How Life is Meant to be Lived
A moment of perspective in a glass of wine and a gorgeous view
The early afternoon sun beat down on the Columbia Valley. It filtered through the grape vines overhead, which shaded the walkway leading up to a door that seemed straight out of a fairy tale. Behind it could be a princess preparing for a grand adventure, or woodland elves preparing a magical elixir.
It’s the latter.
I sit down at a black wrought-iron table around the corner from the elven door and drink in the panorama. Not a cloud in sight. My stepdad calls the shade “Colorado blue”—but today it’s southeastern Washington displaying sapphire skies. Off in the distance, I see a cloud of dust rising, likely from farm equipment. It’s almost harvest time. The brown, barren mountains rise in stark contrast to the “Colorado blue”. These mountains certainly don’t look like the Rockies, but it’s this dry, brown soil that produces some of the most sought-after American wines. As I look farther down the southwest slope of Red Mountain, I see a small pond. A weeping willow stands guard over the water, its branches nearly touching the pristine surface. I glance behind me at the large terrace, lined with Tuscan-inspired arches two stories high. I exhale the stress of the day’s travels.
Another chair at the table scratches the concrete and my Uncle Ted sits down. “This”, he gestures at the scene, “is how life is meant to be lived.”
When the world started to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines made travel possible again, I was eager to get on with all of the canceled experiences I missed in 2020. Perhaps you can relate. A wine tasting trip with Uncle Ted was at the top of my list. He’s my long-standing wine buddy and teacher—an enthusiast turned aspiring sommelier1. An opportunity presented itself for Labor Day weekend and off we went to the southeast corner of Washington state, a region known for bold, heady reds.
One reason I love visiting wineries is because the experience changes when you’re in the same environment that grows the grapes. I think of the concept of the four elements: earth, air, water, and (too often in today’s world) fire. Each element contributes to what eventually ends up in your glass, and it deepens your knowledge and appreciation to put yourself in the same space. It’s a lot like my attachment to the tomatoes from my deda's garden. In this part of Washington, grapes have to stand up to dry, hot summers and gusty winds, which yields those intense red wines (but also some really fantastic white wines).
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One of my favorite things about tasting wine is that it’s an exercise in mindfulness. It requires full attention and engages all five senses: the color of the wine in the glass, the aroma that arises when you swirl, how the taste changes as the wine travels over every tastebud, the tingle of salinity or bubbles on the inside of your mouth, the sound of the glass clinking. Wine changes every minute it mixes with the air, and with every bite of food you take alongside it. In a world of constant distraction, wine asks you to focus on what’s right in front of you in this moment. Wine invites you to disengage from your to-do list and your worries and just enjoy.
We don’t allow ourselves to do that much, do we? Sit back, relax, and enjoy. We tell ourselves we don’t have time. We haven’t earned it. It’s too expensive. Wine helps me slow down and have a “treat yourself” moment. It also gives my brain a puzzle to solve, not because I have to, but because it’s fun. It reminds me that life is even richer and more vibrant when I stop to pay attention.
What helps you slow down and enjoy the moment? Is it a glass of wine? A phone call with a loved one? Something else? Leave a comment and tell me about it!
Of course, you don’t have to take a trip to wine country to have that experience. You don’t have to like wine, either. Or spend a lot of money. Or finish that project for work. Or that load of laundry. You just have to find something that makes it worth pressing “pause”, if only for a moment. That is, after all, how life is meant to be lived.
You can enjoy great wine without taking a tasting trip or emptying your bank account. Not sure where to start? Check out this handy guide
A certified wine expert
It's just as important to know where your wine comes from as your food. Wine should be grown, not manufactured. And editing out wine stains on teeth is so not authentic. :D
Taking time to relax once in a while is the key to staying sane and healthy. Come winter, I love to relax on a nice, long cruiser lap on my snowboard. Look at the trees. Feel the powder. Eat a sugar waffle covered in hot fudge... just vibe and enjoy winter. Pristine and quiet.