Knowingly or not, travel is always in the pursuit of inspiration. Even when the travelling is to see family in person again after 3 years apart, we’re seeking something else too. We’re looking to get grounded, reinvigorate, reconnect and ultimately inspire ourselves to live better lives. There is, of course, the part where we introduce our families to our children, some of them for the first time! I suppose a lot has changed in the past few years, but I’d have to be pretty dead inside to not feel inspiration after spending so much time in Italy recently. That place….. well, it would be tough for anyone to convince me that we should live in any other way. It simply is the best.
The people are so generous, so kind, and so accommodating to children; something much of the world has forgotten. We wonder why so many kids are stuck on their devices when as a society we don’t include them more in our daily lives. At the end of the day, most kids just want to be included; and that goes for being included in their parents lives as well. Involving your kid in your work and daily life can be so rewarding for yourself and will bring so much joy and lasting memories to your kid. I was reminded of this amidst a sales trip in the USA recently. Thanks to an annoyingly-timed flu in the family, my seven year old daughter was without a caregiver while I was out selling wine in centre city Philadelphia all day. It was too short of notice to find someone to cover and, well, Cecilia has been in the vineyard, in the winery, in the tasting room and even at some big events for our business. So we decided she may as well see another side of the business, and what better place than my home city!
It was one of the hottest days of the summer and we were out with our sales rep and distributor Jay Vaughan; my old buddy who I’ve known for twenty years, long before I had dreams to move to NZ to make wine. Together we visited some of the city’s best and brightest including the W Hotel, Dibrunno Brothers, Vedge, and of course McCrossen’s Tavern. We may have even snuck into the best Gelato place in the city to cool down! It was a memory neither of us will forget and on top of that, we sold lots of wine! Everyone loved that I had Ceci with me and could feel how truly it is a family business. As it turned out, everyone I poured my wines for was a parent and could totally relate. And what can I say, Cecilia drives a tough bargain…
But back to Italy and living a simple life in cute house, eating delicious food and sampling the local vino with my in-laws on the side of a hill overlooking Lake Cuomo. I was able to sneak in one exceedingly inspirational ‘business trip’ to Piedmonte. We were lucky enough to have been in touch over the past couple of years with the family and team at Camparo in the Diano appellation. I cannot express the extent of my gratitude to them for their kindness and hospitality. Not to mention their gorgeous, vibrant, and delicious wines that are stuck in my mind! At some stage, probably in October, I will be putting on a tasting in our shop of their wines. For anyone who is interested please contact us here, a little bonus for those of you who actually read this deep into my deliberations!
So it’s back to work here in Hawke’s Bay now. They told me it was supposed to be Spring here but I haven’t seen it yet! The frost fans were going last night and will be on again this evening. The days have been hectic with weather changing every half an hour; it even hailed a bit over at our warehouse yesterday. But as those who live here know, Spring can come as a surprise in Hawke’s Bay and we’re ready for it to turn up any day now. We have so much to offer, so much to catch up on, so much fresh air to breath and friends to see. When you’re passing through Hastings, drop in to see me at 101 Warren Street on the corner of Heretaunga Street, in the heart of Hawke’s Bay, where I’ll be waiting with a plethora of new releases. Such an exciting time ahead….
