To many Romans, the Latin maxim memento mori meant, “Remember you must die.” A conquering general returning to Rome with the spoils of war, welcomed with laurel wreaths and showers of flower pedals, would often have a slave stand behind him to whisper in his ear and warn him that all glory is temporary and hollow, as even generals die. For the great and powerful, memento mori was a warning and a call to humility. But history tells us the phrase can serve dual purposes.
The sentiment is more lighthearted when you consider its alternative interpretation: Remember to live. For lovers of the grape, the saying serves as a reminder to enjoy every moment to its fullest because we only experience our lives once for a very short time.
Hidden away in Napa Valley’s northern forests of Calistoga, there’s no prominent sign advertising the presence or even the existence of Memento Mori winery. It’s a deliberate distinction from the likes of Sterling, Gallo and Trinchero, who run tours and tasting rooms that rival theme park attractions. For now, Memento Mori doesn’t want too many Napa visitors knowing they’re on the scene. Its keepers decide who to invite onto their historic premises and when they want to open the gate to their vine- and redwood-studded acres…