Happy Thursday!

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Antica Terra, a world class winery with a major cult following in the Willamette Valley.

Think $400 Pinots, and a label name-dropped by LeBron and other celebrity wine-o’s on podcasts.

All that to say - it was a special experience that I’ll never forget. Not because I was tasting wine worth more than my monthly car payment, or that famous people fight to secure allotments, but because of the people at the winery.

Be The Somm of Your Own Life

If you’ve ever been around a sommelier, or even watched the famous “Somm” documentary on Netflix - it’s pretty insane.

These men and women are the literal definition of a walking encyclopedia.

From what I can tell, the process goes something like:

Curiosity → Passion → Education → Obsession → Dedication → Endurance → Achievement → Service

This is a rough mental model, but what’s so impressive is their love of the game. Not dissimilar from a Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant-esque obsessive worldview.

These people love wine so much, they will put themselves through years of torturous all-nighters, study sessions, tastings, note cards, memorization, and failed exams in order to become a world class authority that can confidently share their knowledge and passion with others.

Even more - wine is unique in that it weaves history, culture, terroir, weather, personality, tradition and so much more into a singular immersive experience that plays on multiple senses.

Well, that passion was on full display during my visit.

First of all, I had a cellar room to myself for an 8 course tasting with 4 food pairings. For each pour, Art (one of the somm’s on-site) came and gave me a 5-10 minute rundown about each wine. Who makes it, where, why, what’s so unique, and what to look for when smelling/tasting.

It is so rare, refreshing, and almost intense to be in the presence of someone with so much deep knowledge and passion for a singular thing. My dingus brain was fried trying to remember everything about soil types, pH levels, different barrels, local customs and more.

The best part? I could feel how excited he was to share everything with me, and my reciprocated curiosity led to more pours and more lessons. Just 2 dudes talking grapes for 2 hours.

I left feeling inspired. In some ways, starting RP WEEKLY has been the latest step in honing in on my own passions as the world continues to change. With so many things rapidly becoming automated and re-structured right before our eyes. There’s never been a better time to double down on what makes you tick, and go all in. Leverage yourself, your individuality, and your authenticity. That’s your moat. When you love it enough, you’ll suffer for it. Once you come out the other end, the reward really comes in sharing and giving back to others.

Be the somm of your own life.

RP WEEKLY!!