Tumasonis Cellars is Born

So last year I made some (6 cases to be precise) un-oaked cabernet franc at Raphael out in Peconic. I had "my" own row of vines that I didn't spend as much time caring for as I had hoped, but the vineyard crew took care of it for me.

I did, however, harvest the grapes myself over the course of four back-breaking hours, crushed and de-stemmed the fruit via a hand-cranked machine, and inoculated the result with a strain of yeast popular in the Loire Valley.

Then Jackson was born and I missed out on bottling altogether. Oh well, there's always this year.

I've spent way too much time thinking about the labels for this wine -- and subsequent production as well. At first I was going to name my fictitious winery Jax Cellars, name (obviously) for the little guy. Then some friends raised the issue of future offspring. Fair point, I thought. I don't see us living in our current house for more than a few more years, so any sort of street-name names wouldn't work, either, though Upton Cellars has a nice ring to it.

Thompson Cellars was the obvious choice, but it seemed a bit boring, a bit expected. Then I remembered Tumasonis. What is Tumasonis you ask?

Well you see, when my Lithuanian ancestors first came to America, Tumasonis apparently sounded a lot like Thompson to those who welcomed them at Ellis Island, so Tumasonis became Thompson (at least for my family). Update: My dad emailed me this morning and told me that my great grandfather apparently changed the name himself:

"I believe the idea was to "Americanize" the name and it sounded close to Tumasonis.  Back then, immigrants tried to be assimilated to their new country as much and as soon as possible.  He changed his first name from Juozas to Joseph too."

So the official name of my unofficial winery/brewery is Tumasonis Cellars, which I've shortened to 'Sonis Cellars on the first two labels I've created, for that cab franc and a merlot rose from the 2007 vintage (which I've dedicated to my always-supportive wife, Nena). Keep in mind that my design skills are highly mediocre. Be kind.

Future releasing some from Tumasonis Cellars will include a red blend, 2007 Le Petit Homme (which means The Little Man, for Jackson) and the first homebrew from our literal cellar, Benny's Beag-Ale (named for my trusty cellar dog).

Comments

[Dr. Debs]

I LIKE IT! I like the 'Sonis Cellars, especially and think it is clever and catchy and makes you wonder what if anything is missing from the beginning! (Rosa di Nena label would make me happy, if i were Nena!)

[Gretchen]

Those are magnificent Lenn! Congratulations! That rose in particular makes me thirsty.

[Jill]

cool labels, great names, etc. congrats!

[winehiker]

I frankly wasn't sure about Sonis nor Tumasonis, Lenn, but as Dr. Debs points out, prepending that apostrophe makes it work! Plus, ya done good on the label. I look forward to your tasting notes for Handcrank Red over the next 12 years or so.

[Bill]

I like it. It's unusual and the story behind it honors your ancestry. You couldn't ask for anything more in a winery name. Well done, Lenn.

[Mark]

Lenn,
These are great. They look beautiful, and you're sharing the joy with all your family members, past, present, and, one hopes, future.

[DMcG]

Your history echoes what I know. My maternal side of the family is Lithuanian.

Mom's maiden name (surname) was Swedish - originally Svedas back in the old country.

Apparently some of my ancestors may have left Sweden to settle in Lithuania...it was common to give someone a surname based on their country of origin.

My other relatives retained their Lithuanian surnames like Linkonis and Dudonis and Buyauskus.

[MIL]

SIL,

One more piece of info... Nena's great grandmother's name was Rosa DiPaola.. a connection that you probably weren't even aware of or remembered. Rosa was mom to Nena's namesake... my mom. Nice huh?
MIL
the whole concept is great!

[Kathy Sommerville]

Wow! My Cousin's name is Tamasonis which as you mentioned must have been changed when arriving at ellis Island. Very difficult if not impossible to locate family to them due to the change in the name.

Good luck with your Sonis Cellers. I bet you have wonderful wine.

Kathy