar backgrounds and similar goals, so it is not surprising that Simi Winery and Chef Kolin Vazzoler make a great pair. Both from Italian heritage, the winery and Chef Kolin focus on producing high quality wines and foods that are sourced locally. Kolin learned about the culinary arts from his mother and grandmother. Now he teaches others in […]

P.S. You Were a Hit at the Dinner Party!

April 25, 2013.Reading time 7 minutes.

Without question, one of my favorite things about wine is how it brings people together. From harvest to blending, tastings to dinner parties, community is central to the production and enjoyment of wine. One community that has grown around the love of one grape in particular is P.S I Love You. The producers and advocates […]

A Field of Dreams

April 17, 2013.Reading time 7 minutes.

I guess you could say this story began nearly a year ago. Our trek to Colorado started in the early morning hours, before the sun rose. By the time we arrived in Llano, the first light was beginning to show. The countryside was awakening as we rounded a turn and I remembered why I love mornings. […]

Transitions- Part 1

April 12, 2013.Reading time 5 minutes.

Spring is a time of transitions. Some are surficial: purging closets, boots to sandals. Some are botanical: bud break, the emergence of a crocus. Some are spiritual: an awakening, a yearning. All around, there is a renewed energy, a pull. All week-long I have felt the need to write, a to-do list of pieces that […]