Make Time For Music (And Wine!)

 

“In 2017, Let’s Make Time For Music

Greetings y’all and I hope everyone is off to a great start in 2017. One of the things I’m most excited about this year is a movement that our marketing team (a.k.a. our storytelling team) is kicking off, and it’s one that hits close to home for me. See we all lead busy lives, but it’s crucial that we don’t lose sight of the things that bring us true happiness, and the things that truly nourish our souls. For me, it’s not just about the love I have for making great wine, it’s about the passion I have for making great music. So in 2017, together with the storytelling team here at Wente Vineyards, we are standing up and asking everyone to Make Time For Music.

We want to inspire musicians around the world to never forget about their love for making, writing and playing music. We believe that life is enriched by the arts, but that a deliberate effort is needed to make sure that our busy lives do not get in the way of the art.

Take for example Brent from our Creative team. He’s a lifetime student of the arts and for years has worked on his DJ craft. He just recently signed up for some online music classes through Warp Academy to build on those skills even further. So after a day of designing Wente Vineyards wine labels or developing digital apps, Brent’s carving time out to jam on Ableton and hone his music skills.

Or Reinel from our Brand team, who in the past used his Pro Tools experience to land some of his music on radio waves around the world. To this day he still finds time for a jam sesh on the piano or guitar after a long day of wine marketing and brand storytelling.

We get it, life happens and life is important. But an enriching life is even more important. So whether you’re buried in books, working 80 hours a week, or juggling a busy family life…make time for music. If your spouse or friend hasn’t picked up his/her guitar in months, remind them how important it is to make time for music. If you’re child leads a busy life between school and sports, do them a lifelong favor and make time for music.

So join us in 2017 as we roll out this movement to make less excuses and make time for what matters. Make time for music. Rock on.

Karl D. Wente

P.S. If you don’t carve the time for yourself, no one else will. #MTFM”

Life is something that happens when we are busy making other plans. Last week a busy Wente Vineyards winemaker took to the stage at Chicago’s City Winery with his band Wolf Hamlin & The Front Porch Drifters to remind us of just that. Life happens. And we have to make time to take notice and to practice our passions. Karl Wente is right : if we don’t make time for ourselves, no one else will. What is your passion? When was the last time you practiced something you love? Is your passion a daily exercise? This year Karl wants to challenge us to stop and smell the roses, to pick up and play an instrument, to search for what drives your passion and practice it. We could all use a little more of that. Make time for music, and wine, of course!

Music and wine are a match made in heaven, one enhances the other. Wente Vineyards single vineyard collection wines went on the road alongside the band. Sipping single vineyard 2013 Riva Ranch Chardonnay? Tune into some Country vibes, rich with stories and individual personality. 2012 Charles Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with Indie Rock, bold, robust and full-bodied. Smooth and laid back single vineyard 2012 Riva Ranch Pinot Noir vibes best with Singer/Songwriter styles. We pair music with our moods, and wine with our food. Why not bring them together? I thoroughly enjoyed this wine/music pairing event. There may have even been some dancing…

Wente family put their promise to make time for music to task through their Wente Foundation for Arts Education. “The Wente Foundation for Arts Education’s mission is to raise money for arts education programs in the Livermore Valley. We believe that the arts are an essential part of a well-rounded education, and we are committed to helping our local schools provide high quality arts education programs.” The foundation’s goal, explained to us simply by Karl Wente, is to put instruments in the hands of children. The winery produces a special bottling, Art of Giving wine, with 50% of proceeds going to support the foundation. That’s putting your money where your mouth is, if you ask me.

Overall, I walked away from the event inspired. We all could use more time for music and art and good one and community. I challenge you to make time to meet friends for a glass of Wente wine and some music pairings. Create something beautiful, reach out to an old friend you always say you will contact, cook a meal for others, take a walk to the beach. Make time for music in your life, whatever your music maybe. This world could use a little help, don’t you agree?

City Winery Chicago is located at 1200 W. Randolph in Chicago’s West Loop.

Wente wines are widely available for purchase in Chicagoland area.

Logos and pictures within the article, as well as The Local Tourist access to the event, courtesy of Wente Vineyards and The Silverman Group.

Photos in the event gallery by Gourmet Rambler.