My mother always told me I would marry a poet, and sure enough, my talented husband, Art, created liquid poetry, as Robert Louis Stevenson coined it. This sparked my interest in both forms, drinkable and readable.

Who hasn’t felt the need for rapturous declarations when sipping a superlative glass of wine? Wine label descriptions certainly try to coax us into a certain level of engagement. Put two and two together, and it was clear that the wine business needed to bring poets to the table!

With this exciting idea swimming in my head, we launched the First Ever Judd’s Hill Poetry Contest in 1999. We solicited poems from family and friends, and were thrilled with the response from Grandma, Sister, Wine Writer and a couple of real, honest to goodness Professional Poets. We entrusted the contest judging to our dear friend Jane Hall, who had developed the poetry publication Coracle, and the seed sprouted.

Deciding that Professional Poets were the target candidates for our poetry contest, I started spending our only advertising dollars on ads in poetry journals for each year’s contest. The exquisite results can be read on our website, www.juddshill.com. Click on “Recipes, Art and Video” to get to the Poetry folder, and enjoy these many fine poems.

When Judd’s Hill moved from the eastern hills of St. Helena to our current location on the Silverado Trail, the poetry contest slipped through the cracks. Oh woe, another sad story of how art suffers! But, we are back on track and are attracting the most wonderful words and images from dear and brilliant poets around the country.

Please think of submitting a poem to us when the muse has you enthralling over a glass of wine, the glory of grapes or even the unique qualities of a corkscrew (see 2005 Poems). All of us at Judd’s Hill send you best regards, and an invitation to visit so we can further inspire you with our form of poetry.

Judd’s Hill Winery is located at 2332 Silverado Trail, Napa. Bunnie, Judd and Holly Finkelstein represent two generations of Napa vintners. Their philosophy is one that focuses on an “intimate and personal approach,” which is why they have limited their annual production to less than three thousand cases – a literal drop in the bucket of Napa Valley wine. Their tasting room is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m daily.   In addition to their casual, seated wine tastings, they offer “Bottle Blending” sessions, all by advance appointment.  So, be sure to call ahead, (707)255-2332. Visit their website at www.juddshill.com for more information. To life and to Art!