On this date, precisely ten years ago, I started this little blog having no idea what I was doing or where it would take me. I pretty much still have no idea what I am doing, but this site has taken me to some pretty fantastic places where I have met some outstanding people. I originally thought I would republish some of those earliest blog posts, but they are really, really bad, embarrassing even.

Then I thought, being somewhat of a stats guy, I would publish some of the statistics I have accumulated over the last ten years and nearly three thousand posts. I quickly realized, thank goodness, that those numbers would likely only appeal to, well, me, and would either come off as woefully pathetic or something 0f a humblebrag. Either way, it would make me look like a bit of a dufus, which I try very hard to avoid.

My next thought was to create an elaborate appreciation to all those who have taken the time to occasionally read the drivel that I post here, to the covey of public relations folks who have reached out, the bevy of producers who have seen it fit to send me some of their product, to the various wine regions around the world who have welcomed me to their region with open arms. But I realized I would never be able to accurately describe how deeply grateful I am for all of the support shown me over the last 3,653 days.

At one point, I thought I would even troll the fans of the University of Michigan football team since they had not beaten my beloved Buckeyes during the entire time that I had been writing this blog, but that, unfortunately, changed this past November.

I also thought I would be using this space at this time to announce some monumental change either to the format, the structure, the content, the direction of this blog, but I realized that I am more a creature of habit than anything else.

When I started this blog, I was at a job that I hated, a mere few months after I had the scare of my life, and I realized that life was simply too short to be stuck in a rut. Thus, I started this site with a stupid name and no real direction, but it allowed me to combine three of my passions: wine, travel, and writing.

And it has been a blast.

Here’s to the next ten years.

Not the most flattering photo of yours truly. I think my wife needs a new camera.