Most of the winemakers I know started making wine in their garage or basement. Some inherited the family business which was also started in a basement or barn. All have the hearts of a true entrepreneur as they forge on to develop great wines.
Hobbyists beware of the words “you should sell this stuff.” BAM! The entrepreneur inside turns its creative mind to large quantity production and cool labels. But if they ever want to get it in your hands they have to do much more than create and bottle the wine.
While researching the newest winery in the region I met Lance and Valerie owners of Black Walnut Winery. I should add that they do have partners in crime (wine), Jack and Karen. These four are the classic wine enthusiasts turned hobbyists turned entrepreneur and soon to be leaders recognized for their award winning wines. I can not describe how much I enjoyed their wines and YES, their story.
[read Rob Kallessa's article bacause I could not have written it better: http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20091006/SPARK0302/910070304/1129/rss06]
http://www.blackwalnutwinery.com/about.html
For the purpose of this blog I continue…
You see, we all have something great within us that we want to share. In each story there is a pivotal moment when they sought advice and expertise of other entrepreneurs they consider leaders. The spirit that drove them to ask for advice also encouraged them to act. About that time they totally become paralyzed.
One winemaker I know said he got great advice and did do what he needed to trademark and begin selling the wine. When he finally had everything in place he freaked out! When the license to sell was in his hands reality hit; his dream had come true. Up ‘till then he was so busy following instructions and DOING.
I don’t know that we always see the shift from artist to entrepreneur when its happening. We experience the challenges and feel the anxiety about a particular task – but only after we allowed the internal leader to take charge. Its being a leader that helps us to get the do done.
So my fellow artisans I encourage you now to look back at what happened in your life just before you started DOING – that was your first defining moment. That is when you unleashed the leader in you. My bet is 50% of you were laughing over a glass of wine when it happened.
Am I right? Comment!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Location, Location, Location - for the love of wine!
I find my expectations around the taste and quality of wine vary depending on my surroundings or the location. Location can mean any number of places: countries, regions, large or small wineries, family-owned wineries, in a restaurant or at home.
Some of my favorite and most memorable experiences are those visits to small family-owned wineries in the middle of nowhere in foreign countries. Not to say I don’t have a fondness from family-owned here in the United States. It’s quite different… read on and you might agree.
While driving through Franconia, Germany, and we saw a small sign near a driveway that read “Wein.” We made a right turn and parked in front of a simple house with a typical wooden swing set near the house and a heavy wooden door with a doorbell, which we pushed. An old woman (OMA or Grandma) opened the door. Her face and hands were weathered from years in the fields. Her hands looked strong, a finger was missing and there was plenty of earth under her nails. She spoke German with a regional accent so strong we could hardly understand her. However we all spoke “WINEeese” without strain.
When we asked if we could taste her wine her face lit up! She was cute as she wobbled back inside gesturing for us to follow her. She opened a little refrigerator and pulled out bottle after bottle of wine, all sorts of wine. If I remember correctly the bottles were already open and few had labels. She poured wine for each of us including herself.
Our expectation for the wine’s taste and quality was low. We were CORRECT; it was drinkable and nothing we would buy in a store. BUT we were having a fabulous time just soaking up the old woman’s joy of sharing wine with strangers. We stayed for at least an hour. She doted over our daughter pouring her glasses of varying grape juices: red, purple, white. Hayden eventually went to play on the swing and we bought wine.
I can’t say whether or not we ever drank the bottles we bought. It doesn’t matter – it was a memorable experience.
Insight, I believe, refers to the depth of understanding that comes by setting experiences, yours and mine, familiar and exotic, new and old, side by side, learning by letting them speak to one another.
Some of my favorite and most memorable experiences are those visits to small family-owned wineries in the middle of nowhere in foreign countries. Not to say I don’t have a fondness from family-owned here in the United States. It’s quite different… read on and you might agree.
While driving through Franconia, Germany, and we saw a small sign near a driveway that read “Wein.” We made a right turn and parked in front of a simple house with a typical wooden swing set near the house and a heavy wooden door with a doorbell, which we pushed. An old woman (OMA or Grandma) opened the door. Her face and hands were weathered from years in the fields. Her hands looked strong, a finger was missing and there was plenty of earth under her nails. She spoke German with a regional accent so strong we could hardly understand her. However we all spoke “WINEeese” without strain.
