This Old House

An old house reminds us of our place in life. We are not the first, nor will we be the last, inhabitants. The long nights of winter solstice give us extra time to sit by the fire and ponder and wonder. How did past generations endure those dark, cold, long nights? Imagine the music, the storytelling, the knitting and mending, and the never-ending stoking of fireplaces that once took place between these walls.

All four of Linden’s winegrowing team live in centuries-old houses. This constant subliminal reminder of the past gives us a greater respect for those who came before us. While we have none of our own winegrowing ancestors to learn from, we can’t help but look backwards for inspiration. We are attracted to Old World traditions where intuition trumps science and respect for terroir replaces winemaking egos.

In the vineyard we still occasionally find an old rusty horseshoe from past farming practices. The springhouse foundation, old stone walls, and the remnants of an ice pond are permanent reminders. Just as with our European colleagues, our environment influences our approach. We get frustrated with new technology and new methodology. We are happiest pruning on a cold, still, quiet morning only disturbed by a flock of wayward geese. 

We like to think that our wines reflect this. How could they not?

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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: December 18, 2022