Last month Gabe and I took a scenic train ride north along the Hudson River, destination Newburgh, New York. In just 90 minutes we found ourselves immersed in an autumnal paradise, richly colored in shades of gold, garnet, cimarron, and sienna. As a recent transplant from South Florida, I was mesmerized: by the beauty, yes, but also by the invigoratingly fresh breezes blowing over the water.

This is soup weather, I thought, as I shivered and tucked my hands into my pockets.

Shortly afterward Gabe’s sister Luann welcomed us into her home, the family home, which had been built by their father and lovingly tended by their mother decades ago. My eyes darted immediately to the living room windows, which offered stunning views of the Hudson. I stepped onto the deck, where I could see for miles, listen to the hawks soaring above, and sense the peace and tranquility of the great outdoors.

When I stepped back inside, there it was: the inviting aroma of homemade soup! Fifteen Bean Soup, to be exact, enhanced by cubes of smoked ham and fresh herbs. Mmmmmm!

All the familiar sights, smells, and flavors of my childhood surrounded me, vanishing in an instant the 20 years that I’d been away. I could have been in my grandmother’s kitchen alongside my sister, helping with dinner preparations.

It felt good to be “home” again.

A Farewell to Frosty aka The Whomper

Whenever families get together, there’s an inevitable catching-up on all that’s happened since the last time: New jobs begun, new relationships forged; life goals established, milestones achieved. We also take time to honor and remember those who’ve passed on.

On this visit, we honored Frosty, their 16-year-old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, who crossed the rainbow bridge earlier this year. I remember first meeting him in 2011, when he bounced rather than walked, and enjoyed taunting Frisky and Smoky, his two Persian cat brothers.

For our celebratory meal, Luann, an amazing cook, made a delicious dinner of Italian roast beef with vegetables. I provided the wine: 2022 Dracaena Wines Metz Vineyard Cabernet Franc Reserve, from Paso Robles.

Why This Wine?

The wine world is at once an infinitely vast yet intimately friendly place. When I first began writing about wine back in 2015, I was overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of the community: it spanned the globe and included growers, producers, critics, educators, writers, public relations folks, and more. One of the first people I connected with was Lori Budd who, at the time, was working as a food scientist in northern New Jersey. We met via Twitter during an online discussion of Cabernet Franc, a grape originally from France but now produced all over the world.

Lori and her husband (also a scientist) had just launched their own boutique winery, Dracaena Wines, in Paso Robles, California. Their specialty? Cabernet Franc in all its guises. There is rosé of Cab Franc, single vineyard Cab Franc rouge, and even a Blanc de Franc, a white wine made from red grapes.

While Lori and Mike were still in New Jersey, I had the chance to hang out with her in person several times. She is kind and funny and has more energy than almost anyone I know! Cab Franc Day, celebrated on December 4^th each year, was her creation: it brings together wine lovers, producers, and media representatives, and includes wine competitions, winemaker round-table discussions, and local events. As the event continues to grow in scale, I continue to marvel at her dedication.

The Story of Dracaena Wines

As you can see from the photos, Dracaena Wines’ labels are unique: they feature a portrait of their much-loved Weimaraner, Draco, who is also the namesake of the winery. Lori and Mike named him after the northern constellation Draco the Dragon, after watching the 1996 movie Dragonheart.

After many happy years, Draco passed away at age 14. To honor him, the Budds created a memorial to him in their home: a potted Draco tree placed on the floor, where his food bowl used to sit. As they worked through their grief, Lori and Mike plowed ahead with their winemaking plans, committing to California as a home base.

As their dreams came to fruition, the couple asked Lori’s best friend and maid of honor at their wedding to create a portrait of Draco for use on the wine labels. Sonja Gerard painted him in a vineyard where, it looks to me, as if he is simultaneously guarding and reveling in the vineyard’s beauty.

Since those early days, Dracaena has opened tasting rooms in Paso Robles and Fresno, created a flourishing wine club, and actively supports local charities.

But best of all, they have another Wine Weimie who loves greeting visitors: Vegas and his big personality await you at the door!

Thanks Lori!

As I penned this post I remember meeting Lori in person for the first time: we were having our fortunes told at the bar in the Ace Hotel in NYC (how we laughed about that!) I’m so grateful that our paths crossed many years ago, for that was surely my good fortune.