There are evenings that feel composed rather than simply lived—like a song that knows exactly where it’s going, yet lingers just long enough on every note. Tonight is one of those evenings. Lisa and I sit across from one another, a bottle of 2017 Dancing Heart from Cliff Lede Vineyards open between us, and already the night feels set to music.
Because in a way, it is.
Cliff Lede has long been known for weaving music into the fabric of his wines—naming vineyards and bottlings after songs that have shaped his life. And Dancing Heart is no exception, drawing its inspiration from two iconic tracks: Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen and Closer to the Heart by Rush.
Two songs. Two energies. One bottle.
The Opening Chord
The cork releases with a soft, familiar sound—like the first strum of a guitar you’ve loved for years. In the glass, the wine settles into a deep, luminous garnet, hinting at both richness and restraint.
The aromas rise in layers: black cherry, cassis, a whisper of violet, and something just slightly earthy—like the echo of a bass line beneath a melody.
It doesn’t shout. It invites.
Verse and Chorus
On the palate, the wine moves with a kind of quiet confidence. There’s structure—firm tannins, well-defined—but also a grace that keeps everything in harmony. It’s the interplay that makes it compelling.
And here, the music metaphor becomes more than poetic.
From Dancing in the Dark, you get that sense of restless energy—the drive to move, to step forward, to not stay stuck in the silence. From Closer to the Heart, there’s something more reflective, more intentional—a call to live with purpose, to shape the world with care.
Together, they form a balance that mirrors what’s in the glass.
And perhaps, if we’re paying attention, what’s at the table too.
A Shared Rhythm
Lisa smiles as she takes another sip, and I’m reminded how often the best bottles aren’t about what’s in them—but who’s with them.
Wine, like music, is relational.
It deepens in the presence of someone who knows your story. Someone who has heard the earlier verses and is still here for what’s being written now.
There’s a rhythm to a shared life—moments of crescendo, moments of quiet—and nights like this feel like a chorus you want to linger in just a little longer.
The Meaning of a Name
A dancing heart suggests movement, joy, responsiveness. It’s not static. It doesn’t sit on the sidelines.
And isn’t that the invitation of both songs behind this wine?
To step into the moment.
To move toward something meaningful.
To live—not passively—but with intention and energy.
In that sense, this bottle is more than a clever name. It’s a reminder.
As the last glass is poured and the evening begins its gentle close, I’m struck again by why I believe so deeply in this idea:
Every bottle tells a story.
Not just of soil and vintage and winemaking craft—but of connection. Of shared tables. Of quiet conversations and unspoken gratitude.
Tonight, the 2017 Dancing Heart didn’t just accompany our dinner.
It gave it a soundtrack.
What about you?
What bottle has ever felt like a song in your life—one that took you somewhere you didn’t expect?
