First I must say that I am very excited to be a guest on Wilma’s wonderful wine blog.  Reading and writing about Sonoma County wine is part of what has taught me that I am, undoubtedly, a Northern California girl.  After four years of college in San Bernardino county, I quickly realized the rarity of my hometown – incredible food, fine wine, and a landscape about as picturesque as you can imagine.  In this unique setting wine is not only a delicious commodity, it is a way of life.  The pace is slow, the work is satisfying, and once you are in the industry, you likely always will be.  That said, simply growing up in Sonoma County does not make you a wine country insider.  It provides a unique outlook, but it takes being around a winery firsthand to really understand the magic.  Fourteen months ago, I was given that opportunity. 

Working in a tasting room is a lot like traveling.  Each day is a new experience, and each day provides an opportunity for teaching and learning.  Wine is personal, and with each tasting room guest I am reminded of this fact.  When confronted with the question, “what do you recommend?”  My response is static, what do you like?  With so much variety and quality at my fingertips, it is important to pour wines that people will not only enjoy, but will also learn something from.  My goal is to present each guest with a familiar wine, an unfamiliar wine, and an unforgettable wine.  Lucky for me, at Dry Creek Vineyard, this is not an arduous task. 

As rewarding as it is to impart knowledge, it is equally fulfilling to learn.  This plays in a tasting room, where the consumer is not the only person expanding his or her consciousness.  On a daily basis I pour wine for people from all walks of life – restaurateurs, lawyers, bankers, writers, doctors, students, retirees, and even winemakers.  All of these people have a story, and in the midst of relaying the Dry Creek Vineyard tale I often have the chance to hear theirs.  After almost a year and a half of wine country hospitality I have gained a great deal of wine knowledge AND life experience.  The fact that we wine country insiders have the privilege to learn not only from each other, but also from our consumers and guests is what makes this industry so special.  I know I am fortunate to live and work in this exceptional part of the world.

Tasting Room Associate, Erin Ginder-Shaw has been with Dry Creek Vineyard since 2008.

When Kim Wallace, er, check that, Wilma, asked me to step in and be a guest blogger, I had more than a few trepidations.  For one, how in the heck can I fill such big shoes?  After all, Willma’s been doing this a while and her voice is about as authentic and real as it gets.  I know a lot of people that read Wilma’s blog (including some of her close friends and family) and they really enjoy it.  I think my second thought was, okay, don’t screw this up – your job is on the line here.  Thankfully, as it turns out, a terrific topic to blog about came racing across my desk just this morning.  

As Director of Communications, my job encompasses just about all things having to do with communicating.  From writing press releases and corresponding with the media to conducting sales meetings and sharing the family story, Kim relies on me to ensure that our message is clear and consistent.  Public Relations in the wine industry can be, well, the word challenging comes to mind.  Getting ink for your brand among the thousands of other brands is down right daunting.  But, our motto has always been stay on message, stick to the story, and eventually we’ll get some ink.  Patience and timely follow-up are two huge keys to being a successful PR person.

And so, when great press comes across my desk, I can’t help but be just a bit giddy.  Today, that press was in the form of a Wine Spectator.com feature by Online Managing Editor, Dana Nigro.  Click the PDF to check out what Dana has to say about our 2007 Fume Blanc as well as our other single vineyard bottlings including our new 2008 Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc. 

It’s usually at this point that I go into Wilma’s office looking for a PR “high five.”  One thing (among many) that is great about the big boss is that she “gets it” – in other words, she understands how challenging it is to get good press, she has reasonable expectations for press coverage and when something good does happen, she is appreciative of the hard work and effort.

So, Wilma, if you’re reading this poolside at some Italian villa, I’m giving you a virtual high five.  Be sure to have a glass of prosecco for me!

You may be wondering what's going on with the Meritage Association. (Or, maybe not, but I'm going to tell you!) First, we've renamed ourselves the Meritage Alliance. With over 220 winery members all passionate about the art of Bordeaux blending, it was time to expand our outreach to trade and consumer followers. Somehow the name Meritage Alliance vs. Meritage Association seems to better represent the exciting and complex nature of these wines.

Whenever I feel nostalgic, I pull out an old wine. More often than not, it’s a bit of a disappointment as I seem to have lost my taste for older red wines as I age myself. They’re usually pretty tired, with little of the fruit characteristics associated with the varietal and an aroma of barnyards and blue cheese basking in the sun. (How’s that for a description!)

I proved myself wrong last week and took a bit of a risk at a major industry schmooze fest.  Wine Spectator’s annual Big Bottle party was held last Tuesday at the acclaimed Dry Creek Kitchen. This is a “must attend” event for any self respecting brown nosing vintner as it’s a great opportunity to visit with the folks from WS in addition to hanging out with all your winery friends and colleagues. And besides, Marvin Shanken knows how to put on a helluva good party.

