The Delta in the Rearview Mirror: The Life and Death of Mississippi's First Winery

by Di Rushing

After graduating from Mississippi State University in 1976, Di Rushing and her husband, Sam, found themselves back on their family farm near Merigold, Mississippi, with 350 acres and no real clue what to do. The couple decided to open the first winery in Mississippi, and with it, a successful business was born. Six years later, a small restaurant joined the Delta winery. Both businesses were thriving by 1990, with eight national award-winning wines, a beautiful vineyard, and a successful restaurant.

But in March of 1990, a series of unforeseen events rocked the operation. After the Rushings discovered one of the tour guides, Ray Russell, selling drugs in the winery parking lot, they fired him. He responded with a terrorizing vengeance that persisted over the next nine months. In the early morning hours, the former guide broke into the winery, crept into the wine cellar, and released the entire inventory―nearly a quarter of a million dollars’ worth―down the drain. Fortunately, his incompetence thwarted his most destructive intention to blow up the restaurant. In his rampage, he broke all the windows, which allowed the gas from the kitchen oven to escape, sparing the premises. Though the Rushings rebuilt with the help of their community, Russell continued to stalk and threaten the young family. As his menacing behavior continued to escalate, the Rushings closed their business of fourteen years and moved to Ouray, Colorado, where they began rebuilding their lives. Culminating in the sudden, violent murders of Russell, his wife, and his father twenty-five years later, this book tells a story of both shock and resilience, charting Mississippi history along with way.

Intertwined with the true crime narrative, The Delta in the Rearview The Life and Death of Mississippi’s First Winery details author Di Rushing’s life in and out of Mississippi, including growing up in 1960s Greenville, attending university, traveling overseas, and the relationships she cultivated along the way.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Book Club, Audiobook

208 pages, Hardcover

Published January 25, 2024

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could hardly put this book down. I was so fascinated by the story of how this young couple worked so hard to establish the first winery in the state of Mississippi, start a successful tea room, and become part of the community of Merigold. Full disclosure – I am related to Di Rushing by marriage, even though we have never met. However, she is so absolutely honest about her feelings that I now feel like I know her. Her prose is straight forward and easy to read; her use of newspaper clippings at the beginning of the chapters is ingenious and helped me to keep track of the time setting of the events in the narrative. The demise of the winery is shocking and the family’s subsequent move to Colorado paints a portrait of a couple that is willing to work hard and overcome many obstacles with creativity and plain old grit.

[Brianna Roberson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahhhh im so conflicted because I flew through this one and looove reading stories from and about Mississippi and this one in particular is so unique and obviously displays a love for the Delta despite its faults

BUT I wanted to feel the way I did after Dispatches from Pluto and I was disappointed, particularly by the actual storytelling. Plus she punches her husband in the face out of anger and shows no signs of regrets which had me feeling some type of way on his behalf

[McKenna Sumrak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, it’s just heartbreaking to read the details of their lives. What strong, innovative, creative, focused people who were forced to leave their dream. Obviously I am glad to be on the receiving end as I would never have known Di had she not ended up in Ouray, but to hear her raw pain is hard. I love her authenticity throughout the book, always willing to not sugarcoat things.

“In retrospect, I see that it was at this precise moment that I internalized the truth that any control we may think we have is an illusion, a trick played on our minds to keep us reasonably sane as we navigate life.”

“We didn’t get over it, but we did get through it.”

[Lauren Rhoades · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engrossing and fast-paced story of the life and death of Mississippi’s first native winery. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and this memoir certainly proves that point. Di Rushing’s writing is lively and entertaining. Lots of reflections on life in the MS Delta that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Tupelodan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but troubling. Happy ending to a sad story … for the Rushing Family. The author’s writing was a bit too cute and cliche-ish for me at times, and her reluctance to use many last names was bothersome. Still, I would encourage readers to jump in.

[Pam Butts · Rating 5 out of 5]

JLJ book club. This was a quick and poignant read. I finished it in about 6.5 hours at the airport. I actually cried in a couple of places. As a fellow Mississippian, I am distraught reading how such a bright and enthusiastic family who were actually investing in the state and creating jobs was basically forced to leave and Mississippi was stuck with the angry white losers. Sigh.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I appreciate this true and very sad story, the flow of her story really threw me off! Too much jumping around between the years of 1977 to 1990! I found it difficult to follow her story, plus lots of unneeded information IMO!

[Erin Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ This is a memoir from a woman who built Mississippi’s first winery with her husband. They have great success and then are faced with difficult and unfair circumstances that cause them to close the winery (this is right in the title, so not a spoiler).

The narrative did jump around a good bit, but I didn’t find it hard to follow. The story was engaging, and I was rooting for the ending to not be what I knew it would be. I am from this area (though I was in jr high when the winery closed and do not remember the store or events), so being enraptured by the story definitely could be due to my ties to the location. It was close to a 5⭐️ for me, but there were some backstories that did not have anything to do with the story being told and seemed to be added only to prove the author was progressive or virtuous. It screamed of virtue signaling, and it took away from the experience for me.

