Raising a Glass to Resilience
When Sarah Citron, co-owner of Bricoleur Vineyards, was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at just 32, her life changed overnight. What began as a lump that went unaddressed for months became a life-altering journey—one that would eventually inspire her to create meaning, awareness, and generosity through her family’s winery.
“I was diagnosed at 32 with stage III breast cancer that had spread to most of my lymph nodes,” she recalls. After first seeking treatment in Santa Rosa, Sarah joined a clinical trial at University of California San Francisco that included an oral chemotherapy called I-SPY. “It shrank my tumor by 40% in three months—and I didn’t lose my hair.” But even with months of the trial plus standard chemo, which was required, new cancer was found in her sternum and surrounding tissue at surgery. “Because they found more, I did 36 rounds of radiation on my entire chest,” she says. “It was a lot. But I just kept going.”
Throughout treatment, Sarah was struck not just by the physical challenges, but by the emotional landscape of cancer care. “It surprised me how people talk to you—how doctors say things like ‘when it comes back,’ or other patients say ‘you’re lucky because you’re young,’” she explains. “Compassion matters. Words matter.”
For Sarah, her husband and their young daughter were her anchors. “Having a two-year-old meant I couldn’t just stay in bed. I still wanted to do bedtime, read books, and not lose two years of her life. That was my biggest push.” Her family’s support—and her determination to stay present—kept her grounded. “You can always focus on the negative,” she says, “but I choose to focus on the positive. Why did I fight to stay alive if I’m not going to live my best life?”
Surviving cancer gave Sarah a new perspective on gratitude and time. “I prioritize quality time with people now,” she says. “You can always make excuses not to see someone, but I don’t miss those opportunities anymore.”
It also inspired her to give back through Bricoleur Vineyards, where purpose and community are at the heart of the business. “Just because we make wine doesn’t mean we don’t care about important issues,” she says. “We created Isla Rose—named for my daughter, whose birthday falls on February 4th, World Cancer Day—as a way to support cancer research.”
Each October, Bricoleur doubles its contribution to the V Foundation for cancer research and donates $5 from every tasting that month. “Everyone has been impacted by cancer,” Sarah notes. “Finding a cure for one type will hopefully lead to cures for others.”
Her advice to others facing treatment is both humble and heartfelt: “Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s not easy, but people want to support you—they just don’t always know how. You have to tell them exactly what you need.”
Through her courage and generosity, Sarah Citron reminds us that resilience can take root in even the hardest soil—and that after every storm, there’s beauty in raising a glass to what we’ve survived.