A Message From Shelly Cook — 11/06/25

There’s something sacred about the stillness that follows harvest. The last clusters have been gathered, the air is crisp with woodsmoke and memory, and the mountains stretch out before us — quiet, steady, and eternal. This is the season that reminds me why we do what we do at Reitano.

Every leaf that falls feels like a prayer of thanks — for the hands that planted, pruned, and picked; for the guests who came to taste and linger; for the laughter that echoed across the vines. Harvest isn’t just the gathering of fruit — it’s the gathering of people. Family. Friends. Strangers who leave as part of our story.

Reitano Vineyards

When I walk the rows this time of year, I can almost see my granddad’s old pickup truck easing down the hill and hear his voice calling across the fields. He was the kind of man who could fix anything with his hands and faith — and he taught me that the land will always give back what you tend to with love. My dad carried that same steady grit. He taught me how to see the potential in a worn fencepost, the beauty in a rough day’s work, and the strength in staying the course when others turn back.

Every step through these vines carries both of them with me. Their lessons are stitched into every board and barrel on this farm — reminders that legacy isn’t about what you inherit; it’s about what you build, and who you build it for.

Gratitude, I’ve learned, is a daily choice — to see grace in the grind, to find purpose in the pruning. We’ve weathered storms, delays, dust, and doubt. But we’ve also seen sunsets so beautiful they quiet every worry. God has a way of showing us that every trial grows something unseen — deeper roots, stronger faith, and a fuller heart.

This season, I’m thankful for how far we’ve come — and for what’s still unfolding. For our new tasting room finally open, for the laughter spilling out of the brewery, for the flicker of the bourbon lounge, and for every hand that raised a glass in celebration of something good.

At Reitano, harvest isn’t just about what we bottle — it’s about what we become when we come together. A family rooted in the land, in legacy, and in the belief that what we build here matters.

So here’s to you — to every guest who has stood on this soil and felt a little more grounded. To every friend who’s supported our journey. And to the next chapter, where the vines rest, the fires crackle, and the gratitude runs deep.

Come visit us this weekend. Walk the vineyard. Sip something crafted by hand and heart. Breathe it all in. Because here in the Blue Ridge, gratitude isn’t just a word — it’s a way of life.

Stay Rooted,

— Shelly Lynn Cook

Owner & Dreamer, Reitano Vineyards & Brewery