In 2006 I moved into our house on Richardson Lane. My neighbors the Hebranks have been like a 3rd set of Grandparents to the Vaughan Girls since we were small. With our grandparents gone now, they hold an even more precious role in our life!It was in 2006 that Mr. Dick passed on his 80 year old family recipe for homeade wine. The promise made is that when I am 80 I have to pass it on... The wine is made from grapes at my house that are 100+ years old planted by the Wright Family and grapes from Grandpa Vaughan's.
The wine is made the week before school starts and you can't drink it until Christmas Morning... These are the rules people.. you don't mess around... The other stipulation to this wine, is that it is not for "everyday use." It only comes out for special celebrations. I have fond memories of Grandma Vaughan having underestimated its power and napping away in her bedroom slippers, and Grandpa Vaughan proclaiming loudly " WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY!" after just one swig.
As the old country song says "There might be a little dust on the bottleBut don't let it fool ya about what's inside." This wine is no joke! Each year I make about 15 gallons and enjoy every last drop among my favorite people. This year's batch will be used as the toast wine for our wedding. Each table will be graced with a bottle of this year's bounty to salute the day. This weekend I started bottling it off into the recycled bottles I picked up at a local winery. Yep folks trying to be green about the big day and spend wisely.
This is my most sacred bottle. This is the first jug I ever made 6 years ago. It has tempted Danny Vaughan for years... He would say " Hey why don't we drink that jug?" I'd say it's for a special occasion Dad. When he would ask what I was saving it for... I would tell him I wasn't sure it had not happened yet... Some of this bottle will be the wine Nate and I will toast with at the wedding along with Mr. Dick. Dad and I have only ever had one sip out of this bottle... It was a toast to my Grandpa when he went to rest on high... 
I can't wait for a special dance with my Pop Mr. Dick on my wedding day. After a few sips he forgets about all the years, his aches and pains, and with a smile and a kiss he'll spin me around the dance floor and I can't wait! Our wedding will be rooted in traditions that fill our life and we are glad to share those traditions with fellow passgangers of our Road to Roland.
Until next time, you can find me in the basement in my "Wine Cave" prepping every bottle for you are special guests. It's a hard job testing all that wine.. but a bride must be committed to her guests... ;)
Cheers!
AMY
