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...or how I got here from there.
Yesterday I was in the winery setting up another batch of Orange Blossom mead, and I had the opportunity to reflect that although 2009 has been a hard year for many people, and I am no exception, I think it's important to take stock and realize exactly what has brought us forward to this point in time, and who we should thank for their contribution to that path.
First off, I need to thank my family, and while that sounds rather pat and corny, it's true that I could not make Beowulf Mead happen without the patience, love and support of my entire family, who sees me disappear to the winery for hours, and have to pick up the slack in my absence, or put up with my enthusiasm and act as my Guinea pigs with new formulations, or resist raising an eyebrow when new equipment shows up at the door. To my wife, children, and entire family - thank you for supporting me in my dream.
Right up at the top of the list with my family, is Paul Kreider of the Ross Valley Winery. It is because of Paul that I've been able to take my operation out of my house and into a professional winery setting. Paul saw in me a potential for something great, and offered me a partnership before I even had to ask, almost two years ago. Because of Paul, I'm able to produce and sell my mead to all of you within the law, and with his many years of experience, has not only educated me in the business side of running a winery, but has also helped me to further refine my product. With the economic downturn, his business has been hit hard, and the best thing that anyone can do to help me thank him is to visit the store or the website and buy a bottle of what can only be named as the best wine produced in Marin county, and a handcrafted superior quality that rivals any wines you might find in Napa or Sonoma counties.
I would also like to thank one of my favorite distributors, Double-Crossed Wines. Not only is the owner, Bill Jablon, an amazing individual, and not only do I love their pirate aesthetic, but their variety of hard-to-find wines are second to none. Please check them out and spread a little holiday cheer.
I also wish to thank one of my great mead making mentors, Byron Birch. Byron owns and operates The Beverage People, a brewing, wine making and artisan cheese making supply store that has been in business for nearly 30 years, serving the north bay with top-notch materials and equipment, master-level knowledge, and exceptional friendship and encouragement. Quite literally, Byron taught me how to make mead correctly, and continues to act as a mentor to me.
One other supplier without which I could not operate in quite the same way that I must express my heartfelt thanks to is John Gipson of Gipson's Golden honey. I know it may be seen as bad practice to divulge your sources of materials, but without the top quality honeys collected from Sonoma County (and around the world), I could not offer to you the superior products that I create. Just as in grape wine, the final product is only as good as the raw materials, and honeys from Gipson's are the best.
One last thanks to nature, the universe, God, however you wish to name it for the creation of the honey bee, the yeast cell, clean water, and the means in our own minds to learn to cooperate with the forces of nature in order to produce the libation of mead that we all enjoy. I am always in awe in the process with which I am involved, and more and more I see myself not as a creator, but as a collaborator with the forces of nature. I hope to continue to provide you all with the fruits of those collaborations.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I equally hope it's accompanied by a glass of Beowulf Mead. If not, don't fret - you can still get some for your Holiday gatherings in December!
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