Mother's Day sentiments during quarantine and wine recommendations
Author: Laura Milnes
Silk + Coupe
Let me share my passion of food + wine with you
Hello wine lovers. I must be transparent and admit this was a hard piece for me to write. Mother’s Day comes with mixed emotions for many. I read a post on Facebook recently, shared by a winemaker I respect, imploring friends to be kind as this day approaches. He requested that we exercise empathy for those who may no longer be fortunate to have their Mother around anymore. This thought had never occurred to me, and immediately made me sad. But it also reminded me to reflect on all the wonderful reasons why we love and miss our moms.
There are so many holidays we celebrate in society centered on family – Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving. I finally grasped that for the first time this past Christmas, when I made the decision to stay home in Toronto. It wasn’t until I was video chatting with my family in the Okanagan, that my Mom pointed out it was the first time in 36 years that we weren’t together for the holidays. (that was a hard day)
With this in mind, I thought it would be nice for the wineries you love, to share their personal memories with Mother’s Day approaching along with a wine gift recommendation for mom. We tend to put winemakers on pedestals, seeing them as somehow other wordly. When we scratch beneath the surface, however, we begin to see their “human-ness”, which often results in enjoyment of their wines even more. It all ties into the story.
As for me, due to COVID, I won’t have the luxury of spending the day with my Mom. However, it brings to mind the time we did get to spend together last year. My Mom is a huge fan of blush – I cringe every time she says it, but now that we’re not together this year, it brings a smile to my face. We went for a long walk along Okanagan Lake, took some photos together that we sent to my niece and nephew and came home and enjoyed a bottle of rose together. It’s funny how we take these inconsequential memories for granted, until a global pandemic wakes us up. It’s always the small events that come to mind, that at the time, seem unremarkable. I can feel the fresh breeze, the sun on my skin and the laughter of my Mom reverberating in my ears like it was yesterday.
VJ Gandhi, owner and operator of Kascadia Wine Merchants, shared similar sentiments when we were chatting recently on this notion: “Mother's Day has taken on a whole new meaning for me this year, as my own little family is growing. I've been missing my Mom immensely, as we had plans to reunite at my home in California this spring. While we are waiting out the quarantine, I have been savoring her adorable laugh and wisdom during our long chats over the phone about life, motherhood, and family. I feel very lucky to have the sweetest and most caring mother-in-law by my side as well. Words can't describe my love for the two of them, as they have both created a loving space for me to grow into the woman I am today. They mean the world to me.”
Wine recommendation: Meyer Family NV Methode Traditionnelle
If you’re lucky enough to spend the day with your Mom this weekend – hold her close.
the hatch
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Grayson Riordan, General Manager
“As many a reasonable human would or does, I attribute a wild amount of the person I am to the un-stoppable force that is my mother. Fortunately enough, I grew up having my mother as an inspiring force within the wine industry. My whole sense of romanticism & the ethereal wonder of wine was born of and instilled by her. There will never be enough words for the enormous amount of gratitude I have towards this remarkable woman.”
Wine recommendation: hatch 2017 B.Yanco
Meyer Family Vineyards
Okanagan Falls, British Columbia
Jak Meyer, Proprietor
“Mothers day will be a very different day then I would normally celebrate due to the Corona Virus. My Mother is 92 years old as of January and living in assisted living in Calgary. On one hand, I feel so sad we can’t visit but on the other hand she is locked down with some very good friends at the building. They get to visit, play bridge and have meals together. I am so thankful that she loves her apartment and friends as she has not been allowed out of the building or have visitors for almost 2 months now. I am so proud of her and just wishing we could be there to give her a big hug on Mother’s Day, but we will be having a Zoom call to celebrate this wonderous occasion."
Wine recommendation: Meyer Family 2017 Saignee Rosé
Pondview Estate
Niagara-on-the-lake, Ontario
Lou Puglisi - Proprietor
“With Mother’s Day coming up, I always remember how excited my mom was about getting her vegetable garden going and how she enjoyed seeing the vineyards turning green. She always referred to our land as “beautiful land” in Italian, and I decided to name our oldest vineyard and reserve wines “Bella Terra” to honour her passion for our farm in the heart of Niagara Wine Country.”
Wine recommendation: Pondview 2018 Cabernet Franc Rosé
Read more about Laura Milnes at Silk + Coupe
Instagram: @silkandcoupe
Twitter: @suzywinemaker
