About Marshall's
Wine Encore
What is a Life Encore?
A life encore can be considered a second career later in life that people often start after leaving or retiring from their initial career. It can be defined by the question, “What do I want to do with the rest of my life”? This is where Marshall’s Wine Encore begins.
Marc Freedman coined the term in his 2007 book Encore: Finding Work that Matters in the Second Half of Life. Encore careers are often motivated by a desire for personal fulfillment and social impact rather than economic factors.
Why a Wine Encore?
Early in my adult life, I worked in the wine industry in the retail and commercial sectors before pursuing other careers and raising a family. Inspired by a dear friend with a winery in the California Carneros AVA, I began making wine in 2008.
After ten years of sourcing grapes from California and Colorado, I yearned for a “farm-to-table” operation.
With my spouse’s incredible support in late 2020, we purchased a property on the edge of Sunshine Mesa between Paonia and Hotchkiss in the West Elks AVA (American Viticultural Area) in the North Fork Valley in western Colorado. I planted a small vineyard of 125 vines (Pinot Noir and Riesling) and aspired to have my own winery, ostensibly named the North Fork Valley Winery.
Having raised two daughters and numerous Airedales, I’ve lived a whole and rewarding life.
My career has included work for local government, a software provider, and a small business serving nonprofit and governmental organizations. I’ve volunteered and remained active in local communities.
I’m at a point where “career” has little meaning.
It’s time to get to something I’m passionate about, for if I am not passionate, why do it?
Viola, wine encore leading to Marshall’s Wine Encore.
What You'll Discover with Marshall's Wine Encore
Marshall’s Wine Encore is intended to educate, providing personal insights I’ve gained over the years.
I relate my experiences as a hobbyist, conveying information in everyday terms with a distinct Colorado bent. There is no greater joy and satisfaction in my mind than being able to share and impart knowledge.
You’ll learn about planting, growing, and tending to grapevines (A Vineyard—Plan, Plant – First Year, and Sustain) and Winemaking (Process Overview, Reference Materials, Equipment, Testing, Time to Make Wine, The Crush, Press and Fermentation, Clarify and Age, and Bottle).
After my introductory opening for each topic, there is a series of topic blocks containing online links to subject matter experts who know and can relate to the intricate details and experiences better than I do.
Another topic area I believe you’ll find helpful covers my firsthand experiences planning, planting, and tending to my vineyard. From the site’s Vineyard Chronicles page, you’ll find blogs detailing my “trials and tribulations” in the vineyard season by season or month by month.
Marshall’s Wine Encore also explores Colorado as a burgeoning wine region, with sections containing Colorado wine news and Colorado wine festivals. There aren’t many places in the world where you can visit wineries making world-class wine from grapevines grown at 4,500 to 6,500 feet—there’s a lot to report and discuss!
In 2024, I added a Musings section, where I explore and provide insight into wine topics “of the day.”
Don’t hesitate to use the site’s Search Bars! There are two search functions: one for the entire site in the header of each page and post, and one on the Colorado Wine News page, which finds articles and stories specific to news.
I look forward to sharing these topics and more with you.
