From One Extreme to Another, and Finding Balance in Between
It’s been a week of emotional extremes.
On one hand the wine community, and ABG’s Australian cohort in particular, are reeling from the devastating news of the death of Taras Ochota, who made wine most recently in the Adelaide Hills, who surfed big waves throughout his life in waters from Australia to Mexico to California, and who made music in a punk band in an earlier iteration of his creative life on this earth.
As he was writing his responses for this week's Community profile, Australian winemaker Steve Flamsteed learned of Taras' passing. "Such a shining light that guy, he taught us all to remember to not take anything too seriously," Steve wrote to Beck and me. "The Earth is a lesser place without him, but I know he has inspired and lives on in so many people, right across the world."
A year ago this week, in an emotional extreme at the other end of the spectrum, the second Australia Decanted event in Lake Tahoe wrapped up. Taras was a cornerstone of this event which was, and still remains in my mind, the gold standard for wine programming, education and experience from any corner of the globe. I had the honor of emceeing the Tahoe event, where Taras joined a small group of fellow iconic winemakers who represented the deep and dynamic landscape of Australian wine throughout recent history. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to hear their stories and taste unicorn wines they hand-carried from across the planet.
Taras’ seat (and his wines) at that particular table is secure. Our wine community deeply mourns the loss of his soulful physical presence.
I had visited Taras’ winery in the Adelaide Hills a few years ago, as part of a writing assignment to cover the Gourmet Traveler Wine Star awards. Taras was on the short list for winemaker of the year, one of the Australian industry’s most important accolades.
It’s a big deal to be recognized this way by your peers and colleagues in your industry. Taras knew that, and so do Beck and I.
Here’s where the pendulum swings back in the other emotional direction once again, as we learned this week that A Balanced Glass has been honored by a Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Award nomination in the new category of Wine Educator of the Year.
ABG Community members Regine T. Rousseau is a fellow nominee in this category; Julia Coney is nominated for the Social Visionary Wine Star Award; and Laura Catena is nominated for Wine Star Innovator of the Year. Sincere congratulations to each of you!
As you can imagine, Beck and I are beyond appreciative of this recognition for A Balanced Glass. Two reasons of appreciation in particular emerge to the surface for me.
The first reason has to do with the community that ABG brings together, and that we work hard to listen to and represent. We know how deeply the Community Profiles resonate each week with our audience, as readers are eager to learn of colleagues’ coping strategies for maintaining wellness when alcohol is at the center of our work. The people who are featured in the profiles reply to the same three questions (how many years in the industry, their biggest challenge to wellness, and how they keep it together to stay well) with candor and honesty that has opened the door to many conversations, thanks to the shared experiences that may not otherwise have been brought to light.
We are grateful for that.
The second reason of appreciation has to do with the nomination being part of the Wine Educator category, a new one this year for the awards. ABG was first launched with priorities of building community, communication and conversation around well-being and alcohol; the idea that education has also assumed a prominent role is testament, we think, to the desire for mindful awareness at every role and stage of our industry.
We are grateful for that as well, as together we support the way forward of managing a life in beverage alcohol.
Thank you sincerely for being part of the journey of A Balanced Glass. We are here for you, and we couldn’t be here without you.
Namaste,
Cathy
What We're Reading:
Here's what has piqued our interest this week in the world of wine and mindfulness.
100 Female Founders, Hadley Douglas, The Urban Grape - Inc.com
Inc.com profiles Hadley Douglas, co-founder of Boston's The Urban Grape wine retailer who are advocating for a more progressive, inclusive, and accessible wine industry. Recognition thoroughly deserved.
Make Mental Health Your #1 Priority - HarvardBusinessReview.org
It is safe to say that we are dealing with a particularly overwhelming time in history, especially for the youngest generations.
Eight Questions That Can Help You Survive Election Stress - Greater Good Science Center.org
Americans are stressed out by their presidential election. These questions will help you check in with yourself—and perhaps boost your resilience.