As a fun twist to all the rare and special wines, we decided to bring a moldy oldy from our wine library. We chose a 1974 Zinfandel. (I was 11 when it was made and it was my father’s second red wine vintage.) While we weren’t quite sure what to expect, we figured few in the industry can do this and besides, it’s fun to test the knowledge and palates of so many noted winemakers.

We covered up the vintage and the varietal and set up a guessing game. At least a dozen people put down their guesses, but not one person got it right. Until the very end, when the much respected, often controversial Jim Laube himself guessed it correctly. I must admit, we were very impressed. So, while many in our industry like to complain that his palate is biased, or his judgment not fair, clearly the guy knows his stuff.

If you’re planning on getting into the wine business, it helps if you have a good smile. It’s even better if you can smile on demand--through clenched teeth, challenging scenarios, frustrating personalities and endless business dinners.

This is one of many prerequisites for success …the ability to look and act perfectly happy while making lively politically correct conversation with complete strangers. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not the unfriendly or snobby sort. On the contrary, I love meeting new people and can be quite a chatterbox. BUT, the endless business dinner is a necessary evil that separates the men from the boys, the women from the girls, and ultimately, the brands that get sold from the ones that don’t.

Let me explain. The majority of our wines are sold through wine and liquor distributors all over the country. Other than members of our wine club or visitors to the tasting room, this is the only way we can get our wines to a specially selected store or restaurant near you.

These distributors sell 1000s of wines from all over the world. They’re buried in inventory and inundated with brands. The same is true at the account level. That’s where the endless business dinner comes in. And the endless business trip. Followed by the endless sales call. Year after year after year.

Seriously folks. Without a fair amount of what we call “face time” in the marketplace, it’s just too darn easy to become the forgotten one. I’ve seen this happen all too often. Perfectly good brands that fade into oblivion for no apparent reason.  Lucky for him, my father was a natural at this form of promotion. He loved getting out into the market and was darn good at it in his day.  Lucky for me, The Husband and I also enjoy traveling the nation to spread the good word about Dry Creek Vineyard.  But I must admit there are times when it can be difficult to muster up the stamina to head off to the endless business dinner.

That’s when that smile comes into play.  

Good thing my chompers are in shape and my cheek muscles still in tact. ‘Cause judging by ALL the wines out there these days, it looks like I’m going to need them for a long time!’

By the time you read this, I’ll be 35,000 miles above ground headed to Minneapolis. This will be the first of 4 cities in 4 days visiting distributors who sell Dry Creek Vineyard wines. I’ve armed myself with plenty of vitamins, Tylenol PM and sensible shoes to last a trip twice as long. I’ve learned the hard way, getting stuck on more tarmacs and living through more delayed business trips than I care to remember.

It will be a very different experience than the one I had this past weekend. Before it’s a distant memory, I need to say thanks to all who came to our Day in the Loire Valley event.  Other than the sweltering heat (temperatures soared to over 100 degrees) it was a delightful gathering of Wine Club members, Loire-inspired wines (including a 1995 Cabernet Franc that was a real eye opener!), delicious foods, musique à la francaise, artists in residence and pétanque under the trees. There were familiar friends and faces, along with a lot of newcomers who quickly became part of our extended winery family. Kevin, I sure hope you and your group from Iowa had a good time!
 

 
These types of events have become a very important sales and marketing venue and they give us immediate feedback that is invaluable. For example, people loved the new ’08 Chenin Blanc, but several were less than thrilled to see we’ve joined the screw cap nation.  I’m with ya folks, but that’s a very different message than what we’ve been hearing from distributors and trade customers who have been screaming for us to make the change for some time now.  The new Dry Creek Valley focused Sauvignon Blanc was a big hit, as was a charming little Rosé we just started making called Petite Zin. It seems to have tickled quite a few fancies as a delicious and refreshing new summertime sipper.

In chatting with people, I found it fascinating that what our winery direct customers (consumers) tell us is often quite different than what we hear from “the marketplace.” Consumers want unique wines, wines for special occasions, and wines that appeal to all five senses.  As an example, that new Rosé we just released is nearly sold out! But I can just imagine the rolled eyes and frustrated stares if we wanted our distributors to start selling it in their market. The last thing they want is another obscure wine that needs a lot of explaining.

