Your Account
Cart 0 items: $0.00

Kate's Blog

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Kate Dubost
 
March 18, 2024 | Kate Dubost

It's not easy being small.

I am an unapologetic adult Muppets fan. As a math educator I loved The Count. Lucas and I danced our mother/son dance at his wedding to Kermit the Frog's "Rainbow Connection". But it is a variation of Kermit's ballad, “Its not Easy Being Green” that keeps popping into my head these days. More and more as a small winery owner, it seems I mutter under my breath , “its not easy being small”. 
 
Kermit's lament -
“And people tend to pass you over
Cause you’re not standing out
Like flashy sparkles in the water 
Or stars in the sky.”
 
Those words made me think about what being small really meant. We produce under 2000 cases a year. Many wineries produce more than that of any one wine. We have one full time employee, several part time employees, one consulting winemaker. We have a dirt road, sometimes weeds growing where we don’t want them, a vineyard that always wants more attention, feral cats, wild hogs, mountain lions and chickens just to name a few of what can be found at Dubost. 
 
What we, also, DO have is some of the best wine in Paso Robles, thanks to Zachary’s hard work. Small lot hand crafted with love and just back breaking labor. 
 
We are on property that the Dubost family has owned since 1882. I think we must be the OLDEST continuously family owned property with a family owned winery in Paso Robles. We are small but mighty. We have over 300 club members. Many have been with us since the first shipment in 2007. Many others have been with us for years and years, many just a short time or recently new to our wine club. 
 
So I say to myself - That is standing out! 
We do have "flashy sparkles" maybe just a different kind of flashy. 
And as for the stars.....well, we have those too. Our family, our history, our employees, our members and if there is any furthher doubt about stars we just look up at the night sky.
 
We are small and " it'll do fine. It's beautiful, and I think it's what I want to be". Thanks, Kermit, for those words of encouragement.
 
Please continue to support small family wineries. They are our neighbors and our friends. It isn’t easy being small, but with customers and members like you, it sure is a whole lot easier. 
 
With love and appreciation, 
Kate Dubost
Kate Dubost
 
February 14, 2024 | Kate Dubost

Love & Wine

February has been off to a stormy start. We love the rain, but miss our visitors. The month seems to be over almost before it starts and it is even one day longer this year. 

Filled with holidays, from the Lunar New Year, Fat Tuesday’s Mardi Gras, Valentine’s Day, and Presidents Day, it is a month of celebrations, appreciation, and joy. 

In the vineyard, we wait until it is dry enough to prune - an act done in anticipation of the growth and renewal of the coming vintage. Happy to wait while we plan. 

Planning the next bottling, the Spring Country Club Release, and all the upcoming celebrations. Always an exciting time. We love sharing our wines, food, and history. 

A favorite quote, often misattributed to Pope Francis, comes to mind. It exists in various forms throughout history. Here is my favorite version:

“Rivers do not drink their own water: trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is… life is good when you are happy, but much better when others are happy because of you."

I hope that in some little way, you are happier because of Dubost. We most certainly are because of you. 

Love, 

Kate Dubost

Kate Dubost
 
December 18, 2023 | Kate Dubost

Traditions

Traditions. They are important. They give consistecy to our lives and additional meaning to their seasons. 
 
At the winery we have them, especially around harvest. Traditionally we pour champagne on the first harvest bin. Zachary traditionally grows a harvest beard. We pull out tubs of decorations for the season, whatever it may be, for the tasting room. During the Christmas holiday, our great winery neighbors stop by with wine or sweet treats. 
 
This year once again the tubs will be brought out both for home and the winery. As they are unpacked, the ornaments and decorations will remind me of the years that came before and the people who gave us special ones, who made them or where we got them. The lights will be checked to make sure they still light up. 
 
There seems to be light in some form associated with holidays around the world. This year we attended the Downtown Paso Holiday Lighting Ceremony with our grandaughter, Kali, visiting from Texas. It was a light filled magical memory to be able to experience that with her. 
 
Whatever your traditions or holidays during this season may they be filled with light and magical memories. 
 
Kate Dubost

COUNTRY CLUB

Kate Dubost
 
November 23, 2023 | Kate Dubost

Thankful - Count our Blessings

 "Grace"
On Thanksgiving, someone always says grace. Regardless of what our every day meal ritual may be it seems essential to this holiday. It is for the pause, the quiet thanks for love and for our blessings, before the shoveling begins. We acknowledge that this food and wine didn't just magically appear: someone grew it, ground it, bought it, baked it, made it, bottled it. 
 
We are thankful for the plentiful food, our time on the couch digesting it, and the day spent basking in doing nothing else. We savor these moments and our opportunity to work and play together. We are thankful that winegrowing has brought the additional blessing of friends twenty fold.  
 
We are aware of Someone's great and abiding generosity to our dear and motley group of family and friends. We say thank you and pray to be mindful to the needs of others. Whatever its form we acknowledge our blessings in a holy moment of gratitude. That is "grace" and we are filled with it. 
 
We wish you and yours the happiest of Thanksgivings!
From all of us at Dubost
 
Inspired by:
Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers
Anne Lamott