"Wine to Be" from On the Vine
An excerpt from Wine to Be by Gregory Norton
One of the hardest concepts for English-speaking students of Spanish is the use of the two words that translate as “to be.” Estar and ser. The former is used to indicate temporary qualities and location: “I am in the vineyard.” Ser is for identity or origin: “I am an American winemaker.” A lifelong student of Spanish who has lived and studied at a sustainable agricultural site in Costa Rica, winemaker Nicole Walsh knows the language well. So she chose the word “Ser” when it came time to brand her artisanal winery near Santa Cruz. “I am dedicated to preserving the ‘isness’ of wine,” she says, “to allow its true varietal expression and the place and time of its origins.”