The Invitation: Letting Go and Launching

Letting go can be difficult. If you’re like me, you find comfort in having some control over a situation – OK maybe a lot! You want things to run smoothly, and you are confident you’re the best person for the job. However, this type of thinking creates limitations, both on yourself and those around you.

I have found that when you try too hard to manage a situation, things can easily go sideways. You might become rigid and less adaptable, you could stretch yourself too thin, and you could potentially impede others’ creativity and voice. Because of the potential for these outcomes, I have worked on letting go throughout the years, making an intentional effort to step back and allow others to take initiative, contribute their creativity and skills, and do their best work without me holding the reins. This is about trust—believing in others’ abilities, knowing that they can never fly if they are caged by too many stipulations or oversights.  This continues to be a journey for me.

Preparing for the launch of Blū Phoenix Wines has been one such exercise in letting go. After purchasing my small vineyard in 2020, I had to acknowledge that I had a lot to learn, and in some cases it was better for me to step back and trust the experts to “do their thing.” Although I put in the legwork to become as knowledgeable about wine and winemaking as possible (I’m now working toward earning my diploma in “wine school”), I can’t be an expert in everything, nor should I be! I would rather focus my attention on doing what I do best—building a business focused on giving back, envisioning a path forward, and leveraging my creativity and curiosity. So, I decided to place my faith in talented sowers, harvesters, winemakers, an agronomist, and others to grow my business and help it thrive. Besides, I can only be in Argentina every so often (it’s not exactly down the street!), so trusting others and letting them exercise their talents is essential.

After a few years of building my business, Blū Phoenix Wines is poised to spread its wings. This entails letting go in a different way. I’ve been nurturing and developing my business for so long, launching it into the public sphere feels like letting go of a piece of myself. It’s a vulnerable act—one that takes more than a little courage (and perhaps a strong glass of wine!). What if others are critical of my products? What if I don’t receive much support? What if, what if, what if…?

Even though I have done everything I can to set up Blū Phoenix for success, it’s always possible that something could go wrong. Embarking on any new endeavor involves a certain amount of risk, and it’s impossible to account for every single variable. The room for error, coupled with the fear of the unknown, could potentially paralyze someone from ever taking a leap…or ever letting go.

As I was developing my business, and thinking about the risks associated with its launch, I came across the evocative artwork of Justine Tot Tatarsky. Her tilework is filled with color, movement, and symbolism, and it immediately drew my eye. One piece, titled The Invitation (pictured above), seemed to perfectly embody my journey with Blū Phoenix—the nurturing, the growing, the tangle of emotions involved in letting a fledgling take flight. I saw myself in that tilework, the proud mother who wanted to cling tightly to her young, while also wanting them to soar without her.

The bird depicted in The Invitation is even blue, like my company’s logo, and if I stretched my imagination, I could see it as a phoenix. The phoenix is symbolic of rebirth and new beginnings—a concept that resonated with me as I was beginning my new later-in-life endeavor. I was starting over, growing in new ways, and learning to fly again. 

As you probably guessed, I bought the tilework. How could I not? Now, this special piece of art hangs next to another work by the same artist (which I discussed in my last article on “Wise Freedom”), and it reminds me of my business’ launch. Now, my website is complete, my 2025 vintage has been harvested, and all the pesky logistics (shipping, import regulations, packaging) are in order. I only have to step back, relinquish some control, and let it take flight. Wish me luck!

Later this year, two types of Blū Phoenix wines (Malbec “Inception” and Malbec Rosé “Awakening”) can be ordered directly from my website. This is a big milestone and obviously one I’m super excited about.  It has been quite the journey to navigate US liquor laws!  If you’re interested, please visit the Blū Phoenix website. Keep in mind, my wine is made in small batches to maintain its high quality and to ensure our practices are eco-friendly. Once it’s gone, it’s gone!  I hope you try some and you let me know what you think.  I’m pretty proud of this creation.