About 10 years ago I became obssesssed with researching my eastern european heritage.  During that research I learned about a group of people called Rusyns . This is a slavic group of people who have their own culture, own language, their own super star (Andy Warhol was Rusyn) and yet have never had their own country. They came from the Carpathian Mountains and settled in Slovakia, Hungary, and Serbia (the region, Vojvodina has one of the largest Rusyn populations in the world).

Lately I’ve been thinking about the Rusyns as I pack boxes in preparation for moving. I’m not exactly sure where I’m going. I just know I’m going. Just as the Rusyns fled the Mongols and Huns..I’m fleeing a bad economy. Okay, it’s probably not the same. They were running for their lives..I just want to save a few dollars while I focus on Small Lots Big Wines. Perhaps I have more in common with the wineries who lived a nomadic life to pursue their femented grape filled dreams

When I think of “nomadic” wines Buoncristiani always comes to mind. They started making wine in their parents’ garage. The worked for other wineries during the day and made their own wine when they were off work. Over the years they have “cellar surfed” at Razi, Caldwell, and now they rest at Mi Sueno while waiting for their facility to be built up on Atlas Peak.

Matthiasson is another winery that has moved around quite a bit. The first few years they crushed at Judd’s Hill, Hagafen, White Rock and now they are Selinus. Both Bourassa and Punk Dog custom crushed at Cataluca Winery before it closed its doors. Hartwell Vineyards custom crushed at Grace Family Vineyards until their winery was completed in 1999.

Although Kelley and Young have a family connection to Robert Young Winery they are crushing at De Lorimier. Paul Mathew crushes at Dutton. The list can go on and on.

Perhaps the one thing we can all take away from the Rusyns is how they have maintained their culture and identity no matter where they are in the world. These wineries have always maintained their own identity no matter what roof they have crushed under. And Small Lots Big Wines will be always be Small Lots Big Wines no matter whose internet service I have to piggy back

FYI: The picture above was taken at Buoncristiani's future home.