Winter Book Recommendation

February 5th, 2007 by Annette

A very thoughtful relative gave us this wonderful book by Susan Sokol Blosser:  At Home in the Vineyardsokol blosser book.jpg.  I’m glad she did.  I just finished reading it and highly recommend it if you are at all interested in the history of Oregon Pinot Noir, Sokol Blosser Winery, and/or women in the wine industry.  This is a story about two visionaries (Susan and her husband) with a little “hippie” influence in the 70′s who undertake the daunting tasks of planting and managing vineyards, starting a winery and raising a family in a sleepy, rural region in Oregon (now the world-famous “Dundee Hills”).  It is also a story about Susan’s own perserverance as a woman in a man’s world in the 1970′s and how she overcame the challenges of running a business in that environment. 

For me this book was really inspirational.  Learning about how hard Susan and Bill worked to bring their (then) naive and crazy dreams to life is a reminder that anything can happen with enough effort and resolve.  The folks who started the wine industry up in Oregon are all regarded as “Pinot” pioneers and leaders, but with a laid-back, Oregonian manner that has set a postive and intelligent precedent for the rest of us to follow.  Cheers to Oregon and to Susan Sokol Blosser for making her story available!

  You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one…….John Lennon

4 Responses to “Winter Book Recommendation”

  1. February 10, 2007 at 12:15 pm, Susan Sokol Blosser said:

    Thank you for this beautiful review. If my story serves as inspiration, I am delighted. I loved the John Lennon quote and heard the melody l as I read it. Nicely done. Susan

  2. February 12, 2007 at 1:36 pm, annette said:

    Hi Susan, you are welcome and thanks for the compliment and for reading as well. Annette

  3. January 05, 2008 at 2:28 pm, William Brandon, Jr. said:

    My life and health have reached a point where I enjoy reading and tasting various food and wine, especially domestic wine produced in California and Oregon.

    My son recently was in your County and brought me a 2005 Pinot Noir which we are eager to enjoy tonight. Consequently, we are reading up on your product. Congratulations on your recognition.

    As for John Lennon…my email is eggman39047@yahoo. The “eggman” reference from I Am The Walrus from Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour days(1967)!

    Good to see Beatle-boomers in the wine business and still going strong! Peace.

    Bill

  4. January 07, 2008 at 11:16 am, annette said:

    Thanks for reading and otherwise partaking, Bill! Peace to you as well and hope you enjoy the wine. Annette

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