History and Gravitating Toward the Authentic
I’ve thought about it many times but have never come up with a satisfactory answer to why it is I gravitate toward things historical. My masters is in Diplomatic History. Most of my vacations have taken me to historic places 
and cities. My library is full of histories. And my movie collection tends toward historical dramas. My first Wine PR client was Foppiano Vineyards: Founded 1896.
Rued Winery is Wark Communications’ most recent client. The first member of the Rued family to work in the CA wine industry was Henry Rued. He arrived in Napa Valley to plant vines for the Beringer Brothers in 1876. He put down his own vineyard in Sonoma County in 1882.
And so goes it.
The best I’ve been able to determine is that I have an appreciation for time and perspective. I either
gravitate toward things historical due to this appreciation or this appreciation is a 
byproduct of something else. If it is a byproduct of something else then the best I can determine is that "authenticity" motivates me. Either way, Rued Winery in Dry Creek Valley and the Rued family make me smile and inspire me in any number of ways and I’m pretty excited and honored to be working with them.
One of the aspects of Rued Winery, something that doesn’t fall into the category of historical, that fascinates me is the fact that they have a husband and wife winemaking team: Steve and Sonia Rued. I think this is a great story that will translate into a number of mediums. I don’t know they do it. I know I couldn’t. Clearly the winemaking spouses and I have different dispositions with them taking the prize for patience.
This patient duo, the history of the Rued family, and their lovely, small production wines will take center stage as I help them tell their story. In the end, those that hear the story will hopefully feel as though they’ve discovered something new. They’ll certainly understand the meaning of "authentic" upon hearing and experiencing the Rued Family and their wines.
Beautiful label as well. As an artist, it’s so important to me. Any history behind the symbol?
I’m the same way with history, Tom. It’s where we came from that gives a greater sense as to where we’re going, and in other cases, values and events remain frozen in a certain time and era; like looking at a prehistoric bug in amber. I think that’s what’s makes history so attractive; it’s what we were, sometimes what we still are, and a major influence in what we will be.
We’re still putting together the site for the actual vineyard, but you actually may enjoy the history of Tin Cross as well. This isn’t the whole story, but it was planted in the mid 1850s by a pioneer family known as the Allen Family, making it one of the oldest vineyards Sonoma Valley.
Thomas Jefferson’s Land Ordinance of 1785 made it possible for Spanish Land Grants to be turned into government property, and as a result allowed a veteran to sell his 160 acre claim of the mountain property to the George Allen and his family.
Today, it’s still a functioning vineyard now owned and operated by a new family.
Of course, my favorite part from the history is how one of George’s sons was deputized by the local sheriff when California’s own poet bandit, Black Bart, was making robberies near the property in Cloverdale, Ca. The Wild West was an exciting time.
A coup–they make lovely, honest wines–the winery’s history is the cherry on top–that, and they are reasonably priced.
I have an opposite opinion. I think history is overplayed. I remember participating on a panel in Aspen years ago. The speaker before me, the owner of a winery that claimed to be the oldest in California, based his whole presentation on history…which had absolutely no connection to what was going on today at his winery and it’s German ownership. Uniformly glazed over look in the eyes in the audience. A pattering of applause. I followed him and talked about today and the future, grape and quality, and “romance.” That’s what they wanted to hear. Who cares what went on a hundred years ago if it has no bearing on today?
History can and does provide a most awesome framework, especially in terms of authenticity, but it cannot nor should not be the raison d’être for any winery. History can certainly enrichen the current experience with a given wine or winery, but it is no substitute for a dynamic relevant-to-today philosophy and passion. For me, the best use of history is to inspire the future.
My guess is that gravitation towards things historical is a dwelling in the past. Unlike the present, which is constantly changing or in flux, the past is fixed or frozen as an image in your mind [regardless of the content] and it never changes. That in itself can be very comforting compared to the uncertainty of being or dwelling in the present.