re: Who here has started their own business?

At the end of the day, the old saying “junk in, equals junk out” holds very true in winemaking. Better grapes make better wine. Sure, the skill of the winemaker is important; but, amazing grapes can make even a modestly skilled winemaker look amazing. Occasionally, you catch lightning in a bottle and the results exceed even your own expectations and are truly beyond duplication. For that, I don’t see a problem with demanding premium price.

We’re fortunate to not be saddled with the expense of operating a vineyard. Bringing in quality ingredients may cost a bit more than growing them yourself; but , also removes you from the risks associated with agricultural commodities. We could never make it in Napa/Sonoma. We just don’t have the capital to compete there. There’s a saying in the industry “The quickest way to make a small fortune in wine is to start with a large fortune”. In that part of the world it hold particularly true.