Retirement is often imagined as a slowing down—a chance to step back, breathe deeper, and enjoy what years of work have made possible. It can also mean being in control of your time, without pressing timelines, knowing there is always tomorrow.
For Jay and Shelly Hawkins and Joel and Teresa Poppen, it became something else entirely.
A season of re-engagement.
In Idaho’s Sunnyslope wine region, the two couples are building Gem 73 Winery—a project rooted not only in the land, but in the belief that this stage of life can still hold risk, creativity, and new purpose. Yes, there is a vineyard. Yes, there is a winery taking shape. But what draws them back into building is something deeper than wine alone.
For the Hawkins, retirement opened the door to farming in a more personal way. What began as a hobby farm grew into something much larger. They purchased property in the Chalk Hills above the Snake River and began planting what is now Lanae Ridge Vineyard—named by blending their middle names and shaped by the history of the land itself. What started as five acres expanded to 62, driven by Jay’s fascination with the science of growing exceptional fruit. For Shelly, it’s about the people who work alongside them.
Their connection to the land runs deep—and so does their conviction that this is one of the best places in Idaho to grow high-quality grapes.
For the Poppens, the return to building came through a different lens. After years of leadership and community engagement, they weren’t looking for another venture. They were drawn to creating a place where people gather with intention. Wine is not the end goal. It is the invitation.
Again and again, one idea surfaced: connection.
They spoke of younger generations wanting to step away from phones and noise, and of older generations experiencing loneliness. They reflected on something increasingly rare—people sitting together, sharing food, wine, and real conversation. In their vision, Gem 73 becomes a “third place”—not home, not work, but somewhere people feel at ease. For those who remember, it carries a familiar feeling—the sense of a place where everyone knows your name—the “Cheers” of Idaho.
That vision feels especially ambitious at a stage of life when many people are trying to simplify, not build something entirely new.
The Hawkins bring the vineyard—the agricultural heart—and a passion for coaxing the best from the land. The Poppens bring hospitality, design, and a history of creating spaces where people feel welcomed and connected. Alongside them, winemaker Greg Koenig has played a key role from the earliest plantings to designing the winery and shaping its wines. Together, the partnership feels balanced: one rooted in the land, one centered on experience, and one shaping what fills the glass.
This is not simply a retirement project, nor a lifestyle concept chasing trends. It is deeply personal—reflecting what these couples value after long careers and full lives: generosity, authenticity, and shared experience.
Even the wines reflect that philosophy. They aim to be excellent but not intimidating—thoughtful, yet accessible. Wines that welcome people in rather than remind them what they do not know. The same is true of the space they are creating, where vineyard views, good food, and conversation will matter as much as what is in the glass. To bring that vision to life, they are building a 15,000-square-foot winery set within the vineyard, overlooking the Snake River and the Owyhee Mountains.
At a time when many are trying to simplify life, Jay, Shelly, Joel, and Teresa have chosen something more demanding.
They have chosen to build again. Not because they need another chapter—but because they believe this one still has something worth giving.
And in Gem 73, what they offer goes beyond wine. It is a place to gather, to linger, and to remember that some of the best things in life still happen around a table.
Tammy de Weerd is a contributing writer for Boise Lifestyle and Meridian Lifestyle and co-founder of Spoken Wines.