Introduction
May 20, 2007. Entering the urban warehouse, Cynthia Cosco confirmed through the spectacular sights and smells that she was inside the open-house of a custom crush winery. Immediately, she knew this spot was home; this was where she intended to make her first wine...this was why she came to California! Cynthia searched for the head winemaker and, finding him, saw a long line of people ahead of her. Determined, she waited until she had her turn.
Finally, the long line subsided. Cynthia stepped up and told her story, revealing what she wanted to do. She wanted to make an unoaked chardonnay. Listening to those words come out of her mouth, Cynthia felt her dream become a reality. She was going to make her own wine. She was actually talking about it...out loud.
After a bit, the winemaker asked if she would be interested in working at the winery. That's when her winemaking career all began...or was it?
Background
Cynthia was raised in West Virginia. Her parents divorced when Cynthia and her brother were young, leaving her with memories of living with her mom in a house near her dad’s Italian parents. Holidays began with visits to her mom’s side of the family and ended at her dad's house, spending the after-dinner time with him and his family. After a few hours, Cynthia and her brother would climb back in her mom’s car and go back home. Cynthia still remembers never getting enough time with her dad and her grandparents.
At a young age, Cynthia watched her Italian grandfather make wine in his basement. She loved the smells in the single room where he created his magic. She was fascinated with each bottle, marked with masking tape telling the holder of the varietal. What is known as “tape wine” became treasured gifts to family and friends, gifts crafted with loving hands in the old world way. Visitors coming to this house were greeted at the kitchen table with wine and great Italian food.
It was this life of hospitality that shaped Cynthia. The passion of making wine, community, and great Italian cooking was instilled in her at that kitchen table. It was there where Cynthia learned that growing, making and sharing from their abundance of blessings was what life was all about.
After high school, Cynthia attended college in Florida. Her dreams were set aside as she pursued a major in music. It was what family wanted and what she believed she was supposed to do with her life. During her first year of college, she met Paul and they married. Cindy was only 20. Again, it's what she believed she was supposed to do with her life. Cynthia put her college career aside so they could move back to her hometown in West Virginia as Paul pursued work. Isaac was born a year later. Two years later they moved to Virginia where Paul's mother lived.
Cynthia put college aside to be home with Isaac. Eventually, she had to get a job to help make ends meet. Cynthia found employment at an oil company as the inventory specialist. While it helped financially, it wasn’t enough. Cynthia, raised in a church community, continued to live a life of helping others. At church, she shared her musical talent with those in need of spiritual lifting. Focusing her efforts in the local nursing home, Cynthia led spiritual songs for the residents. Seeing the elderly faces light up when they sang those old hymns grounded her. Still, her love for wine never left and her passion for family, friends, food and wine remained a way of sharing the abundance of blessings in her life.
Professional Challenge I
One day, Cynthia found an ad in the local paper for Correctional Officers. Knowing the County Correctional Officers made good money, she didn't hesitate to apply. Before Cynthia knew it, she was hired and attending the academy. After graduation, she worked as a Correctional Officer in the Work Release Center and loved it. She had found "her place" for the time being. Her leadership skills and knack for organization began to shine through. During her 8 years as a Correctional Officer, Cynthia saw pretty much all one can see in a jail and she applied for a police officer's position with the local county police department. Just like before, she was hired and at the age of 39 reported to the 6-month police academy. At graduation, Cynthia was awarded the Leadership Award from the Chamber of Commerce.
On patrol one day, Cynthia saw two young men on a dirt bike. Intending to simply stop them and instruct them to get the bike off the roadway, Cynthia began the process of pulling them over. The boys took off, ignoring her patrol car lights. They dumped the bike and bolted into the woods. Cynthia called dispatch and darted through the woods on foot after them. All of a sudden she stopped and thought, “This is just crazy, what am I doing?” After years of working with inmates, finding shelter for abused women, consoling family members of lost loved ones, Cynthia knew she had helped a lot of people and given of herself. She had seen victims from suicide, fatal traffic accidents, abused children and more. Enough was enough. She was ready for a change.
Cynthia’s marriage was declining and now her son was off to college. Feeling lost, Cynthia held on to the career she knew. Seeing the recruitment for a Police Sergeant's position at the community college, she applied. This was an opportunity to slow down. Once again, her reputation and skills served her well and Cynthia was hired. Still, that nagging sense of an unfulfilled dream caused her to ponder, “Is this really all there is to this life of mine?”
It wasn't until her divorce was final that Cynthia thought about getting out of law enforcement and pursuing what she held in the back of her mind most of her life. She hardly ever talked about. She knew her family would think she was crazy. She could just hear them say "you can't do it." Cynthia began to take periodic trips to California. Falling in love with wine country, she knew this was her true passion. It took two years to get up the courage to leave law enforcement, pack up and head west. She was scared to death but felt free for the first time of her life.
Academic Challenge
Cynthia found herself, at the age of 43, changing her career…changing her life. The challenges ahead were great but this was something she yearned for in her life.
Landing a temp job at a prestigious Sonoma winery for the harvest of 2004 was a dream come true for her. She was so excited – she felt like she was 20 again. Her work ethic and pliable skills got her hired on full time as a wine chemist. Wine Chemist? She had never had any college courses in chemistry. The company was willing to send her to the Napa Valley College enology program. After 24 years, excited and scared, Cynthia was sitting among youngsters and holding her own!
Professional Challenge II
Three years at the winery and college courses in enology led Cynthia to decide it was time to pursue her dream of making her own wine. She heard of a custom crush facility in San Francisco and planned that fateful trip…
Fast forward to 2012. Cynthia is the winemaker/owner of Passaggio Wines, honoring her grandfather’s passion that she now claims as her own. After working for a prestigious winery in Sonoma as a Wine Chemist and Lab Manager and Winemaker for the well-known Custom Crush Facility, Cynthia determined it was time to branch out on her own. The challenges of owning her own company continue to be new to her. Without a business or marketing background, how was she going to manage this? Over the years, Cynthia used social media to create a supportive network around her. This group has served her well, kept her grounded, opened doors and moved Cynthia forward each year. Slowly, Passaggio Wines carved a following and Cynthia is now helping others reach for their passion.
Today, Cynthia manages a successful business. Initial production of 50 cases has grown to a current production of 400 cases a year. Her business plan is to reach 2500-3000 cases per year. Passaggio Wines is featured in a San Francisco tasting room and online sales are growing. The Passionistas Wine Club has reached 40 members and Cynthia’s goal is to achieve 200 members to sustain the winery. Managing social media, marketing, sales, and winemaking all by herself is a major challenge. Cynthia has a focus on making wine…she has never lost her passion for family, friends, food and wine as a way of sharing the abundance of blessings in her life.