This site has been nearly 20 years in the making.
My interest in the connection between warfare and wine began during a trip to Europe, where we traced the Austro-Hungarian and German offensive from Slovenia into Italy—specifically from Ljubljana to the Piave River, when the Italians stopped the advance before it reached Venice. What struck me most was the historic wine regions that formed the backdrop to the fighting. Places like Monfalcone, which has produced wine for millennia, also endured intense combat during World War I—and for centuries before.
While I am a military historian and the staff ride for the Battle of Caporetto was an unforgettable experience, I found myself increasingly drawn to the vineyards we passed along the way. From the moment we left Ljubljana, we seemed to drive through one winemaking region after another. (I’m a big fan of Slovenian wines!)
So, why did it take two decades to launch this project? Quite simply, I didn’t have the bandwidth. Between a full-time career and raising a young family, I couldn’t give this topic the time and attention I felt it deserved. One of the most important lessons I took from my day job—which focused heavily on leadership development—is that the discipline to say “no” is essential to doing anything well. One quote from Steve Jobs always stuck with me:
“…it comes from saying no to 1,000 things to make sure we don’t get on the wrong track or try to do too much…but it’s only by saying no that you can concentrate on the things that are really important.”1
After 23 years as a U.S. Army civilian historian, I’ve recently retired. I’m proud of my career in public service—but now I’m excited to explore new paths, build new things, and share ideas that have long been on the back burner. Vini Bellum is one of those projects.
Stay tuned for the first official blog post—coming soon!
- ““Voices of Innovation: Steve Jobs,” Business Week, October 12, 2004.” ↩︎
