Listen to Ali's Thanksgiving Day Audio here.
It’s one week before Thanksgiving Day 2020. I know I know! It’s been nearly 4 weeks since the last email. I told you we were in the weeds! Not going to bother you with a “what to drink with Thanksgiving” this year. Our wines are made for Thanksgiving Day, every single one of them! This year Thanksgiving Day will be a time of reflection, good wines often bring this out too. I loved reading Dave McIntyre’s recent article in The Washington Post, "This Thanksgiving, the right wine to pair with the meal is the one that means the most to you”. Absolutely Dave!
The Smith Story tasting room remains open in the Anderson Valley inside only for shopping and wine tastings outdoor only. Despite the horrific pandemic, we have safely hosted steady flow of guests since July. A few hours ago, the state of California announced a new curfew order for forty-one counties to help combat the virus spread. Insert eye-roll here, I don’t think we’ve be out past 10pm but maybe once since March! Eric and I are doing our best to keep our spirits up, we have so much to be thankful for this year with many silver linings for our small winery.
However, are hearts are heavy for the families who have lost loved ones this year, both two and four-legged special members of the family. We had no idea when we began Smith Story Wine Cellars that our circle of customers would become such a big circle of incredible friends too. Thanksgiving Day will be different for all of us. Cozy is a word that comes to mine this year, open a few bottles and keep things cozy and let’s raise a glass or two for those we’re missing madly this Thanksgiving season. They so deserve it.
The business of wine can be viscous, it can be lovely. We are lucky that it’s personal to us and we wouldn’t want it any other way. If you are reading this right now you get it. I’m beyond words at times to describe how important you have each been to not only our new winery but to our hearts and heads along the way. It’s a real gift to have you on this journey with us.
I’ll leave you with the following poem by Henry Van Dyke that was written to the melody of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy from his Choral Symphony No. 9. I know these words well from years of singing in church and dedicate them to a friend, fellow Texan and Storyteller who left us too early this year. Lori these are for your Richard and the Fogleman family. Thankful to have you and Richard as a part of Our Story too.
Joyful, joyful we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love,
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, hail Thee as the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.
All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heav'n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flow'ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting birds and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest.
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the Joy Divine.
Mortals, join the mighty chorus which the morning stars began,
Father love is reigning o'er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music lifts us sunward, in the triumph song of life.
Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving.
Eric, Ali & Lord Sandwich