Symbol of hope and life
- By Melissa Moholt-Siebert
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- 21 Apr, 2019
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...in a precious Easter decoration
Precious little remained for us to find as we sifted through what remained of our house and barns following the wildfires that ripped through our ranch/vineyard/home on early morning of October 9th, 2017.
When I moved to the ranch that had been Ken's family gathering spot for several generations, we became custodians not only of this beautiful land, but also Siebert family heirlooms.
The large upper barns, had served as a poultry barn in the 1920's, and housed a family of barn owls every year in a nest box that Ken built, and had stored hay for the 100+ sheep that Grandpa Henry once ran on this and several hundred acres of neighboring land. For us, it was also where we stored decorations for Christmas, and Easter, and St. Patrick's Day, and Halloween and Fourth of July and Thanksgiving.
Holidays have always been big in my family. My mom and grandma and aunts all have amazing decorations on their tables and fireplace mantles and front porches. Celebrating the special days to remind us that every day is worth celebrating. And any excuse to gather the family around the big dining room table is one to grab and hold on to. You never know if you'll all be able to gather next time.
When I moved to the ranch that had been Ken's family gathering spot for several generations, we became custodians not only of this beautiful land, but also Siebert family heirlooms.
The large upper barns, had served as a poultry barn in the 1920's, and housed a family of barn owls every year in a nest box that Ken built, and had stored hay for the 100+ sheep that Grandpa Henry once ran on this and several hundred acres of neighboring land. For us, it was also where we stored decorations for Christmas, and Easter, and St. Patrick's Day, and Halloween and Fourth of July and Thanksgiving.
Holidays have always been big in my family. My mom and grandma and aunts all have amazing decorations on their tables and fireplace mantles and front porches. Celebrating the special days to remind us that every day is worth celebrating. And any excuse to gather the family around the big dining room table is one to grab and hold on to. You never know if you'll all be able to gather next time.
So it is with great joy that I place this ceramic egg on my Easter table today. It is one of very few things that I found intact in the ruins of our house and barns.
Sending love to my mom, who gave this to us, and thanks to my mother-in-law, who is bringing an Easter feast up from her lovely Berkeley kitchen to share with us around the table in the little rustic shelter that Ken and I are calling home these days.
Celebrate life. Hug those you love. Celebrate hope and signs of new life all around you. Happy Easter. Chag Pesach semeach.
Ancient Oak Cellars, and Jon McDaniel with Second City Soil, gathered 60+ of the top sommeliers from around the country to taste four wines that Ancient Oak had sent to each -- and to enter into a discussion of the wines, farming and winemaking philosophies, and a wide-range of other related topics. We had a blast!
Re-live your experience, or take it in for the first time. Then be in touch to continue the discussions. Cheers!
A video introduction to the neighborhoods of the Russian River Valley.
watch a video of winemaker Greg La Follete talking about the importance of family-farmed wines and native yeast fermentation.
An occasional series in which we learn about wine professionals -- Somms, Wine Directors, Winemakers -- and whether they are really of another species, or whether we should view them as friends who know more about wine than we do, and can help us choose and learn more about wine!
We visited Novavine nursery, in Sonoma Valley, recently to see the progress of our newly-grafted grapevines, and to learn more about the process.
As you may know, Siebert Ranch -- the house, barns, and vineyards where owners Melissa and Ken Moholt-Siebert live -- was destroyed in the 2017 wildfires. We are on the long path to recovery and rebuilding. You can support us by buying our wine!
Melissa will be pouring Ancient Oak Cellars' wines at the Pomona College Alumni Vintner Tasting
A look at how oaks reproduce -- and a list of other interesting facts about oaks.
We continue to follow the long road to recovery following the Tubbs Fire, which destroyed the Siebert Ranch PInot Noir vineyard. In this installment, we explore the process of grafting the new vines that will make up the new vineyard.
Ancient Oak Cellars' winemaker Greg La Follette describes why making wine is like making music.
