“What’s her secret?”

My mom?

“Yeah she doesn’t look 90!”

I know! She will probably bury me.

“How does she look so young?”

Buddy I think it’s the ice cream. I see it all the time. She brings it over. She empties pints here. She finishes Oro Bianco which is impossible for mortals!

“Is that why she got the huge sundae at the birthday event?”

Yes. Everyone knows mom’s famous - some would say notorious - love of desserts at the winery, and at dinners and special occasions. Kappy said she would make a banana split tribute sundae for Joan. It looks like the original 15 scoop Matterhorn from baskin Robbin’s! But modernized and 100x better! All home made toppings too.

“Bet it was spectacular. But seriously what’s her secret. What advice does she have for her long life?”

Two words: DON’T DIE

“Ummmm…. “

Yeah I guess that sums it up. Personally I think it’s also a healthy amount of Worry. Think about it. Worry means you have opinions and you care about things. And you want to either fix them or see what happens. So it means you have a vested interest in the future. Make sense?

“I guess so. But there must be some other secret ingredient.”

Well. She did leave this carton of organic beef bone broth. She must drink it straight or something. And a tin can of mackerel. You can have it if you want it.

“Ugh no thanks hard pass!”

Well maybe people don’t really want to know these secrets!!

Personally I think it’s the regular enjoyment of Siboney wine and all that comes with it since 2017!

Happy Birthday mom. See you at 100!!

@jgdoeswine @britt_garrett11 have traveled and tasted their way across more Texas wineries in 2026 than perhaps anyone! Having spent many years covering the @vawine scene, this husband-and-wife collaboration is putting in the miles in @northtexaswinecountry and the @texashillcountrywine AVAs.

Jesse keeps his writings on a Substack and publishes here on IG and it’s clear they both observe, taste and publish an informed and entertaining perspective.

Personally I don’t see them stopping at in-depth coverage of the Texas wine scene. There’s more to the Substack than that. We have already given them fair warning - the same one we were given… if you get this committed to the business you only have a few years before it will be too late to pull out!

We do recommend you follow the journey and the conversation!

PS - yes that’s a custom gold medal bestowed to @besiboney from Jesse for her 2023 Petite Sirah. And no we did not have to trade 3 cases of wine and commit to a year long subscription to accept it!!!! Thank you Jesse and Brittany, keep up the conversation!

I know we are not out of the drought by a long shot but it’s good to see this lawn taking up the rain we have had. The droid thinks he’s mowing center field at Yankee Stadium and Piper is catching grasshoppers.

Remind me of this picture in August!