A winemaker’s tribute
to his groundskeeper of 27 years
Aerial view of Wayfarer Vineyard on a Sonoma mountainside |
Sarah's cabin in spring |
Recently I received a call from Jayson Pahlmeyer, premium
winemaker and owner of the Wayfarer Vineyard where my sister lived and worked
for 27 years. It plunged me back into a deep well of memories. Again I saw the
spectacular mountain panoramas from her porch, smelled the cedar, bay,
rosemary, pine, and lemon thyme on the air, watched jack rabbits leap and hawks
soar. But by now the feeling is more joy than grief.
Jayson’s call was a request for pictures from Sis’s long
tenure there. He owns many other vinyards, mostly in the Napa Valley, but this
fall, for the first time, he will be bottling wine from Sarah’s Sonoma home
under the Wayfarer label. And one particular blend will be called “Sarah’s
Garden.”
Of course, being blown away by this magnificent gesture
honoring my adored big sis, I happily spent the next few days sorting through
box after box of photos – most of them brought back from her cabin.
I dearly miss her earthy wisdom and spiritual understanding;
her courage in the face of cancer. It is so gratifying to have Sarah recognized
in such a meaningful and appropriate way.
For over a year after the malignancy was discovered, Sarah
doggedly remained on her beloved mountain and on the job. She died January 4,
2013 in Santa Rosa shortly after surgery. And I’m so grateful I was there.
3 comments:
such a lovely gesture. Thank you for the memories. I really enjoyed the times Sarah and I spent together when she visited.
I appreciate this, Marlan. Thanks for stopping by.
I appreciate this, Marlan. Thanks for stopping by.
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