The inspiration behind this wine is a man by the name of Byron. Growing up on a farm in Wisconsin, he left at the age of 15 to discover what was beyond the endless fields. Falsifying documents and lying about his age, he joined the Merchant Marines and traveled around the world visiting exotic ports.
Byron embraced the sailor lifestyle and subsequently the tattoos that showed as a badge of honor. With each new port, a new experience and a new tattoo. Byron helped aid the Allied forces in WWII and at times was forced to sail through enemy waters to reach their port. And one of those times, his ship was torpedod and sank by a Nazi U-Boat. Leaving Byron and a few other sailors on a life raft for 5 days adrift before being rescued.
His tattoos are not only a roadmap of adventures past, but symbolize the struggles and hardships he underwent in a life that few have experienced and even fewer could imagine. Byron was a man driven by exploration and discovery. He shares these experiences through his tattoos which we are happy to capture with this wine and share with you.
As Byron grew out of his teens, he decided to go to officer school to become a captain of engineering. Having never finished highschool, Byron was the youngest officer to ever graduate at the time to become a captain of engineering. Having impressed his instructors so much by finishing top of his class, he was asked to stay and teach incoming candidates. However, he refused; following his heart back into open waters as a merchant marine.
World War II was beginning and many rushed to aid in the war. Byron included. While he was out to sea however, a draft notice was issued but couldn't reach him half way around the world, and therefore when he arrived in Florida he was arrested for failure to report. Byron was furious at the mistake that landed him in jail. He refused to join the general infantry as he had already achieved officer creditentials, and was actively contributing to the war effort. Eventually not being able to force Byron into the military, they released him as being "mentally unfit for service," whereupon he rejoined active duty on his ship.
Continuing to aid in the war effort, Byron was forced at times to sail through enemy waters to reach their port. And one of those times, his ship was torpedod and sank by a Nazi U-Boat. Leaving Byron and a few other sailors on a life raft for 5 days adrift before being rescued.
The tattoos on Byron symbolize the adventures and hardships he underwent. With each new port, a new experience and a new tattoo. He continued the trend even after the war as well, until his body was a roadmap of his life.