On The Road Again

I am back on the road and wanted to give everyone an update about our distribution efforts.

We received word that we will soon receive our first purchase orders from Grassroots in Alabama and Merchant of Vino in Oregon. We love these guys for giving us a chance to prove that there is a demand for Fair Trade wine in the United States.

I have met with Whole Foods in Texas and several distribution companies in Texas and Louisiana. We are waiting for everyone to taste the wines and once that painstakingly process is over (a tough job I know) we will have found more homes for these great wines.

Tonight I will be in Denver, Colorado. Monday night I will be back in Minneapolis to get ready for the arrival of Paula Bottero, our Calesa winemaker. We are going to participate in the Twin Cities Food and Wine show and run a seminar on Chilean Fair Trade Wine. If anyone is in the area be sure to stop by!

Last year we won four awards with the Semillion 2006 and Carmenere 2006. We were awarded best imported red and white and best value imported red and white. This was the first time two wines received four awards in the competition’s 13 years.

Twin Cities Food and Wine Experience
Feb. 21 – 24
http://www.foodwineshow.com

All Families are Psychotic

I believe Douglas Copland said it best when he wrote All Families Are Psychotic.

I found out that my Granddad was not feeling well and had returned to the hospital after a mini stroke (an oxymoron?).
I jumped in my car and 8 hours later was in Dallas.

When I got here I realized that real people live in soap operas.

Over the last two weeks that I have been here in Fort Worth, I have learned several important, life changing things:

1. Everyone has an opinion about how their sick Granddad should be treated
2. Every sick person needs a quarterback
3. Consensus relieves stress yet impossible to accomplish
4. Bringing people together at the same time is as difficult as launching a space shuttle
5. Guessing how much time someone has to live is a horrible way to spend time
6. Conspiracy remains a theory until proven factual
7. Granddaughters make vicious watch dogs

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras was an overwhelmingly wonderful experience. I loved every moment of the festivities. Parade after parade, crawfish, oysters, marching bands, 80-degree weather in February, make New Orleans one of America’s greatest cultures.

And while all the glitz and outrageousness make New Orleans unique, it really is the people that make New Orleans special.

Resilient, seeped in appreciation for fine food, music and drink, laden in French and Spanish architecture, and understanding and appreciative of history, New Orleans is a melting pot of some of the finest things in life. Always has been and always will be.

I met with a wonderful distribution company while visiting. Fair Trade wine definitely has a place in this lovely city. Most people I talked to already knew what Fair Trade meant and wholeheartedly agreed to the principles and mission behind it. I am excited about the possibilities.

I love NOLA and will be back. I have much more exploring to do.