Some time ago, we rescued a bunch of vintage lug boxes from an old barn off Abernathy Road. Since that time, we’ve used those boxes for a variety of displays in the tasting room but I’ve always felt we had to come up with a better way to highlight them. So, last night when my wife called to tell me she would be late coming home from work I had some time to burn and decided I would play with those boxes and build a wine display. As I was building the display, I read ranch names, stamped on the ends of the lugs, like Piazza and Foon Ranches and reflected on the incredible amount of history that these boxes carry. Those are just two of the many farming family’s that once worked the orchards of our wonderful valley. I can only imagine the amount of fruit these old boxes carried in their prime but I’m sure it was a substantial amount. Back then, they would have been filled with pears, apricots, peaches, prunes and I’m sure walnuts as well. I know my wife wasn’t happy to get off work late but I have to admit I had fun building this wine display and thinking about Suisun Valley’s long and rich history.

Salute’

PS. I would bet that the 1930 Model “A” Ford on display at the winery hauled these old lugs many times!