I find my expectations around the taste and quality of wine vary depending on my surroundings or the location. Location can mean any number of places: countries, regions, large or small wineries, family-owned wineries, in a restaurant or at home.

Some of my favorite and most memorable experiences are those visits to small family-owned wineries in the middle of nowhere in foreign countries. Not to say I don’t have a fondness from family-owned here in the United States. It’s quite different… read on and you might agree.

While driving through Franconia, Germany and we saw a small sign near a driveway that read “Wine.” We made a right turn and parked in front of a simple house with a typical wooden swing set near the house and a heavy wooden door with a doorbell, which we pushed. An old woman (OMA or Grandma) opened the door. Her face and hands were weathered from years in the fields. Her hands looked strong, a finger was missing and there was plenty of earth under her nails. She spoke German with a regional accent so strong we could hardly understand her. However we all spoke “WINEeese” without strain.

When we asked if we could taste her wine her face lit up! She was cute as she wobbled back inside gesturing for us to follow her. She opened a little refrigerator and pulled out bottle after bottle of wine, all sorts of wine. If I remember correctly the bottles were already open and few had labels. She poured wine for each of us including herself.

Our expectation for the wine’s taste and quality was low. We were CORRECT; it was drinkable and nothing we would buy in a store. BUT we were having a fabulous time just soaking up the old woman’s joy of sharing wine with strangers. We stayed for at least an hour. She doted over our daughter pouring her glasses of varying grape juices: red, purple, white. Hayden eventually went to play on the swing and we bought wine.

I can’t say whether or not we ever drank the bottles we bought. It doesn’t matter – it was a memorable experience.

Insight, I believe, refers to the depth of understanding that comes by setting experiences, yours and mine, familiar and exotic, new and old, side by side, learning by letting them speak to one another.

Author's Bio: 

Become the Leader in YOUR Life!

Jake Tuschinski, owner of Divinitatis Consulting, is a certified life and leadership coach, speaker, and published author. Her areas of expertise include communication skills, leadership, success motivation, meeting management, and work-life balance

She addresses these in her individual work with clients, workshops, on-site training and as a guest speaker. She is a regular guest and contributing expert for Philly Art Bites and Selfgrowth.com.

Divinitatis: divinitas -atis f. [divine nature; the power of insight; excellence]. Divinitatis Consulting's Coach Jake delivers powerful insights to help you overcome obstacles, experience true leadership and create the Good Life you deserve.