[Nancy Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mississippi Delta is a complex environment--yet Di has managed, through a well-written narrative, to capture a slice of her life there during a formidable ordeal for her family. I grew up in Greenville where she and her husband were in high school there (Di was in my brother's class), so I was eager to read her story. What I found was a heartbreaking example of how, even in modern America, ordinary hard-working folks can be exposed to dangers without protection from the law. At least the Rushings had the courage and perseverance to escape. Change doesn't come easily to people in the Delta, so it's admirable that they left and started over, successfully. Kudos to you, Di, for having the pluck to share all this with the world.

[Susie James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a former Greenvillian, having worked several years, leaving early 1980s for Little Rock, for the Delta Democrat-Times; a co-worker, photographer, was David Rushing; I don't know what kin he was or is to Di's husband, Sam, with whom she developed and ran the Winery Rushing and the Top of the Cellar Tea Room. I never darkened their doors, though, just to be clear. The memoir I found on the new books shelf at the Winona, Miss., library is a "good read" though it doesn't "tell all" I'm sure. How could it? She writes of their friends and fellow Merigold artists, the famous potters; I checked the other night and found, yes, I still have a bowl created by those Delta potters. Such tragedy infuses the Rushings' story.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced, I finished this book in one day. I found myself deeply sympathetic with Di and Sam. Having grown up in Mississippi, I related heavily to them both. I wish there had been more reflection and discussion from the author on the history and reasons why crippling poverty and race relations are the way they are in the Delta. Having also just read “The Barn” by Wright Thompson, I felt like this book was lacking some of the reality of the history of the area.
Just as I admired them for the guts to open a winery in the Mississippi Delta, I also admired them for knowing when to leave and move their young family to Colorado. I’m happy for them that they have had such a fulfilling life there.

[Gail Barger · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an interesting and fascinating story about this couple that built the first winery in the Mississippi Delta. A successful business that was thriving in the 1990's, they were hit with terrible crime and danger that forced their move to Colorado. This all happened nearby to where I live but I don't remember anything about it, glad some friends are passing this book around for people to read!

[Jerra Runnels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story. Loved her use of newspaper articles at the beginning of each chapter to show what was going on in their lives and how well they were received in the Delta and their community. I won’t give much away but I hated the way things ended for them but so glad they found their peace and happiness in Colorado. A really interesting read that connects so many issues such as school integration and our love of food and race into the story. Highly recommend!!

[susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because I was raised in a small town, just off of the madding two lane Highway 61, along the cotton fields in the Mississippi Delta. As a business owner and an employer, parts of this books was difficult to read. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in the legendary Delta, farming, wineries, small business ownership, memoirs, and/or mysteries.

[Kathy and Carol Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moved beyond words

I could not put this book down. We all, to some degree, experience hardships and great joys in our lives. Ms Rushing's make most a pale blush by comparison. I was moved to tears, and my heart raced with anger and fear all within the space of a page. Her words hold so much truth for us all.

[Lara Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because I live in Mississippi & lived in Cleveland for 2.5 years. The setting is so familiar to me. If you are a southerner or one who enjoys larger than life characters in southern tales this is a book for you. We all know you can’t make up these wild stories and Di Rushing tells her family story so well. Now to go find her cookbook!!

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this I had never heard of Di Rushing or her vineyard or café or what happened to her family, but I felt a great empathy for them and all they went through. I was also pleasantly surprised at all the little connections that we had, from the Mannings to her love of and finding of solace in Ouray, Colorado.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poured through this on the plane. What a story of unbelievable grief and grit, captured so creatively and honestly. I loved that the newspaper clippings guided this retelling of unimaginable events. I felt like I was a neighbor, a patron at the tea room. I cried, laughed, and cried some more. Thanks for the great story, Di!

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hard one to be objective about since the author is a childhood friend. Di’s voice comes through loud and clear. She tells a heartbreaking story of one dream lost and another one found. Highly recommended.

[Wendy Mixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! I met the author in Oxford Mississippi where she had a book signing to launch her new book. Her story is fascinating and tragic but ends well. Do does a great job of story telling . Her story should be mad into a movie!

[Becca Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audiobook was fantastic! A fascinating story that I knew nothing about, despite having lived in Cleveland for 2 years. Mississippians, Deltans, and Southerners will especially love this look into a historical business in our area.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars

This was hard to read because it felt disjointed. As a MS resident, I felt a morsel of sentimentality but were it not for that, I don’t know that I would have even finished this one. It would have been more grabbing as just a newspaper or magazine article.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having grown up in Memphis which is close by but a long way off in terms of understanding the life during that period, I understand it better now having a son who lived and worked in that area in the last few years. I could not stop listening.

[Kristal Golden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and sad story. But, also a story of a strong, smart and resilient couple determined to save their family. I live in Mississippi. Moved here in 1995 and had not heard this story before. Wow. Just wow.

[Sue Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

How awful it was that someone committed such a terrible crime and not get punished at all? The justice system didn't do its job. I also didn't understand the violence that she exhibited toward her husband. That man is clearly a saint.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read book. Fast paced and intriguing story.

[aldr6870 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this down!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great memoir about why a family chooses to move from their home, family, friends, and all they know to live their life. Fun fact: the author is my sister-in-law's husband's 2nd cousin.

[Bonnie Burkes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I live near the Mississippi Delta, I was not aware of this story. The Rushings had an interesting life but also some undeserved treatment . It’s worth the read.

[Syd Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting. A story I’d never heard of before, as it occurred many years ago but fascinating nonetheless. It speaks a lot about resilience and adaptability in all circumstances.