Spring is certainly in the air. Warmer days, cool nights, occasional rain, flowers and trees budding and yes, the vines are budding too, marking the beginning of the 2026 vintage.
It’s true that April showers bring May flowers. For grapevines, budding begins when daytime temperatures reach a consistent 50 degrees, generally between mid-March and mid-April depending on where the vineyards are located. This is the time for spring rain, followed by flowering in late April and early May.
The natural cycle begins every spring, and it is truly a wonder that in roughly six months harvest will be taking place and the juice of the season will be fermenting for our enjoyment in the coming year(s).
Wine is a joy. Wine is a story. Wine is history and, perhaps most importantly, wine unites people.
The beverage of wine has existed for over 10,000 years. It predates borders, wars, and religion, and yet it has always survived. Wine was, and still is, the elixir of kings, queens, and commoners alike. Wine and the vines traveled the world with Roman expansion across Europe and continued into the age of exploration, when ships set out to discover the Americas and beyond.
In short, wine is an integral part of the past and very much present now and into the future.
The wine industry has evolved, just as every species does. At present, the wine industry is feeling the strains of climate change as well as shifts in supply and demand, as wine consumption has recently declined. The industry will respond, adapt, and continue to survive and thrive.
You may have read stories about acres of vines being removed from vineyards across many wine regions, and about some producers planting vines further north to experiment with cooler climates and different soils in order to preserve their trade. All of this is true.
My job as a professor, a licensed and certified educator of wine, a sommelier, and a wine judge is to learn about and understand these changes and how they will affect the trade, the consumer, and the global wine industry moving forward. My joy and passion is sharing the ever-changing world of wine with you.
Park City Wine Club and Somm-Services bring fun, educational, and enlightening wine events to the community. We serve Park City, the Wasatch Back, Greater Salt Lake, and even travel down to Southern Utah as well as outside our state.
Events are held monthly. Some are simple wine tastings. Others are paired with cheeses or small bites, some with chocolate, and a few are full winemaker dinners. Each event is designed to bring you a new perspective, a new favorite wine, a new pairing, or a renewed excitement for wine. Most importantly, they bring people together to enjoy one of the world’s oldest traditions: sharing wine.
Spring’s arrival is a rebirth, a time to grow. So let’s grow together. Learn something new, taste something new, travel somewhere new, all with one common thread: wine.
New events are coming soon and will be posted on the Park City Wine Club webpage as well as the Somm-Services page. Need a private event? Just send an email. With over 15 years in wine and hospitality, we can customize almost anything (almost).
Come share and learn wine with me. From novice to enthusiast, there is something for everyone in the world of wine.
Cheers!
