Why I Love My Job

by Kyle Anne Pallischeck, Tasting Room Manager

Community:

1.  A group of people living together in one place, esp. one practicing common ownership.

If you travel around to any of the numerous wineries in the Finger Lakes, you'll surely hear someone behind the tasting bar recommending a wine from a winery... other than the one they're working at.  Some people find this surprising, as the expectation seems to be that we are all competitors.  In reality I think it's a true representation of the community that has developed in the wine industry of the Finger Lakes Region.


2.  A group of people having a religion, race, profession, or other particular characteristic in common.

In my scant two months at Fox Run Vineyards I've met countless people involved in the industry - from winery owners to other tasting room managers and staff, local hospitality business owners to vineyard workers and winemakers.  Everyone I meet endeavors to attain the same goal: the success of the tourism and wine industry in this beautiful region we've chosen to call home.  It may be a cliche, but the old adage "It takes a village to raise a child" seems to fit this area quite well.  The community has reared its "child", the Finger Lakes Wine Country, into a mature and delightful "grown-up".

3.  A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

It's a team effort almost all the way around.  There have been countless winemakers learning through the tutelage of others in the region who have then gone  on to start their own production facilities and labels.  Staff can be found floating between different wineries, helping out in almost any way possible.  For some people it's a pastime, for others it's a lifestyle.  But pull it all together and it creates one large community.

4.  A group of interdependent organisms of different species growing or living together in a specified habitat.

Pay close attention, because in the coming years the development and success of this region will not rest solely on the product and output of one or two places alone - the phenomenon of the Finger Lakes Wine Region will be a product of the community and all those involved in it.

(Definitions were provided by Dictionary on MacBook.)

You don't have to be deeply immersed in the wine industry to get a sense of what I'm talking about here. Evan Dawson's book Summer in a Glass provides interwoven stories of members of the community, and the Tierce Riesling and red blend stories are tangible examples, being a collaborative effort of the talented winemakers from Red Newt, Anthony Road and Fox Run.

But for me, attending the Riesling Rumpus last night, kindly hosted by Red Newt Cellars and Bistro, really set the my feet in concrete with this, well, family.  Being among old friends from the trade excited to see each other and share stories with newbies inspired me to no end, and has helped clarify that it's not only the wine that will make this region world renowned, it's also the very organic 4th definition of community. Read that definition again, please, and see if you agree.

Music of the Day: 

• Audra Mae - Sons of Anarchy: "Forever Young"

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