Truth /  by Keith Saarloos

The truth is that I never shook my shadow
Every day, it's trying to trick me into doing battle
Calling out 'faker', only get me rattled
Wanna pull me back behind the fence with the cattle

Building your lenses, digging your trenches
Put me on the front line, leave me with a dumb mind
With no defenses but your defense is
If you can't stand to feel the pain then you are senseless

Since this, I've grown up some different kind of fighter
And when the darkness comes, let it inside you
And your darkness is shining, my darkness is shining
Have faith in myself
Truth

I've seen a million numbered doors on the horizon
Now which is the future you're choosing before you go dying?
I'll tell you about a secret I've been undermining
Every little lie in this world comes from dividing

Say you're my lover, say you're my own, homie
Tilt my chin back, slit my throat
Take a bath in my blood, get to know me
All out of my secrets, all my enemies are turning into my teachers

Because light's blinding, no way dividing
What's yours or mine when everything's shining?
You darkness is shining, my darkness is shining
Have faith in ourselves
Truth

Yes, I'm only loving, only trying to only love
And, yes, and what I'm trying to do is only loving
Yes, I'm only loving, trying to only love
I swear to God, I'm only trying to be loving

Yes, I'm only lonely loving
Yes, I'm only feeling only loving, only loving
You say it ain't loving, ain't loving
Ain't loving, my loving

But I'm only loving, still only loving
Swear to god, I'm only loving
Trying to be loving, loving
Loving, loving, loving, loving

Yes I'm only loving, yes, trying to only love
I swear to god, I'm trying but I'm only loving
You say it ain't loving, ain't loving, ain't loving
Ain't loving, ain't loving my loving
But I'm only loving, loving, loving, loving the truth

Truth
 

Letters Home. /  by Keith Saarloos

Now and then we get letters from people. 
Letters that make us feel like we are doing something right. If you send us one, and don't mind us sharing it. Let us know.

Just email me Keith@saarloosandsons.com


Hi Keith,

I'm one of XXXX XXXX's closest friends - we were just in Los Olivos for our second visit last Tuesday.

A few thoughts...

First - your wine is so incredibly fabulous and made with so much heart.

As a marketer - I've spent some time on your site and I love the soul and grit you've put into your family brand.

We're thrilled to have joined the "vinegar" club as I've dubbed it - Katie was gracious, helpful and got us all signed up - living in Utah (a beautiful, but still medieval place sometimes) we always have to find creative ways to get great product - and now we have...so thank you.

I know the XXXXXX adore you - and I just have to say thank you for working so hard to make something so wonderful.  I'm sure it's a labor of love from dirt to cork - and it's worth every bit of sweat equity to a girl like me - who's dad made Cab once upon a time... I'm tempted each time I'm in the Santa Ynez valley to pull up stakes, move and start making things.  Someday, perhaps. 

Thanks - from a very enthusiastic Saarloos swooner...


Whitney

Hey LOOK - Nice People, Said Nice Things, About Us . /  by Keith Saarloos

SANTA BARBARA WEEKEND

MONDAY, JULY 7, 2014 MBM


I’m in love with a little place in Cali called Santa Barbara. After spending the Fourth of July weekend there with some amazing people I’m plotting ways to get back as soon as possible. Mountains, beach, lush florals, palm trees, Spanish Revival style architecture – it’s a very special place and I can see why so many people love it. Locals noted that we lucked out with great weather…nights were warm enough to dine al fresco and the ocean water was in the 70s (crazy warm for this time of year).

We started the day of the 4th with a breakfast of red velvet pancakes (!!) and other deliciousness at Crush Cakes and then spent time walking around town, smashing confetti filled eggs while people reserved spots of the parade. A visit to the Santa Barbara Court House – which is amazing – and then we were off to the beach. I was obsessed with following around a baby yellow lab puppy while the rest of our group worked on befriending a little surfer girl named Jane. It was a friendly beach. The day ended with an at home BBQ (complete with homemade apple crisp) and firework watching. Bliss.

Saturday we started early for winery tours with Cloud Climbers Jeep Tours. Our fab driver Logan took us to the backcountry of Santa Barbara and driving through the mountains was half the fun (to die for scenery). Favorite tasting spots in Los Olivos were Carhartt Vineards (greatRosé) and Saarloos + Sons. We lucked out and Keith Saarloos lead us through our tasting of five wines while we snacked on Enjoy Cupcakes. He was awesome and hearing about all the family influence that goes into making their wines was so neat. The wine was some of the best I’ve ever had and I can understand why they have such a loyal cult following. The great graphics designed by Keith’s wife Heather don’t hurt either. I left with two bottles of Iron Ladywhich smells even better than it tastes, and other group members took home Courage. Our last stop was at Cold Spring Tavern, a local institution that was a stagecoach stop in the late 1800s. Go on a Saturday or Sunday and get a Tri-Tip sandwich – you’re welcome.

I have vacation hangover but was really excited to be reunited with Blue Moonbeam who spent the holiday weekend with Sally and her puppies Dolly and Camp. He may have had even more fun than I did with all the swimming and rib bone eating he indulged in. Hope you all had a great 4th! Back to reality…

P.S. if you don’t know The Pearl Oyster, she’s a fellow Dallas blogger and the babe in sunglasses above. You’re going to die over her style…she’s as sweet as she is gorgeous.

Images taken by MBM for A Piece of Toast

Letters Home. /  by Keith Saarloos

Now and then we get letters from people.
Letters that make us feel like we are doing something right. If you send us one, and don't mind us sharing it. Let us know.