When we asked if we could taste her wine her face lit up! She was cute as she wobbled back inside gesturing for us to follow her. She opened a little refrigerator and pulled out bottle after bottle of wine, all sorts of wine. If I remember correctly the bottles were already open and few had labels. She poured wine for each of us including herself.
Our expectation for the wine’s taste and quality was low. We were CORRECT; it was drinkable and nothing we would buy in a store. BUT we were having a fabulous time just soaking up the old woman’s joy of sharing wine with strangers. We stayed for at least an hour. She doted over our daughter pouring her glasses of varying grape juices: red, purple, white. Hayden eventually went to play on the swing and we bought wine.
I can’t say whether or not we ever drank the bottles we bought. It doesn’t matter – it was a memorable experience.
Insight, I believe, refers to the depth of understanding that comes by setting experiences, yours and mine, familiar and exotic, new and old, side by side, learning by letting them speak to one another.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
By Appointment Only
When a winery or vintner states that tasting is “by appointment only,” GO! For years this turned me off because I assumed the winemaker pretentious. Growing up in an open-door policy lifestyle, I didn’t understand why they were closed to the public when all the other wineries were open. I changed my mind in the spring of 2000.
My husband and I were on a quest to taste ALL the wines of the California Central Coast before we moved to Germany. We had only a couple of weeks to hit all the wineries, including those that were “by appointment only.”
We discovered these to be quaint mom & pop set ups with a small inventory. We called on a winemaker located on the outskirts of Paso Robles. His wife was most friendly when we called and set a time within the hour. Just enough time for her to bake us a loaf of bread to enjoy with our wine.
When we got there her husband, a man in his 70s greeted us on the driveway. He was a retired engineer from Italy turned winemaker. After showing my husband his prized Alfa Romeo we were invited into his home to enjoy the fresh baked bread, wine and listen to stories from Italy to America. It was their story that brought the flavors of the wine to perfection.
I never looked at my watch. It didn’t matter that we had many more wineries on our list. By Appointment Only: “Wherever you are, be there.”
If you could schedule an appointment for somewhere special, where would that be?
My husband and I were on a quest to taste ALL the wines of the California Central Coast before we moved to Germany. We had only a couple of weeks to hit all the wineries, including those that were “by appointment only.”
We discovered these to be quaint mom & pop set ups with a small inventory. We called on a winemaker located on the outskirts of Paso Robles. His wife was most friendly when we called and set a time within the hour. Just enough time for her to bake us a loaf of bread to enjoy with our wine.
When we got there her husband, a man in his 70s greeted us on the driveway. He was a retired engineer from Italy turned winemaker. After showing my husband his prized Alfa Romeo we were invited into his home to enjoy the fresh baked bread, wine and listen to stories from Italy to America. It was their story that brought the flavors of the wine to perfection.
I never looked at my watch. It didn’t matter that we had many more wineries on our list. By Appointment Only: “Wherever you are, be there.”
If you could schedule an appointment for somewhere special, where would that be?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Arbor Mist Bubbly White Zinfandel at a Wine Tasting?
When I moved to my new neighborhood my husband & I hosted a BLIND wine tasting party to meet our neighbors. We sent out formal invitations and simply requested they bring a white wine. I mostly drink RED wine but it was a summer time (think hot).
So anyway, my neighbor, Trish, said she didn't drink wine and wasn't sure of what to bring. Immediate response: What? She said, she had tasted wine on occasion but did not like it. Follow up response: What! After the initial shock I told her to pick ANYTHING at the Wine & Spirits store and I added that expensive did not mean better.
The whole idea of the event was to meet neighbors and share my favorite pastime: wine tasting/ consumption. At the party neighbors tasted a variety of wines and were surprised to discover that one Chardonnay tasted different from another. Or that Pinot Gris tasted a lot like grass (the kind you walk on). And so on! We played down fancy industry terms.
