Goal Setting for 2023

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This a bittersweet time of the year. The harvests are all in. The leaves on the vines begin to wither and we begin planning what will unfold to be next year’s Virginia vintage. Hours upon hours of winter pruning, spring shoot thinning, summer leaf pulling, and fall harvest is the agricultural romance that brings this love in a bottle to you.

While it looks like we will be doing nothing between now and next spring, Matt is working in the winery nights and weekends with fermentation and aging the wines and to plan our next year’s products that can only be made from the estate. This is a part-time vocation for him, yet a full-time commitment to consistency and quality. Each year the grapes are a little more mature, bringing the true characteristics of the varietal to the forefront. There will be more plantings, vineyard maintenance, fence maintenance and property maintenance from now through 2023. We both agree that working full-time career and a part-time profession can be overwhelming. At least when he retires from his career I know what he will be doing full-time.

While I’m back in the office full-time this winter, my days are longer and more complicated. Developing our budget begins in November with a refined focus on the important parts of our business for 2023. This is the time of year I put together events for next year starting with the 3^rd Annual Wine and Chocolate pairing in February. My goal is to bring some unique and more frequent events. While our non-traditional wine club is ever changing it has flourished with camaraderie that fills our hearts. There will be more offsite interactions with local businesses, farms and festivals to spread the word, not just of our business, but to promote their business operations and mission.

While this is not the end of the year, but the end of a season and time to have a fresh reflection. Each year there is a little something new to learn; from the vineyard, in the winery, from our partners, from our guests, and from life.  Santé!