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A Toast To Perseverance
Written By: Davis Picklesimer - Highlands Wine Shoppe | Issue: 2018/06 - June
Don’t be afraid to fail – Michael Honig The best wine is produced from grapes that come from a stressed environment.
Could we say the same for men? If we’re discussing Michael Honig, then the answer is “Yes.” At age 22, Michael left college to save his deceased grandfather’s dream of having a family winery (we use the word “winery” loosely). In 1984, with only a few hundred cases of wine, no customers, no winemaking degree from UC Davis, he began selling wine door to door from the back of his Subaru station wagon. If these obstacles were not enough of a challenge, Michael was selling the less popular Sauvignon Blanc!
After surviving the 80’s, one more severe season lay ahead. During the 90’s, Michael would need to persevere through family issues; his father was convicted of “Conflict of Interest” charges and his mother passed away suddenly.
What personal qualities were planted during these seasons of adversity?
Michael stayed true to his beliefs of establishing both a family- and environmentally- friendly winery. While inviting family members to work with him at the winery, he also helped pioneer sustainable farming in the 90’s. What do bees, bats, birds, solar energy and golden retriever “sniffer dogs” have in common? Honig Winery uses all of these natural resources to avoid, or at least keep to a minimum, harmful pesticides.
By asking the simple question, “What is the impact?” with each decision he makes, Michael not only set the standard for Honig Winery but the industry as a whole when he helped write the
Wine Institute Code of Sustainable Wine grower Practices.
On a personal level, I was invited to have lunch with Michael and his family at their home last August.
Michael expressed a caring smile as I shared with him the kind words of his employees as they described the “family atmosphere” at Honig Winery. After spending a few hours with Michael and watching his young daughter serve us lunch, I knew the employee comments were genuine. You will render your own conclusion when Michael visits Highlands later this year.
May our next glass of wine be together!
