Old Town Crier, February 2008 Issue
Exploring Virginia Wines by Doug FabbioliWinemaker's Notes
It seems the down time for me as a winemaker gets shorter and shorter each season. We just bottled the other day. I always have intermittent panic attacks hoping that all the pieces come together when the bottling line shows up that morning. Did all of the packaging materials show up, did the wines filter OK, is the weather going to be a factor? Once the wine is in the bottle and things are put away, I can begin thinking about the next projects. We now have winter wine festivals, wholesale accounts to visit, wine dinners and ordering for spring plantings. The work never does stop.
One of the keys to building this business as I have over the past few years is the people that surround me. The two guys that stepped in as interns last year were critical in helping me step forward in both sales and production. My regular vineyard team has been working with me for years a couple days a week. They are always learning and improving both the skill sets and the quality of work they do. I have also had a number of people who started as customers and are now part of the family. They can present the wine and make sales on their own or at a festival.
I have had a number of family members help and support in the process. My brother-in-law is now part of the production team as well as the front line team. My sister-in-law has been the designer from long before the winery got started. She made wine labels for my wines when I was back in California. My sons have been very involved; packing up wines, helping at the festivals and even making the Raspberry wine.
This being the month of hearts and loves, I was fortunate enough many years ago to meet and woo my partner and wife. Colleen and I met while working at the college bookstore in 1983. I had been working at the vineyard part-time and would bring her out sometimes to help during harvest and pruning. It was a great foundation for the relationship. A couple years later when we were close to graduating, she was the one to encourage the move to California, giving me a chance to chase my calling and expand my skills. Over the 10 years in CA, she had a good paying job with benefits while I was working in the cellars, loving the work but never making the major money. The family grew, the condo got small, my job was limited and we needed to make a move. The calling was to come back East and we moved within ½ hour of her family. This was a good thing.
As my career grew here in VA, I hit some major bumps along the way. Wineries are quite small here and a winemaker planning to own his own will eventually rub against his or her boss. Colleen was always there to support, encourage and pull me up when things were down. Her stability has enabled me to take the risks that brought this business to life and to each higher level. She has made a lot of sacrifices along the way. There is no fancy car, the vacations are great but not extravagant and our Saturdays (sometimes Sundays) are spent with customers and wine rather than day trips and shopping. I am very lucky to have found the right person many years ago, and I hope someday I can get close to giving her what she has given me. This is a business for the generations and I hope that she feel as good in building this for her children as I do. Thanks honey, for everything you do. I may be the SHOW but you definitely make this GO. Happy Valentines Day.
If you have a wine question, feel free to contact me at vinofab@aol.com. Thanks and try a local wine this week.