This Isn’t What I Set Out to Do (and That’s a Good Thing)

A reintroduction.

Jun 18, 2025

It’s been a minute.

The truth is, life has gotten in the way of me finding time to sit down and write. I uprooted my life—again (fourth time in the past few years, for those counting). My day job has been demanding in ways I didn’t fully anticipate. And I may have underestimated just how intense WSET Diploma studies would be.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, I’ve been trying to soak up what I can of Napa Valley. I bought an e-bike for weekend rides along the Vine Trail. I’ve been visiting wineries, tasting my way through the valley, trying to meet new people and find my rhythm here. And there are some exciting new side projects taking shape too—though more on those another time.

But if I’m being honest…I feel like I’m running on exhaust fumes at the moment.

I’ve always had a tendency to bite off more than I can chew. And right now feels like one of those times. My mind’s constantly buzzing—especially, it seems, in the middle of the night when I’m supposed to be asleep. (Shoutout to my fellow insomniacs.) Slowing down is hard for me. I’m trying. Some days I do better than others.

And as I’m sitting here writing this, I keep thinking about what I set out to do with this newsletter in the first place—and where I want to take it now.

Here’s the thing: I’m not a wine expert. I might know a bit more than your average consumer. But the more I learn, the more I realize just how much more there is to know.

And the more I think about it, the more I realize I don’t want Far Ouest to be a platform for wine education. I want it to be a place to document a life lived through wine—and everything else that brings me joy along the way.

That might sound silly (or make it sound like I have a problem), but much in the same way I believe wine can be a catalyst for conversation and connection, so can so many other parts of my life. I love to cook. I love to read. I listen to music constantly. I work out regularly—mostly so I can eat and drink like the epicurean I am at heart while still existing as a gay man in my mid-30s and all the insecurities that come with that. These are the things that feed me, and they belong here too.

I know this is a little different from where I started. But if you’re still here, I hope you’ll stick around. There’s a lot of good wine ahead—and a lot of life to pair with it. And while it might not be to everyone’s taste, it feels right. More intentional. More authentic. More…me.

And much like what I seek out in a good bottle of wine, I think it’s only fair to show up here with that same level of intention. So hopefully, this space evolves into one that rewards slowing down. One that feels, in some small way, like opening a special bottle you’ve been saving.

Thanks for being here—for however long you’ve been along for the ride. I’m just getting started.

What’s in My Glass

2023 Orixe Sotelo “Soto” Godello — Sonoma Valley

If you’ve stuck around this long, you’ll know by now that I have an adventurous palate. Sure, there are plenty of tried-and-true favorites I come back to, but I like trying new things—and this one was a perfect match.

Godello is a Spanish varietal known for its textured mouthfeel and distinct salinity—especially the ones coming from the slate soils in Valdeorras. But this one’s from the base of Sonoma Mountain—a rarity in California.

There’s a lively citrus note on the nose—more grapefruit than lemon or lime—and a faint whiff of a seaside breeze. The palate hits like summer in a glass with apricot, green pear, and a hint of waxiness.

All around, it’s a lovely summer sipper I’ll be bringing to alfresco dinner parties. And honestly? It reminded me why I keep chasing these unexpected bottles—because sometimes, in the middle of a heavy week, all you need is one wine that surprises you.

World of Wine

What caught my eye this week.

✅ Sip solo: The way we drink wine is changing—but sometimes, slowing down is just what we need. Read it on Substack →

✅ From source to bottle: Tap water is so passé. The new hydration snobs are chasing terroir...in water. The New York Times →

✅ Sober Somms: Appreciation doesn’t have to mean indulgence—these wine professionals prove it. Decanter →

Table Talk

Rigatoni with White Bolognese + Old-School Chablis

There’s something deeply satisfying about a hearty pasta dish. As of late, this one’s been my favorite. No tomatoes. No tricks. Just aromatics, ground meat, white wine, and lots of Parmesan. It’s the kind of dish that rewards patience.

🍝 Rigatoni with White Bolognese – NYT Cooking

While I usually subscribe to the rule of “what grows together, goes together,” my wine pairing of choice here would be an old-school bottle of Chablis—something with a bit of age and edge. The acidity cuts through the richness of the dish without stealing the show, while the nutty flavors that develop over time play beautifully with the umami of the porcinis.

Off the Vine

A few other things making life taste better lately:

🥒 For the first time since…well, ever…I’m trying my hand at gardening. So far, it’s been a wild success. I’m up to my ears in zucchinis, which seem to grow at the rate of the DOW in a bull market.

📖 This has been a long time in the making, but I just started the 12-week program outlined in The Artist’s Way. I’ve had the book (and flirted with it) since the pandemic—but never actually followed through. Maybe it’s the burnout, maybe it’s the wine, maybe it’s just time—but I’m finally ready to see what’s waiting on the other side of week twelve.

🍶 Like most Americans, my encounters with sake were traditionally limited to low-grade plonk alongside giant bottles of Sapporo. But recently I’ve been indulging in the finer side of Japan’s iconic rice wine. My current favorite: Tedori-gawa Tsuyusanzen Junmai Daiginjo “A Thousand Drops of Dew”

Here’s to summer plates, quiet sips, new creative practices, and whatever else keeps us soft and steady in the middle of it all. More soon.

— Nick