Dispatches from the Vineyard

The Bittersweet End: When the Harvest is Over, but we Gotta Do it Again!
There’s a moment—right after the last crate is stacked, the soil settles, and the air shifts—that feels like both a sigh and a summons. Harvest is over. The hands are blistered, the boots caked, the back bowed just enough to remind you of the labor. And yet, there’s pride in the ache. You did it. You coaxed life from the land, wrestled with weather, pests, and doubt. You fed something—maybe someone. Maybe yourself.But before the dust even settles, the knowing creeps in: you’ll do it all again. The Ritual of... Read more...
Wine Without Borders - The Myths of Napa Wine Superiority
Here’s another inconvenient truth for the Napa purists: the first American Viticultural Area (AVA) wasn’t in California. It was in Augusta, Missouri. Awarded in 1980, this designation recognized the unique terroir and winemaking tradition of a region that’s often overlooked by coastal critics. Read more...
The Norton Grape: Rediscovering Our Own Native Grape
Norton is more than a grape—it’s a ritual. For growers, winemakers, and storytellers alike, it represents the act of reclaiming something nearly lost. At Bag & Bard, we treat each Norton harvest as a seasonal rite: from the first frost that signals readiness, to the freezing and fermenting that preserve its bold character. Read more...