As I gain years on my age and lines on my face, I’ve come to the realization that I am becoming the patriarch of my family. So, as we approach that day where, with a tip of our hat, we reflect on the importance of our fatherly mentors, I take pause. My grandfather, the man who helped raise me, has passed and, in all likelihood, this will be my father’s last year on this earth. Thus this “celebration” of Father’s Day will be with a raise of a glass (or three) to those that helped mold me into the man I am today.

Greek Food Fests

Along with blooms and nicer weather, Spring also welcomes Greek Food Fests. Usually occurring close to Orthodox Easter, these church festivals with amazing food, dance, and music render pleasant memories. Although not Greek himself, my grandfather had a myriad of Greek friends and loved Greek cuisine.

The tradition of attending these festivals carried through to my adulthood, where I continue to visit every year. In my formative years, I was unable to appreciate the Greek wines being served, but that has since drastically changed. This year my Greek Orthodox church food was accompanied by Tselepos Mantinia Moschofilero ($22). This 100% Moschofilero variety hails from the Peloponnese region in the appellation of Mantinia. The perfumed floral notes combine with the ripe orchard and citrus fruit nuances to create a great pairing with this childhood memory.

Camping aromas

Some of the most meaningful and memorable times spent with my father were in the woods. We did a tremendous amount of camping, with and without my Boy Scout troop. The smell of the forest (soil, underbrush, decomposing vegetation) was a scent that still remains hauntingly intoxicating to my olfactory senses.

Although many Pinot Noir wines can elicit this flashback, I was recently treated with Saltner Pinot Nero Riserva DOC 2022 ($33). Hailing from Südtirol (Alto Adige) in Northeastern Italy, this Pinot Noir, colloquially known as Pinot Nero, has crunchy red fruit, lovely violet aromas and that classic forest floor element that has me back camping with my dad.

Grandpa’s Woodshop

Cedar – cigar box is another aroma that provokes memories of yesteryear. My grandfather used woodworking as a therapeutic escape from the stresses of everyday life. Upon strolling into the garage of my childhood home, one would instantly be met with the scent of cut wood, especially cedar.

Bordeaux reds always seem to have that cigar box quality that reminds me of watching my grandfather pass the time on one of his many woodworking projects. Tempo d’Angelus 2022 Bordeaux ($30) drinks well above its price point, showing aromas of dark fruit, baking spices and the humidor my grandfather made for me.

Picking Berries

The final patriarchal memory shifts back to my father transporting me on his shoulders. As a young child, it was my most favorite form of transportation. It also facilitated my reaching the delicious berries on the mulberry trees growing along the Monongahela River. The “berry tree” stops along our route became routine when the season allowed us the chance to indulge. Even though the stained fingers and lips would fade after a few days, the aroma and flavor of mulberry are cemented into my memory.

Although some grape varieties, like Merlot and Mourvèdre, are capable of developing mulberry aromatics, this cannot be fully predicted. While recently tasting through the portfolio of Stanton Barrett Family Wines, the 2018 Proprietor’s Artist Series Merlot Reserve ($27) stopped me in my tracks.

The wine boasts black pepper spice, plum, and dark fruits (including mulberry). The tannins are smooth and integrated with a noticeable minerality and a smoky toasted oak finish. Although I find the wine a splendid example of what a varietal Merlot can become, it was honestly the mulberry notes that tugged at my heartstrings.

As I continue to connect those different wine aromatics with patriarchal memories of yesteryear, I realize that this ritual has become more than just sensory recall. It’s a way to keep their presence alive—not just in thought, but in the tangible act of tasting, smelling, and sharing. These wines are more than just juice in a glass. They are bookmarks in the story of my father, my grandfather, and of myself.

This Father’s Day, whether you’re raising a glass in the company of family or toasting quietly to those who are no longer here, I invite you to let the wines you choose tell the story of your family. After all, the most meaningful bottles are not just about what’s in the glass, but who they remind us of, and the memories they help stir.

Cheers to fathers, grandfathers, and the mentors who shaped us. Happy Father’s Day.