A fascinating long read about Renaissance, a cult winery (literally).
A fascinating long read about Renaissance, a cult winery (literally).
That is Apollo, the world headquarters of the Fellowship of Friends — legally classified as a religious group, known to many as a doomsday cult. Apollo is the sanctuary where, since 1970, the Fellowship’s members have sought enlightenment through the fine arts: ballet, opera, painting. And wine.
Apollo today is eerily quiet and nearly deserted, a remnant of what it once was. Where the Fellowship’s membership once exceeded 2,500, today it has just 585 members worldwide, according to member Grant Ramey. Arguably, in the Fellowship of Friends’ 48 years of existence, the Renaissance Winery has been its most successful venture. At least it was until the Fellowship shut the winery down three years ago.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/article/The-lost-civilization-of-California-wine-13174708.php
That is Apollo, the world headquarters of the Fellowship of Friends — legally classified as a religious group, known to many as a doomsday cult. Apollo is the sanctuary where, since 1970, the Fellowship’s members have sought enlightenment through the fine arts: ballet, opera, painting. And wine.
Apollo today is eerily quiet and nearly deserted, a remnant of what it once was. Where the Fellowship’s membership once exceeded 2,500, today it has just 585 members worldwide, according to member Grant Ramey. Arguably, in the Fellowship of Friends’ 48 years of existence, the Renaissance Winery has been its most successful venture. At least it was until the Fellowship shut the winery down three years ago.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/article/The-lost-civilization-of-California-wine-13174708.php
I have tried two Renaissance cabs. One bottle -- from 1985 --- was spoiled by improper storage (mea culpa) but the 1997 was divine dionysian.
ReplyDeleteDepressing. There's this thing where humans have shown again and again that 300 is about the largest group that can stay coherently "together" until infighting tears it apart. I've experienced it myself. That being said, an international group with solid by-laws and a common goal or philosophy can hold together when infighting and schisms happen.
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