Just recovering from two weeks on the road, followed by our biggest President’s Club party ever. Over 200 fans of Taft Street gathered at the winery last Saturday to pick up their wine, enjoy the music of local band Bottle Shock, delight on barbeque, and of course taste a variety of Taft Street’s finest.
Visits to the Massachusetts and Wisconsin markets were both enjoyable and productive. The enthusiasm for the wines, particularly the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir was gratifying, and we opened up dozens of new accounts. The fact that these states are particularly attractive this time of year made it even better.
Just finished Studs Terkel’s WILL THE CIRCLE GO UNBROKEN? Interviews with dozens of Chicagoans about death, aging and the beliefs about the afterlife, this was not your summer beach time reading. Written when Terkel was 89 (he died at 96 in 2008), the book shows the immense diversity of viewpoints and beliefs on very fundamental topics. It took quite a while to finish, as I was only able to read a couple of interviews at a single sitting.
The fact that I am quickly approaching my Medicare years made it all the more appropriate.
Next month will be an adventure. My old friend Andy Bartlett is celebrating a special birthday, and has invited a 100 or so of his cronies to help him celebrate – in Bali! Andy was the catalyst who got us all together at Taft Street the late 1970’s, and was our president from 1982 to 1990. There is a photo of the original gang hanging in the Tasting Room. We all look very 1970’s. Kathy and I will meet our son Matt, Anne and Otto in Singapore and then travel to Bali for a 10 day celebration. Will keep you posted.
This weekend we will host a private party at the winery for three dozen Taft Street aficionados. The kitchen we put in last year has proven to be a real asset, and we have a number of meals/tastings planned throughout the summer months. In fact, I am off to the market now.
Cheers,
Mike Tierney