This contradiction between the consumer and wholesale side of the wine business is perplexing. I mean, aren’t consumers supposed to drive product development? Aren’t end users the ones who determine the softness of tissue, the number of chips in a pint of Ben and Jerry’s (which by the way,  has gotten rather skimpy as of late!), or the desire for more fuel efficient cars? I’m honestly not sure anymore.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, as a consumer, distributor or member of the trade.

No, I did not fall off a log. And, I did not run off with the mailman. But it has been a challenge finding time to write. I guess it’s what you’d call “blogger’s block.” I’m not sure if anyone has coined the term, but for non-professional writers like me, it’s a constant struggle to A) find time to write B) remain inspired when I’m busier than a cat covering up #%@$.  And, since I’m inherently a guilt ridden person, I’m thinking about having guest bloggers, who from time to time could take over my posts. For the time being, you’ll still be hearing from yours truly!  But watch for new and improved Wilmas in the not too distant future.

One of the reasons for the lapse in posts has been the frenzy surrounding an exciting new wine we’re getting ready to introduce. It’s a groundbreaking release and one I never thought we’d do, especially after all the fuss we’ve made over the term Fumé Blanc. It’s a 2008 Sauvignon Blanc that we’re calling... are you ready for this? Sauvignon Blanc. Produced from exclusively Dry Creek Valley fruit, this wine sports a modern new package and is designed to appeal to a whole new generation of wine drinkers.

It’s kind of like that advertising slogan, “This Ain’t Your Daddy’s Oldsmobile.” Although just between us, I’m praying for a much more successful outcome than the poor folks at GM. 

The blend includes 6% Sauvignon Musqué and veers toward the more tropical, floral, fruity side of Sauvignon Blanc as opposed to the grassier herbaceous spectrum found in our classic Fumé Blanc. It’s still bone dry with vibrant acidity and refreshing flavors, but the combination of the valley’s sandy gravelly soils, slightly warmer climate and cooling coastal breezes produce a striking Sauvignon Blanc that at once showcases the ideal growing conditions found here. And that, my friends, is what we’re banking on. The Dry Creek Valley as a world renowned appellation. We believe so whole heartedly in this region that in 2002 we moved 100% of our Bordeaux varietal program here. This new Sauvignon Blanc continues the evolution.  

If I’ve piqued your interest, please stop by this Saturday, May 16. We’ll be pouring the new Sauvignon Blanc at our Day in the Loire Valley event along with a few other special surprises. Then next week I’ll be on the road to help introduce the wine to distributors. That’s just the beginning. There will be trade shows, media tours, and sales meetings to get everybody on board. It’s an exciting wine and an exciting time for us.

Now if I could just quit saying Fumé instead of Sauvignon…

Since most wineries incorporate food into their overall event scheme, food and food service have become the latest things to be highly monitored in the wine industry.  Don’t get me wrong. We’ve always been required to have the proper permits to legally prepare and serve food. You know, proper equipment, sanitary food handling requirements, properly trained staff…that sort of thing. But now, the Health Department is cracking down big time to make sure that everybody is working within the exact boundaries of their permits.  And this is adding a whole new layer of anxiety and complexity to the business of running a winery.

There was a lot of last minute scrambling Friday as wineries hustled to get the right paperwork submitted. Health Department officials were quite helpful, pointing out areas of improvement and concern. Happily, all went well and as far as I know, Passport Weekend was a healthy and safe success for everyone. But going forward, I suspect many wineries may have trouble interpreting the increasingly stringent regulations of this aspect of our industry.

Spring is in the air, and it has never felt better. Having just returned from Southern California where the air is generally a dull beige color no matter what time of day, I am especially grateful to see bright blue skies and feel our warm sunny sunshine.

Springtime also means it’s planting season. This is particularly exciting as we’ve finally begun the replanting process of the vineyard directly in front of the winery. Years ago, (I’m talking 1974) this small parcel at the corner of Dry Creek Rd. and Lambert Bridge Rd., was planted to Cabernet Sauvignon using homemade bench grafts that my father and his buddy Tom Dehlinger (of Dehlinger Winery) made. It was later T-budded to Chardonnay during the planting boom of the 1980s. When we finally realized that our Chardonnay grapes would be better suited to the cooler Russian River Valley area, we tore out those Chardonnay vines and let the earth remain fallow to naturally regenerate the soil for future planting- an important step in the practice of sustainable farming. Five years have passed and we are now in the early stages of developing one of our most exciting vineyards yet!

As avid Zinfandel lovers, we’re creating an experimental Zinfandel block using 4 different clonal selections. This vineyard will be head pruned with no trellis system, much like the historic Zinfandel vines planted in the days of horse and plow.  Just recently, we completed the important first step of planting the rootstock, which in this case is St. George-a phylloxera resistant rootstock that has been used since the late 1800s. It doesn’t look like much, just small lumps rising up from the ground. As soon as the roots take hold, (probably late summer or early fall) we’ll then go through the arduous process of grafting in budwood from the four different clonal selections. This will essentially complete the planting process. Then it’s a matter of patiently waiting the 3-4 years for our first crop.

