At Home in the Vineyard: Cultivating a Winery, an Industry, and a Life [Paperback]

Susan Sokol Blosser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 7, 2008

This moving, evocative memoir, woven with lyrical descriptions of the sights and smells of vineyard life, tells the inspirational story of one woman's journey to success in an industry run mostly by men. At Home in the Vineyard, filled with colorful characters and unexpected experiences, brings a local rural community vividly alive as Oregon wine pioneer and industry icon Susan Sokol Blosser recounts how she fell in love with a vineyard, learned how to run it, and ultimately achieved her vision of producing Pinot Noirs to rival those of Burgundy. An intimate family story, At Home in the Vineyard also gives a candid insider's view of Oregon's flourishing wine industry.
Sokol Blosser begins her narrative in the 1970s, when, as a young, idealistic wife, she helped her husband make his wild idea of planting a vineyard in the Dundee Hills become a reality. By the book's final pages, she has become president of Sokol Blosser Winery, widely respected for gaining national visibility and for producing world-class wines, especially the elusive Pinot Noir. Along the way, Sokol Blosser tells how she learned to do everything from driving a tractor and managing a picking crew to selling Oregon wine in Manhattan. She also shares some special accomplishments: how she instituted values of environmental sustainability and social responsibility at the vineyard, integrated family and business life, and successfully brought the second generation on board.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1970, the Blossers were in their mid-20s, having spent most of their four married years in graduate school or on memorable road trips in their Volkswagon camper. Then, as she puts it, "Bill and I each gave birth." She produced their first child, while he bought their first lot of vineyard land—in Oregon. As Blosser explains, in 1970 American wine was supposed to be made in California, if at all. But they were guessing that pinot noir, in particular, might work well in a colder, damper climate if the soil were right and the growing calendar adjusted to work with the weather. The Blossers, together with other Oregon pioneers, built up a well-regarded wine industry, which in recent years has become one of the state's more environmentally progressive industries as well. Blosser tells the story of how they learned both viniculture and small business management. True, their marriage ended after 33 years, but she's not one to dwell on the negative in this upbeat narrative. While Blosser's story might be interesting for a vintner hopeful, general readers may find it flat. Blosser might make great wines, but her writing could use a little more flavor. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Just like the complex Pinot Noir crafted by Sokol Blosser, Susan's life story is layered and rich. Even if you're not a wine lover, you will love reading this touching memoir." - Leslie Sbrocco, author of Wine for Women: A Guide to Buying, Pairing, and Sharing Wine "At last, an intelligent, literate, first-hand observation of the beginnings of the Oregon wine industry." - David Adelsheim, President, Adelsheim Vineyard "This is a coming-of-age story of a wine region and of a woman. It is about finding and following your destiny, but also shaping it yourself." - Andrea (Immer) Robinson, Master Sommelier and author, Andrea's Complete Wine Course for Everyone" --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 1 edition (May 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520256298
• ISBN-13: 978-0520256293
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #891,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Susan Sokol Blosser, a contemporary Oregon icon, made her fame as a wine industry pioneer, community activist, environmental advocate, and author. Known for her leadership of Sokol Blosser Winery in Dundee, Oregon, she was a forerunner in practicing the triple bottom line--people, planet, profit. With its certified organic vineyard, the first LEED (U.S. Green Building Council's certification) winery building in the world, and business practices based on The Natural Step model of sustainability, Sokol Blosser Winery made social responsibility and environmental ethics priorities, while pursuing its vision of producing fabulous wines.

Susan holds a BA from Stanford University, a MAT from Reed College, and an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the University of Portland, citing her entrepreneurship within the context of environmental and social responsibility. Her memoir, At Home in the Vineyard: Cultivating a Winery, an Industry, and a Life, was published in 2006. Gracious & Ruthless: Surprising Strategies for Business Success, appeared in 2008.

In 2008, Susan turned the presidency of Sokol Blosser Winery over to her children,m stepping back with the title of Founder. She is married to Russ Rosner, Sokol Blosser Winery's winemaker.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Minor Classic, October 1, 2006

By 

Lazuli "Lazuli" (France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: At Home in the Vineyard: Cultivating a Winery, an Industry, and a Life (Hardcover)

This is a brilliant book written by a highly intelligent and unusual woman. It is probably headed towards becoming a minor classic. Like all great books it is not easy to classify. At its most superficial it purports to be a history of the Oregon wine industry, a subject of limited interest. At another level it is a business autobiography by a woman who heads a successful Oregon winery, a subject of slightly wider appeal. Yet both levels simply form a frame to answer more eternal questions: who am I and how did I get to be who I am? At that deeper level the book may come to have a more lasting life.

Emerging into adulthood in the early 1970's the author and her husband bought land in Oregon and planted grape vines which ultimately led to the Sokol-Blosser Winery. That they were in their early twenties with no business experience, no knowledge of the wine industry, and no knowledge of agricultural did not then occur to them as an insurmountable obstacle. Nearly forty years later after taking over the business from her husband, surviving the disinvestment of her brothers, droughts, rain storms, a volcanic eruption, separation from business partners, 20% interest rates, three children, a three-legged cat, recalcitrant geese, a mid-life divorce, love unexpectedly found anew, success in business and failure in politics, the author recounts with great honesty the trials and tribulations of a woman's life in the second half of the 20th century as mother, wife, and CEO.

While the author ascribes the emerging success of her business mainly to determination and some luck, her intelligence and judgment shine through and provide a more convincing explanation. That no rancor invades the author's tale, despite many instances where bitterness and acrimony would be a natural response, suggests that her skill and judgment in negotiating difficult situations may have counted more heavily than simple determination. The author's seriousness is often leavened with humor. It is a book well worth reading.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A surprising memoir for our times, September 22, 2006

By 

Sue Cleary "Sue" (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: At Home in the Vineyard: Cultivating a Winery, an Industry, and a Life (Hardcover)

Susan Sokol Blosser's narrative of her experiences surprised me by its appeal. It is beautifully written -- lyrical and honest -- and draws the reader into the personalities of the people, their fortunes and misfortunes. That is what we could expect of any good memoir. What surprised me was how engaging the author's description of the business of creating vineyards and a winery and marketing their products, along with the struggle to do so with environmentally sound practices. This is a person who has lived her principles and created a richly rewarding life.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At Home in the Vineyard, August 31, 2006

By 

W. Meinhardt (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: At Home in the Vineyard: Cultivating a Winery, an Industry, and a Life (Hardcover)

I could not put down this fascinating account of the history of Oregon wine that we love. Be prepared to be amused at how these wine rookies learned their craft, nervous whether they would actually be successful, and amazed at how they created a family business to be proud of.