The Pleasures of Creating Amista Vineyards

Savoring Family Bonds…

…a story of gratitude, cherished memories and connections.

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, I'm excited to share a series of short weekly posts that take you behind the scenes, revealing memorable moments that have shaped our journey at Amista Vineyards.

A twentieth anniversary is a perfect moment to pause and reflect on the blessings that have shaped our journey. With Thanksgiving upon us, it feels like the right time to share a few stories that capture our deep sense of gratitude, joy, and fulfillment. Here is one of my favorites.

My parents always enjoyed an occasional glass of wine, but their excitement blossomed when they traveled from Arizona to help us bottle our "Garage Syrah." This was the first wine my late husband, Mike, crafted from our vineyard in Healdsburg, California. As a thank-you to everyone who pitched in that day, we offered cases of wine to take home. Most of our friends left with a case or two.

My mom, however, shyly asked if they could take ten cases. We laughed and said, “Of course! Take as many as you can fit in the car.” Mike and I were surprised but didn’t think much more of it until six weeks later. During a phone call, she hesitated before asking if they could get more.

“Mom, did you drink all that wine already?” I teased.

She laughed and assured me they hadn’t. Instead, they’d brought the Syrah to parties, served it at gatherings, and shared it with friends. Apparently, my parents were quite the social butterflies! Knowing they were spreading our vision of friendship and community warmed our hearts.

When we officially launched Amista Vineyards, they became our biggest supporters. They were among the first to invest in futures of our inaugural vintage, attended our winemaker dinners and festivals in Healdsburg, and even joined us on a wine cruise along the Danube. They never missed an opportunity to introduce friends to our wines.

Our journey with Amista has deepened bonds within both of our families and even unearthed long-lost relatives. Sharing the fruits of our labor and the beauty of wine country with loved ones has been an unexpected surprise and one of the most rewarding parts of this adventure.