Seeing Wine in a Fresh Light
By Lizzy de la Garza, Class of 2024
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Reflections:
These essays are the views of the authors alone and do not represent the positions of the Texas Lyceum.
Seeing Wine in a Fresh Light
By Lizzy de la Garza, Class of 2024
Though I’ve enjoyed many great glasses of wine throughout my adult life, I’ve never paused to think about how exactly that wine got to my glass - the journey it had to go through so that we could enjoy it on our end. This conference provided the “behind the scenes” of that journey from vine to glass - a journey that is full of challenges but also incredible resilience; a journey that can be complex but extremely rewarding; a journey susceptible to many external factors, including extreme weather, drought, floods, wildfires, supply chain, logistics, and regulation, yet met with unshakeable perseverance, hope, and faith; a journey that aims to harmonize tradition and innovation - celebrating the past while embracing the future; and a journey that carries years of legacy, deep family pride, and profound passion.
After hearing from the speakers, learning from the vintners about the art and science of winemaking, touring the beautiful vineyards and wineries, and listening to the captivating stories of families passionately dedicating their lives to harvesting grapes and making wine, I have gained a whole new level of respect and appreciation for wine. The next time I have a glass of wine, I know I will enjoy it that much more now that I have a better understanding of the journey - the untold stories of hard work, perseverance, and unwavering passion that breathe life into every harvest and every bottle.