Good Morning and Happy February!

I am back home from my week in Sacramento/Napa/Sonoma/San Francisco and San Jose and soooo much is floating around in my head. I saw John Deere tractors, barrels bigger than I could even imagine and all kinds of labels, corks, bottles closures and packaging materials. The equipment for bottling and all the vendors who support the industry, were all on top of their game. They were hustling for my time and attention.

A couple of the items really caught my interest. The different programs for managing all your customers and what they have purchased and all their information and then it could bulk email and ship and bill….that was impressive. I met a guy by the name Ted W, and his company was in the label printing business and he took the time to sit me down and discuss step by step every item his firm would handle and his approach to interacting with me, brought out the old “salesman” in me. I met up with my pal Marc Kauffman and his company produces plastic wine bottles, and I am totally intrigued because my white wine is perfect for poolside enjoyment but I hate having glass around the deck.

Some of the more technical demos I watched were with types of yeast and how they would perform and the wood chips, staves and woods that would be added for flavors. These folks are experts in what yeast works best with which grape to create what flavor or aromas. I like to keep my wines as close to what the grapes and “terrior” will create naturally, but if you want consistency year after year I assume many folks alter some of the techniques.

Though, it might be years before I have a tasting room, some of the equipment for keeping bottle fresh, that was cool looking. Many of the folks there all knew each other and I met up with several folks I have been twittering with and facebooking. I met several bankers and a few designers of wineries.

People remind me all the time that they want to help me fulfill my dream. I am constantly reminded that of course they will want to be compensated for their efforts, and they should be. I am certain I will get to work with many of these folks in the next few years. I have a pile of literature on my desk and tons of notes and lots of people to call to take the next step toward the future. All this made me more excited to keep pushing forward in launching TJR Select.

And I forgot to admit it, but I did also get to try wines that blew my mind!

Much LOVE, and Cheers!

Tammi