Foreword
an introduction to the 2020 winning submission
This year’s prompt was the poem “Ithaka” by the Greek author C.P. Cavafy. You may read it by clicking here.
A tumultuous year, defined by a global pandemic, 2020 has put us all on edge and tested the limits of our sanity. In the spring after the Master of Wine exams were postponed, I offered a special scholarship opportunity to allow MW students to reflect on what led them to pursue the Master of Wine in the first place. Christopher Martin’s beautiful personal story can be found here as well as several other honorable mentions and submissions. This opportunity was born because I tried to, myself, find comfort in what my father would have told me were I in the situation of the students disappointed by this year and its shortcomings: “Remember why you did this. Because you love it.” I can hear my father’s words in my head now as I type them.
I wanted to continue this thread of reflection but shift the focus for students to something that explored the idea of journey, destination, and the relationship between the two. No poem captures this concept more beautifully than Cavafy’s “Ithaka.”
There were many, many incredible responses, many of which were poetic themselves. We loved reading the creative, thoughtful responses, and it was more difficult than ever to select the winning submission. And yet. When we got to Evmorfia’s personal essay, we found a different tone all together. One that combined humility, newfound confidence in tandem with vulnerability, honesty, and hope. An English teacher myself (prior to getting the wine bug nearly 15 years ago), I loved how Evmorfia wove her own personal journey into aspects of the poem, while simultaneously illuminating a new interpretation for me: the idea that there is not one Ithaka, but many, endless quests and arrivals. It is a beautiful take on a beautiful poem, and I hope you’ll be as inspired by the winning submission as we were.
Again, this year’s prompt was the poem “Ithaka” by the Greek author C.P. Cavafy. You may read it by clicking here. Evmorfia’s winning response is printed below.
Mary Margaret McCamic, Master of Wine Founder of the George T. Gamblin Memorial Scholarship
Reflections on Ithaca
By Evmorfia Kostaki
Cavafy has been my inspiration, without me even knowing.
Being from Greece, this poem, Ithaca, is taught at schools. Young and rebellious souls have to sit quietly in class where a teacher speaks non-stop about the syntax of this magnificent piece of art. I was always a good student and I believed I understood most of what was happening in class. But now I know I had no idea what this poem is about. Nor did the teacher really.
Years passed, without ever thinking about this. When I moved to France to study viticulture and enology I came face to face with a different reality. In Greece, I felt as if I was the best, or at least among the best. There, I felt I was not worthy of my position. I was in the same class with people double my age, with great experience in the world of wine. Virtually everybody had worked vintages in many parts of the world, while I was straight out of university. One night, after a particularly hard day, I thought I couldn’t make it.
I called my parents back home. I was truly persuaded my new hard life was not meant for me. “Why did they choose me, the ignorant one?” I screamed over the phone. Then my father’s voice sounded calm over the phone as he recited the first lines of this poem.
“As you go out to Ithaca, hope the voyage is a long one…”
The power of these few words, which the English language struggles to embrace, rushed over me. It gave me the courage to fight. After a while, my mind accepted that I truly did deserve that position. That was the moment I overcame the first monster of my journey.
Pushing aside my fears, I lived in many different countries, spoke languages I didn’t know how to speak and met amazing people, all the time while learning more and more about wine. I truly felt like an adventurer, a modern Odysseus.
But the road was long until I found my Ithaca. Ithaca was not what I was looking for, nor did I know Ithaca existed. While Kalypso was trying to keep me by her side, offering pleasures and many treasures, one day I remembered my Ithaca.
Did I ever truly forget it?
Ithaca, the place where I walked my first steps and tasted my first wine, a sweet muscat, under the hot Greek sun. Ithaca was not far away. It really was my home. So, I returned, full of the adventure I had just experienced.
And Ithaca was not what I expected. Everything seemed dull, but it made me happy. What more can you ask of poor Ithaca?
It didn’t take long for me to feel trapped. My father then recited this poem for the second time. This time it was in person. It brought me shivers as I understood once again what I thought I already knew. A lump came up my throat. It’s not the journey that matters, nor is the destination. A challenge is what I’m looking for. How can you halt the journey, once you have tasted the rewards it brings?
So, there never really is an Ithaca. Every time you reach it, you let it slide away and a new journey begins.
Uncertainty and fear became overwhelming once again. But now I know.
I am lucky I have reached my Ithaca once already.
Despite all the hardships of the upcoming journey, I am looking forward to meeting with Poseidon and the Cyclops once again. Perhaps we’ll be friends this time. I am not afraid. Only grateful…
Looking back, my 16-year-old self would have never been able to understand this poem. And that’s okay. It’s all part of the journey.
Now, every time I look out towards the sea from the shore of Samos, I wonder where Odysseus is. What monsters is he fighting? Is Kalypso trying to seduce him once again? In my mind I am standing next to him, sailing in unknown waters.
I left my newfound Ithaca for the idea of a new one. But I’m not afraid; I’ve got heroes by my side.
About the Author: Evmorfia Kostaki
Evmorfia Kostaki is a Stage One Master of Wine student who grew up in Samos, Greece. She holds a Master in Viticulture and Enology with studies in Montpellier, Bordeaux, Udine and Davis, as well as the prestigious Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma. After working and studying abroad, Evmorfia returned to Samos where she plans on building her own winery. When not studying for the Master of Wine exam, you'll likely find her working in her organic vineyards. She has recently rediscovered how much she enjoys writing, and has started her own blog, oenogreek.wordpress.com.
Her wine pairing for this submission was Nopera Epitome, NV, Muscat of Samos, Greece.