Feel the Joy

We’re feeling the joy that great wines bring to our lives after a recent weekend with friends old and new at Arcadia Vineyards (Lüleburgaz, Turkey). Under the conscientious stewardship of father-daughter partnership, Ozcan and Zeynep Arca, Arcadia’s ecosystem is built for more than just winemaking. “This project is not just about wine”, Ozcan told us, “and it’s about much more than just making money. It is about the people who will come and be a part of Arcadia over the years”. Solid material for reflection, we thought, beyond the bricks, mortar, and liquid.

Finding ground in the storm

The trip served as a great reminder of the power of sharing. Many of us are faced with external pressures – professional challenges, personal responsibilities, general worries of economic or?political uncertainty?– that can feel overwhelming at times. But in the quiet contemplation of a shared glass of wine, there lies an antidote to the daily noise. It’s not just about the immediate pleasure of the sip, but about the full, multi-sensory moment that enjoying something like a great wine affords us. We are forced to detach from our screens, and focus on the ritualistic pulling of the cork, the swirling of the glass, tasting, and finally, the interaction with our peers.

Canvas for Connection

Afterall, wine is by nature a social beverage. It’s meant to be shared, passed across the table, accompanied by laughter and conversation. As we tasted some of the great?wines of France together during our getaway, each glass provided further opportunity for free-flowing discussion, connecting with one another, telling stories, and sharing in a memorable experience. In today’s world – rife with political division – there is great comfort to be found in communal moments across cultures and backgrounds. It nurtures basic human empathy that the daily grind erodes. We may not agree on everything, but the foundation of mutual interest in the glass provides an efficient, not to mention delightful bridge.

Conscientious Consumption

While we advocate strongly for the cultural importance of sharing the world’s vinous treasures, it’s also crucial to emphasise mindful consumption. The goal is not to escape reality, but to appreciate it with a renewed?perspective. When the world feels chaotic, we look to the simple?act of choosing a great wine, and sharing its joy with those around us. It can be a powerful tool for cultivating personal grounding, forging connections within communities, and ultimately, igniting the spark of creative resilience we need to navigate turbulent times.?So next time we raise a glass, let’s remind ourselves of man’s collective strength in the face of challenge, and take time to feel the joy along the way.