Hard times

http://www.garretsonwines.com/news.fsp

That is a shame. Unfortunately, I suspect there will be more talent leaving the industry as the economy shakes out.
Bill

The wine industry is certainly not going to get a free ride. My local wine shop is expecting huge clearances from distributors after the holidays and some to go out of business. Just checked my favorite auction house and in a auction in 10 days there is less than 10% of the lots that have met a minimum, very very low this late in the cycle. It seems that the high end stuff is getting hit the hardest. Hate to see people suffer but at least there will be some bargains out there soon.
Walt

[Robin Garr]

http://www.garretsonwines.com/news.fsp

Very sad ... thanks for the post, Jim, and best wishes to Mat & Co.

Those folks that are buying our wines aren't paying us in a timely manner.

Ouch. Sad that it takes so much marketing and business acumen to keep afloat. For better or worse, quality is not necessary or sufficient to succeed.

Walt

For better or worse, quality is not necessary or sufficient to succeed.

And the choir goes, "Amen."
Best, Jim

[David M. Bueker]

Unfortunately and sadly not all that surprising. It's too bad when these things happen. All we can pray for is that they land on their feet doing something they love.

I have met Mat on one of his visits here to Edmonton. It is a sad evening here.

I have met Mat on one of his visits here to Edmonton. It is a sad evening here.

Bob, I have not met Mat personally, but it is with sad heart that I digest his news. It is also sad that deep pockets can make C**P wine and be successful, while someone like Mat and Amie, make the quality wine they made, yet ultimately fail in their quest. I very much hope to see more of Mat here once he settles.

Those folks that are buying our wines aren't paying us in a timely manner.

Ouch. Sad that it takes so much marketing and business acumen to keep afloat. For better or worse, quality is not necessary or sufficient to succeed.

Walt

People don't like to hear this from me, but, as I've said before, wine is a business: it takes work, struggle, planning besides making simply a good bottle of wine. I think this applies even more in this country than in say, Europe, where family support structures support the business better (eg, vineyards being passed down generation to generation, long-standing networks of business relationships, etc.). You simply can't grow grapes, say, "Gee, I'll be a winemaker!" and think you're going to have a luxuriant lifestyle based on that image. I think we all know the hard work making wine entails, and double this when you are trying to grow quality grapes and turning that in to quality wine. I feel some of the most successful of the California wine-maker pardigm have been the ones who buy grapes from good terroir (or own a small plot), charge a fair price, and expand only incrementaly and bestly by word-of-mouth, people like Steve Edmunds, Mike Officer, come easily to mind.

People don't like to hear this from me, but, as I've said before, wine is a business: it takes work, struggle, planning besides making simply a good bottle of wine. [snip] I feel some of the most successful of the California wine-maker pardigm have been the ones who buy grapes from good terroir (or own a small plot), charge a fair price, and expand only incrementaly and bestly by word-of-mouth, people like Steve Edmunds, Mike Officer, come easily to mind.

As well-loved as Mr. Edmunds and his wines are, even he's had to retrench lately. It seems increasingly there are only two paths to success: 1, get national distribution and marketing, available only to those making hundreds of thousands of cases, or 2, sell everything out the cellar door through a mailing list or tasting room. Any winery in between is stuck doing ceaseless hand-selling to retailers and distributors who don't give a crap. I'm not ITB, but that seems like the current situation.

Walt

It seems increasingly there are only two paths to success: 1, get national distribution and marketing, available only to those making hundreds of thousands of cases, or 2, sell everything out the cellar door through a mailing list or tasting room. Any winery in between is stuck doing ceaseless hand-selling to retailers and distributors who don't give a crap. I'm not ITB, but that seems like the current situation.

Pretty astute, if you ask me.
A hard business in a bad market.
Best, Jim

Hard business in a GOOD market, if you ask me. I think it takes, in addition to talent, money, and very hard work, lots of good luck, and then even more money and very hard work, and then some more good luck. I've been on the edge a few times in the last eight years, and I don't know if I'd recognize "out of the woods," if it was staring me in the face.
Good thing I like to drink.

[David M. Bueker]

I am reminded of something Brian Loring said early in his career: "I make wines that I like to drink." Seems like a good idea these days (or really any day).

Hard business in a GOOD market, if you ask me.

At the $25 and under price point maybe, but lots of folks above $25 are withering. And I don't think they can drink that much.
Best, Jim

I think you mistook my meaning, Jim, which was only that even in a good market it's hard. In a bad market it's a lot worse.

I think you mistook my meaning, Jim, which was only that even in a good market it's hard. In a bad market it's a lot worse.

I'm in my literal phase.
But a glass of wine will save me . . .
Best, Jim