Back to the whole Arbor Mist experience. Trish brought the one wine she knew: Arbor Mist White Zinfandel. When I said, "pick any white wine" I should have added, "And White Zin does not count." Can you imagine how funny it tasted after a sip of Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc? I was like, "Okay who brought the Bartels and Jaymes wine cooler?" No wonder she said she did not like wine. Maybe if all I ever tasted was Arbor Mist Bubbly White Zin, I'd consider beer a better option too!
What's the oddest or most surprising wine ever brought to one of your gatherings? Do you have a similar story?
So anyway, my neighbor, Trish, said she didn't drink wine and wasn't sure of what to bring. Immediate response: What? She said, she had tasted wine on occasion but did not like it. Follow up response: What! After the initial shock I told her to pick ANYTHING at the Wine & Spirits store and I added that expensive did not mean better.
The whole idea of the event was to meet neighbors and share my favorite pastime: wine tasting/ consumption. At the party neighbors tasted a variety of wines and were surprised to discover that one Chardonnay tasted different from another. Or that Pinot Gris tasted a lot like grass (the kind you walk on). And so on! We played down fancy industry terms.
Back to the whole Arbor Mist experience. Trish brought the one wine she knew: Arbor Mist White Zinfandel. When I said, "pick any white wine" I should have added, "And White Zin does not count." Can you imagine how funny it tasted after a sip of Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc? I was like, "Okay who brought the Bartels and Jaymes wine cooler?" No wonder she said she did not like wine. Maybe if all I ever tasted was Arbor Mist Bubbly White Zin, I'd consider beer a better option too!
LEADERSHIP TIP: When you're asked for guidance by a newby, keep it slightly more specific and include absolute no no's.
What's the oddest or most surprising wine ever brought to one of your gatherings? Do you have a similar story?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Ready To Start Your Business?
Do you have the right stuff to start a business?
- Did you franchise your lemonade stand when you were 8 years old?
- Do you have "entrepreneurial" genes?
- Are your spouse, children and parents loyal?
- Is wealth a better reason to start a business than riches?
- Do you love your better mousetrap?
- Do you know when to replace passion with pragmatism?
- Ever doubled down in Vegas?
- Are you honest, trustworthy and committed to avoiding evil?
- Do you know a spreadsheet from a bed sheet?
- Do you have the tenacity of a pit bull?
Count your "yes" answers and see how you did ... Scores
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Lost Keys ?
Did you know that 1500 sets of keys are turned into the Las Vegas International lost and found department annually? That's just one airport in one city in all the world (albeit many things stay in Vegas). There is a cool website, www.return2owners.com that helps you tag them and get them back.
What do keys have to do with leadership? Surly you know the term Keys to Leadership. It's all related.
I wonder how many clients or contacts you lose a year because you don't have anything to link them back to you. The care and keeping of your existing clients and contacts is more valuable than and takes less energy generating new ones. Never under estimate the value of tried and true birthday cards, newsletters, gimmicky give-a-ways and quarterly phone calls.
Never leave out family. Make sure they see you as the leader you are in your life. Keep them close and tuned in to your leadership activities. Last year I received a referral from my Uncle Paul. I haven't seen him in years but the birthday card I send (thanks mom for burning that one in my brain) and keeping him on my email list kept us connected.
Until someone develops www.return2(yournamehere).com , make sure you take the time to stay linked. You'll better serve your existing clients, keep channels open for prospects and generate leads.
I'm off to Vegas to search through 1500 sets of keys; this may take some time.
What do keys have to do with leadership? Surly you know the term Keys to Leadership. It's all related.
I wonder how many clients or contacts you lose a year because you don't have anything to link them back to you. The care and keeping of your existing clients and contacts is more valuable than and takes less energy generating new ones. Never under estimate the value of tried and true birthday cards, newsletters, gimmicky give-a-ways and quarterly phone calls.
Never leave out family. Make sure they see you as the leader you are in your life. Keep them close and tuned in to your leadership activities. Last year I received a referral from my Uncle Paul. I haven't seen him in years but the birthday card I send (thanks mom for burning that one in my brain) and keeping him on my email list kept us connected.
Until someone develops www.return2(yournamehere).com , make sure you take the time to stay linked. You'll better serve your existing clients, keep channels open for prospects and generate leads.
I'm off to Vegas to search through 1500 sets of keys; this may take some time.
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