The float danced endlessly on the water. I day dreamed about the last time I had gone fishing. I was remembering Justin Meyer who owned Silver Oak Winery. The years prior to starting Row Eleven were the years I seached for grapes, wine, vineyards, etc. for other winemakers. We were members of a fishing club. The club had a cabin on the McCloud River in California. That is one of the most famous and best fly fishing rivers in America. It is a closed river. We got use of the cabin twice a year. We would invite ten or more winemakers for a fishing weekend. Guys who enjoyed fishing like Justin Meyer (Silver Oaks), Mark Mondavi (Krug), Guy Ruhland (Heck Cellars), Steve Dorfman (Fetzer), Scott McCloud (Coppola), John Franzia (Bronco), Bruce Rector (Glen Ellen), various friends, and sometimes my cousin who had just started a winery in Trinity County. Trinity County was one County over where the McCloud runs. It was where I would often spend my summers growing up.

We knew how to rough it. We would hire a chef who would cook breakfast, make lunches, and prepare five course meals because everybody brought wine. Then we would tell jokes (mostly Justin), play poker, drink wine, port or brandy all night long and eventually go to bed. The real fisherman would get up before 10:00. They would just be getting up when my cousin would return having already got his fishing in for the day.

I didn’t catch a lot, but I got my share of fish. Mostly I just hung out with Justin. He was having balance and dizzy issues then. He was drinking a home remedy of olive oil and cilantro that someone had given him. I really liked Justin. He was why I make only Pinot Noir under the Row Eleven label. “Just do one thing and do it well,” he advised. “I only make Cabernet Sauvignon under Silver Oak. I go to tastings and tell people it is all I make it had better be good.” I use that line myself now, and like Justin I believe it. I looked up to Justin. I miss being around him. He wasn’t humble. But, he wasn’t cocky either. He was just sure of himself. Everything Justin did was a success. I guess I secretly hoped the secret would rub off on me.