What's New

Doesn’t January always hold such great promise?  And why should 2012 be any different?  I reorganize my desk, my closet and feel ready for a new slate, but in some ways, the wine business cycles in old ways that relate to either the season of weather or the season of business.  The wines coming up for bottling early this spring need attention fairly soon as we don’t do our blending until just before bottling.  So that is our first order of business, lining up hundreds of lot samples to evaluate and begin to get an idea of what barrels will become what wine.  We also have to map out the game plan of production numbers for the year – the last several harvests have been lean and we have to carefully size up how much bottled inventory we’re going to have to sell!  That of course rolls into the question of pricing, and if we develop new prices we must make sure our partners, the distributors, are in agreement with our plan.  Obviously, lot’s of activity is already on the books.

Anthony and I look at our travel calendars as well and review last year’s schedules.  Then we decide which markets need more (or less) attention and start lining up commitments from various distributors for dates to visit through March and April.  Anthony has brilliantly decided to be in Florida the last week of January and first week of February – kind of takes the edge off winter.  I’ll probably start in February, which means I can meet the many industry people that visit in the earliest, quietest time of the year.  It’s always a pleasure to finally put a name and a face together.

This is also when we look at the vineyards we’ve been working with and decide if they all made the cut quality-wise, or should we begin to look for new fruit sources for the next harvest.  In the vineyard, the pruning decisions are juggled carefully knowing that it drives the entire farming calendar for the year.  Too early and you could lose crop to frost; too late and seasonal rain can ruin bud-break or fertilization.  Care to roll the dice?  Be a vineyard manager!

Finally, many thanks for your visits, purchases, emails and friendships.  Bell has been in business for 20 years during a time that has seen Napa Valley explode with wineries, restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, retailers and touring companies.  We’re happy to still be here, making elegant wines with spectacular fruit that can only be from California.  The winery looks bigger and more polished than when we started here in 1998, but the atmosphere stays personal.  This business is our life, and if we can’t have a little fun with friends along the way, then what’s the point?  Hope you too are looking forward to a bit of fun in your business life in 2012.  If not, may I recommend holding your business meeting out on our patio?  “In the red” has a very different meaning here at Bell Wine Cellars, especially with a glass of fine Cabernet in hand.

Cheers,

Sandra, Anthony and all of us at Bell Wine Cellars

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