Eventually our hope is to be able to make several different wines from this experimental vineyard. We have no idea what to expect, but who knows, one of them could be the next great cult wine of Dry Creek Valley!

I’m still chuckling. Apparently that last post had quite a few of you fooled! I’ve never been all that good at telling jokes, so I must admit I’m feeling pretty smug right now.

OH MY GOD.  It finally happened.  After years upon years of hoping, wishing and praying, we have finally made the cover of the glossy mega powerful wine magazine, Wine Spectator. This is just too good to be true. It’s beyond cool. Past incredible. Close to nirvana. And frankly, it could be life changing.  

Here is an excerpt from their April 1 issue:

“After years of reporting on what’s new in the world of wine, we’ve amassed a comprehensive list of tried and true wineries that are a “must have” for today’s troubled times. These are brands with familiar names and iconic reputations that have consistently produced wines that surpass the customer’s expectations. In some cases they are privately owned, and in some cases they are corporate entities.  For this first ever search, our editors limited their criteria to three primary objectives: overall quality, value and consistency or longevity in the marketplace. Knowing that just about anyone can make a stellar wine once or twice, we looked for companies who have been making remarkable wines for at least ten years. We then staged a massive tasting to rank over 500 different wines. One brand has emerged as this year’s Must Have Brand for 2009. Read on for a complete list of contenders in this first ever report.”

April Fools!!!

Hey, it doesn’t hurt to dream, does it?

I’ve been spending a lot of time on the road lately. Literally in my car, or as the case is now, on an airplane heading to the East Coast for a sales trip. Market work or “road trips” are a necessary evil in the world of wine sales. For most wineries, it’s practically a requirement if they’re going to stay in business.

These trips are designed to introduce our new releases, solidify distributor relationships, attend trade tastings, call on accounts, and present our wines to as many people as humanly possible.   And, of course, all the while I will attempt to be enthusiastic, upbeat, and utterly charming day after day. (This in itself can be a challenge.) Generally these trips include a lot of evening events followed by early morning wake up calls to head on to a new city. It’s probably not unlike the life of a rock star except you’re not treated (or paid!) like one.

I bring this up not to whine or complain, but to shed another dose of reality on the true life of a vintner. Road trips or market visits, as we call them, are a vital part of a winery’s marketing plan. The trouble is everyone’s doing it. In the olden days, wine distributors were thrilled to have a supplier visit their market. People were thirsty for California’s new quality wines and accounts welcomed us with arms wide open. These days it’s a bit of a different story.  Distributors are inundated with supplier visits from the 1000s of brands they represent from all over the globe.  And the accounts have more wine available to them than they do actual customers. Navigating through this maze to reach the end consumer takes persistence and patience, trust me.

So I’ll be out of commission for a while. Hitting the streets in pursuit of the holy sale. Wish me luck… I’ve been on enough road trips to know I’ll need it!

I’m often asked if my children will take over the winery someday.  I usually don’t know how to respond. On the one hand, I know how good it would sound to simply reply “Yes, of course. Junior already has a developed palate and is planning to go to UC Davis to study enology and viticulture.”  But then again, I’ve never been very good at stretching the truth so I usually just nod and say “I dunno.” Because I just don’t know.  Neither of our kids have much of an interest in winemaking, vineyards, wine sales or marketing, or frankly anything else that is remotely related to this industry. In fact, my hunch is that they actually see the lifestyle and demands of running a winery as a boring waste of time.

Until now. My 11-year-old son recently shared his latest plan with me. He has gone through many phases in his short life from wanting to be a sportscaster to a professional fisherman. But now there’s evidence that he might actually want to work at the winery someday. This news is simply too good not to share! The Grand POO BAH himself (my father) ought to be thrilled, as am I. Of course, a lot can happen in the next 10-15 years. But I now have a glimmer of hope and actual evidence that there might be a third generation interested in carrying on the torch at Dry Creek Vineyard. 

Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 American Wine Blog Awards! Sadly, Wilma’s Wine World did not make the final cut, but I am very proud to have been a finalist in two separate categories. I’d also like to thank all of you who voted on my behalf. I was overwhelmed with your warm wishes and encouragement, and can’t thank you enough.  It means a great deal to me folks. So, while I work on my next blog post, you might want to check out this year’s winners. They deserve our recognition and hearty congratulations. Because blogging is hard work, trust me!