How not to be a winemaker - Part the last

Florida Jim

Florida Jim

Florida Jim
Before I made wine, I was an attorney for 30 years, one day I came home to tell my daily tale of woe to my wife and she stood me up, told me straight out that my job was changing who I was and that maybe it was time to do something else. She was right.
In retrospect, both of us feel we did the right thing.

I loved production.
We both loved the travel, the fellowship, the conviviality of this business; it was and remains, intoxicating (no pun intended). But it’s a savvy young person’s game. If you do this without a business plan (as we did), without an “in,” whether in production or sales, and without a clear sense of the market, you will do what we did - lose money. We were okay even with the losing but I’ve seen too many people fail and take it hard.
As a winemaker friend said, once you bottle your first wine, you’re no longer a winemaker, you’re a wine salesman. That is a paradigm shift that should not be discounted.
No regrets; what I got was more than I gave. But if you need to make a living, this ain’t how.

Thanks for reading.

Best, jim
 
Great series, Jim. I'm sorry there wasn't more smooth sailing for you in it. Unfortunately, this joke/adage frequently holds true: How do you make a small fortune in wine? Start with a large fortune.
 
Yep, selling was rarely fun and often infuriating. Even just getting a restaurateur to call you back with the day he allowed people to come and taste was a struggle. You don’t just walk-in cold and get attention, which is understandable, but trying to get an appointment on whatever day worked took too much of their time - it was like you needed to know the secret handshake. And everyone was different.

Positive: I would say working in the winery. Often hard work but almost always, with help from anyone around, regardless of label. The unselfishness, the shared spirit, the willingness to help. For example, one of the winemakers I worked with was extremely sought after in the biz. He charges immense fees just to consult and is insanely busy. One day I was climbing down off my barrels in elevage as he walked by and he noticed my puzzled expression. He asked me if he could help, so I explained my issue, he made several suggestions and then wrote is personal cell number on the back of a business card and told me to call anytime if I thought he could help.
And that was typical!
I’ve had a lot of jobs in my life but I’d never seen or even heard of something like that. Let alone have it be the norm.
If I could do nothing but production the rest of my life, I’d do it. It truly was “the best of times.”
 
Well, think of it this way: if you were never a lawyer, you never would have had the money to pursue something you loved.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
originally posted by Florida Jim:
...and she stood me up, told me straight out that my job was changing who I was and that maybe it was time to do something else.
Click to expand...
Did Diane help with the wine-making?
Click to expand...

Diane was CEO; I was COO.
She did no winemaking but evaluated, tasted, suggested and then, everything else; from compliance, to administration, taxation, licensing, record keeping - she was Cowan Cellars - I was just an employee.
 
Thanks for this series of posts. Very enlightening!

I worked in wholesale sales for about a year. Hated, hated, hated it. As you said. you were at the whim (literally) of whoever you made an appointment with. No or very little sense of decorum.
 
The nicest part of this tale, taken as a whole, is that you and Diane found each other when you were both young. That's a real partnership, no disrespect to the others you name. Congratulations for that and all that's come after.

Thanks for the story.
 
Jim I LOVED reading through this. I am 5 or so years away from retiring and I have started two small wine businesses. And the funny thing is I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE selling wine.

I sold 48 cases of my first release of Soilpimp Selections a Rose from the Saar that retailed for $30 in a week.

And all of our crazy source | material offerings have sold out very quick.

Social media and extreme passion (not to say you were not) has really helped me.

We should have partnered...
 
originally posted by Robert Dentice:


Jim I LOVED reading through this. I am 5 or so years away from retiring and I have started two small wine businesses. And the funny thing is I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE selling wine.

I sold 48 cases of my first release of Soilpimp Selections a Rose from the Saar that retailed for $30 in a week.

And all of our crazy source | material offerings have sold out very quick.

Social media and extreme passion (not to say you were not) has really helped me.

We should have partnered...
Click to expand...

Apparently so.
Glad you like it and are good at it . . . if only . . .
Best, jim
 
It's not just this series--which is totally great. It is every damn comment by Florida Jim. Not only an artist of the vine, but an artist of the word. A memory: I remember him describing a drive down the California coast with music blaring and thinking life was alright and I said "it depends on what music" and he said "no, it didn't." LOL. What a contribution in attunement and perspective. Thank you, Comrade! P.S. let's seize the means of production very soon.
 
Jim, my "kids" have mentioned a few times wanting to be winegrowers at some point, so I sent them your superb thesis "How not to be a winemaker".

Here is the response I received...

Thanks Pete. An interesting read especially in its honesty. No doubt such an endeavour should be expected to be a money pit (hopefully a shallow one!) but one that stimulates the mind and brings some enjoyment and fulfillment to retirement.

Definitely there are cheaper hobbies!
Click to expand...

If you feel inclined to respond to them, of course, I will forward your comments.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your "story" so effectively.

. . . . . . Pete
 
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