Just email me Keith@saarloosandsons.com

 

hi keith,

in the spirit of being family, I decided to pass on this story. I think you'll enjoy it. I apologize in advance for its wordiness. about nine or ten months ago, we were struggling with our daughter. typical teenage bullshit but it's hard to be rational when you're in the eye of the storm. things have improved considerably since then and she's headed to berkeley next month. anyway, around thanksgiving my aunt approached us about adopting a cat she had rescued. we never wanted animals but the strife along with the fact that our children no longer really need us in ways they recognize on a daily basis stopped us from automatically saying no and we decided to go for it.

this is shelby. words simply fail to describe how much julie and I love this cat. we needed to be needed and she needed us. we've had her now for about eight months and I can't imagine life without her.

fast forward to present time. me and a friend will be at bacon & barrels for the whole 3-day extravaganza. my mom tells my aunt and she has a special request for me. during that weekend she would like me to purchase some "fine red wine" for her. her budget is around $100 and she's not sure if I should buy one really nice bottle or two good bottles. she doesn't drink wine; she wants the wine to take to germany next month as a wedding present for an exchange student she sponsored who's getting married. here was my suggestion:

I just got a shipment of wine that includes a bottle called groom and a bottle called bride. seems like kismet to me. the wine is top notch and it works symbolically. my aunt was beyond thrilled with the idea and told me should would pay me whatever I wanted for the wine. I told her she already had paid me by bringing shelby into our lives and she's priceless. gilbert and bertha are traveling to germany next month to honor a new couple getting married 69 years after they did.

anyway, I thought you would enjoy the story and get a kick out of your wine showing up at a wedding in germany.  see you next week and thanks for making this story possible.

arnold

BALLARD CANYON /  by Keith Saarloos

There is nothing to winemaking, you just step into a vineyard and bleed. 
I know that sounds a little dramatic. But whatever magic it is that makes a man do foolish things, A vineyard seems to be where it grows. I don't know if it is the unknown journey of farming. Or is it just the inherent beauty of the land.  Or is it the Order you try to establish amongst the chaos? Is it the smell of turned dirt on your shoes. Is it the effort and the reward. Or maybe it is the tired back of a job well done. 

....

As I sit here and think of the poor examples of what "it" is.

I am struck. 

I am in love.
...
I am in love with a place. 
I am in love with the fruits of our labor.
I am in love with sharing our labour with others. 
I am in love with what this place has given to our family.
I am in love with getting to relive the past when we open a bottle with you. 
I am in love with the struggle, the pain and the passion it takes to bring it to life.
I am foolishly in Love. 
find what it is you love.
and then let it kill you.

Bukowski.jpg


A little write up on the #CraftWineLA project. by KCET /  by Keith Saarloos

Written by: George Yatchisin

actually larger in really fake life

actually larger in really fake life

Living > Food > SoCal Spirits > Crowd Sourced Craft Wine Comes to L.A.

SOCAL SPIRITS

Crowd Sourced Craft Wine Comes to L.A.

by George Yatchisin

on June 17, 2014 12:53 PM

Keith Saarloos of Saarloos + Sons Winery claims "I was born and raised on an interchange" in Bellflower, so it's little surprise he'd be attracted to food and wine blogger Matt Mitchell's plan to launch #CraftWineLA. "Wine is part of Los Angeles's heritage," Saarloos suggests. "It's even a great place to make wine, but all the agriculture is gone, and you need even more land to grow grapes."

But just because you can't grow grapes in L.A. proper doesn't mean you can't make the wine there. That's Mitchell's goal - to start with a first blend overseen by Saarloos and then grow a small batch, artisanal scene that parallels the burgeoning craft beer movement. "Los Angeles is full of millennials exploring wines who want to get beyond the grocery store and Trader Joe's experience," Mitchell asserts. "They want to be the first to discover something and to tell others about new things."

Mitchell, managing editor/producer of Dig Lounge, envisions that #CraftWineLA can help these people along the way with wines, tasting events, and collaborations with small, independent and family-owned wineries. Even more, to kick off the project, Mitchell is looking for crowd sourcing to make the initial Saarloos syrah and cabernet sauvignon blend, a funding model unheard of in wine, since Kickstarter and others don't want to deal with such a regulated product. Saarloos jokes, "It's like in Kingpin: 'Are you sure this is legal?' 'I don't know, but it's fun!'" While Mitchell says, "The crowd sourcing adds to the community aspect--you're part of something only one hundred people are part of." Saarloos jumps in, "We're not bottling some bulls**t bulk juice. We've planted every vine ourselves, we've made each blend ourselves, we've sold every bottle ourselves. That's the difference between a craft and a product."

To be part of the campaign, people must pony up $20; donations of $49 or more mean you get at least one bottle of the limited edition Saarloos + Sons wine. Each donation also includes an invite to the first tasting event and pick-up party. Mitchell envisions the wine will be bottled in August and released in February or March of 2015. "It'll be one time, one barrel," Saarloos emphasizes, "and that's it." There will even be a design contest for creating the label, as one more way to build a community.

Mitchell sees this as just the first salvo of #CraftWineLA. "I'd like to keep creating wines with others in Los Angeles," he says. "There are a lot of people doing some really interesting things. And then maybe five to ten years from now we could have a winemaking facility like Camarillo Custom Crush, where people can make their own wines."

When asked what a quintessential LA wine might be, the two first riffed, with Saarloos joking, "It's be very shallow and very dirty," and Mitchell adding, "And definitely have the smell of dry asphalt." But Saarloos turned quickly serious, claiming, "The beauty of Los Angeles is the diversity of people. That's why LA is awesome--in and of itself it's its own country. You want the world's best Chinese food, or the world's best Mexican food, or the world's best Italian food, it's there."

Soon people will be able to enjoy all those cuisines with wine tied even more to LA.