At D.C.’s Domestique, Rebekah Pineda Is Working to End Inequality in Wine - Janice Williams for VinePair.com
In an industry that’s given far too small a space to people of color, Domestique prides itself on being a frontrunner for diversity and inclusion.
This Week's Reminder:
Keep these short meditations and inspirations bookmarked for when you need them.
Three Mindfulness Strategies from Joseph Goldstein - Ten Percent Happier podcast
In Episode #291, Host Dan Harris and meditation teacher Joseph Goldstein explore three profoundly useful mindfulness strategies, including: mindfulness of thinking, awareness of rushing, and the genuine insight that can emerge from everyday activities.
Meet the Community!
Here we meet folks who make our profession so dynamic and hear how they keep their wellness in check.
Steve Flamsteed, Head Winemaker at Giant Steps Wine, Yarra Valley (AUS)
Years In the Industry:
I have been in the wine community for kind of 30 years, beginning with a vintage in Beaujolais back in 1989 (after failing an audition to Clown school in Chalons-sur-Marne). My history prior to that was in cooking and in there was a side step to learn about farmhouse cheese. I’ve been settled here in the Yarra for 18 years now…
My Biggest Challenge To Wellness:
Our year is one big growing-season cycle but like any business there are always spanners in the works and there rarely seems to be a normal. It’s sometimes difficult to be able to get your head up above that and kind of look across the whole zoo. What we do - it’s kind of weird to call it “work” as it’s way bigger than that and the title work doesn’t really fit – is such a massive part of my life so making sure that I remember the family amongst all of that is challenging. I have been gifted with an incredible partner (Jano) and three very strong-willed kids (Lucy, May and Maxine) who give me a massive amount of support but also keep me in line.
I have learnt to yell out for help, to share problems rather than try to absorb them. My friends are more important now than ever before in my life, particularly the old mates.
How I Keep It Together To Stay Well:
I work with people for whom I not only feel a deep respect but with whom I am just happy to hang out. People who can think laterally, who are less task-oriented and more about solving problems and challenges with an empathetic, supportive approach.
We are only a small crew in the winery, but whenever we do important stuff like nailing a blend it is very democratic…three brains, palates and opinions are (more than 3 x) better than one. We also understand – especially at vintage - that not everyone is peaking all of the time, so we try to recognise that and adjust the day’s work accordingly.
We eat a lot of cake; we are surrounded by music all the time.
I have also learnt to accept that I can only have control on so much. I trust and believe in the people who are around me, and that’s the only way to do really achieve amazing things. But critical to that is that we support each other.
So not only is it about the sum of the parts...but it means we aren’t all carrying around any more stress or pressure than is necessary.
The other thing I use to balance things - I know this is big for all of us - is exercise, every day. Ever since I was a young kid and realised how much I enjoyed food, I worked out that if you can strike a balance between intake and output you can exist in that equilibrium. The stress relief and mental well-being that also comes out of that is enormous. Swimming is ace, there is something very balancing in that. Get into the pool with a problem and you will pretty much always get out with a solution.
We live in a pretty special part of the world here in the Yarra, so it’s hard to complain about being stuck here at the moment. Cooking is a foil and relief and I have to admit I am loving the home time.
Live music is missing from all of our lives at the moment and it’s frustrating to live near a city that has its culture based on that, but I accept - like most Melburniuns and extra-Melburniuns - that this is only a finite or temporary situation. When it’s back (along with eating out) it will be so much more special and cherished and appreciated.
You can connect with Steve on Instagram.
Let's Get Connected!
Sharing Events from our Global ABG Community.
Saturday October 24th | 11am PT | 2pm ET
Pen2Paper Presents: "Save the Ta-Tas" - A collaboration with Speed Rack + Focus On Health.
Scribble, connect, and celebrate. This one hour creative journaling workshop will bring awareness to our favorite body part in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Register for the event via the LINK here!
Have an event that our ABG community would love? Email to events@abalancedglass.com for consideration.
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