| My Mission: Enjoy and Learn more about Wines | | | | go for the sacrificial fruit on the trees and |
| while decanting lessons in leadership from | | | | not the grapes. I'm not sure you want a |
| the Wine makers of Mendoza. How can Wisdom | | | | sacrificial employee to bear the brunt of |
| from 3 distinguished Wine makers help your | | | | your customer's ire but you may want to have |
| business? Let's take a peak at the | | | | a stock of gift certificates for angry |
| philosophy and practices of 3 Wise Wine Men | | | | customers. |
| and find out. Our thanks for your passion, | | | | |
| your patience, your depth of knowledge and | | | | Take Care of your Employees and Vendors |
| continuous study of the Fruit of the Gods: | | | | Suppliers. One of the wine makers we talked |
| | | | with noted that if one of his grape suppliers |
| (Walter and Bodega Bressia, Familia Cassone | | | | has a bad year due to inclement weather, he |
| and Bodega Tempus Alba). VIP Tour arranged by | | | | will still buy from him because that |
| Ampora Wine Tours. | | | | relationship in the long-term is so critical. |
| | | | I have witnessed the breakdown in |
| The Importance of Tasting and Correction. | | | | communication and partnership between |
| All of these wine makers care for each | | | | business owner and vendor. The result is |
| harvest as they do their own children. There | | | | backlogged orders, declining customer service |
| is daily tasting and testing of wine waiting | | | | and in the end declining profits. Take care |
| in wooden barrels for the precise moment when | | | | of Vendor Partners that enable you to serve |
| the product is ready to be bottled and worthy | | | | customers. |
| of their family name....In short when the | | | | |
| child is at long last, ready to go into the | | | | Use Technology / Argentina's recent Wine |
| world. There is also correction that occurs | | | | Renaissance is due in large part to new |
| along the way and every year there is the | | | | technology brought in by Foreign Investment. |
| pursuit of an even better quality. | | | | That technology has enabled the country to |
| Successful companies know that the key to | | | | maintain it's long tradition and history in |
| longevity is indeed such hands-on attention | | | | wine making but increase both production, |
| and care by Senior Management and a | | | | quality and earn a growing world-wide |
| commitment to continually improve both | | | | reputation. The Bodega Tempus Alba is |
| product and process. | | | | involved in long-term research in their quest |
| | | | to develop the perfect Malbec--Argentina's |
| It's About People: The charming Frederico | | | | signature grape. Cloning from the current |
| Cassone is passionate about his family wine | | | | best vines, continual quality improvement is |
| and jokes that "If you don't like my wine, | | | | assured. |
| don't worry! Wine is about people, just like | | | | |
| me!" Although this family need not worry | | | | Develop a Global Perspective. The Cassone |
| about people liking their wines, (The Obra | | | | family has raised their children to always |
| Prima Malbec was both rustic and deliciously | | | | come back home to Argentina, but to first |
| elegant) indeed we were so charmed by this | | | | receive education and work experience abroad. |
| young man, that if the wine was not to our | | | | Walter Bressia noted that when he begins |
| liking, we would have bought it anyway as a | | | | thinking of creating the perfect wine "He |
| memory for the experience he provided. | | | | leaves Argentina and first envisions the end |
| Indeed as a consumer myself, I simply do | | | | consumer in the United States, In France, In |
| business with people I like. You could have | | | | Canada." Walter said that part of his |
| a great product, but if you provide poor | | | | success has also been working for and |
| service, I'm out of here. Make sure you put | | | | learning from other companies before |
| likable people on your front line as your | | | | venturing into his own project. Lesson for |
| Ambassadors. | | | | Business: Welcome and seek employees that |
| | | | have experience beyond your business doors to |
| Importance of Branding Each of these Wine | | | | develop a global and industry perspective. |
| makers seeks to have everyone recognize it's | | | | |
| brand and indeed develop brand loyalty. If | | | | Passion is The Secret: I asked Walter, who |
| you don't stand out from your competitors, | | | | has a distinguished name in wine making, what |
| you'll begin to look just like them. Who | | | | are the qualities needed of a successful |
| wants to be just another red? | | | | winemaker? "Passion for Wine is # 1 and |
| | | | loving what you do" is # 2" he said. |
| Don't rely on one Profit Center and Protect | | | | Walter's sincerity was undeniable as he |
| your Big Crop: To minimize risk from | | | | chatted with us in his wine cellar "What I |
| inclement weather conditions, wine makers | | | | have given to the wine is minuscule in |
| often have various vineyards in different | | | | comparison to what the wine has given to me" |
| locations i.e. if one area is hit by | | | | . Walter acknowledged the patience of his |
| grapefruit size hale (no joke), the other | | | | wife for his "other woman--aka wine". He |
| finca is their insurance for needed | | | | laughed and noted that "I am better with wine |
| production. The Finca Owners also | | | | than with women...the wines allow me for |
| frequently plant olive trees as a second crop | | | | improvement ". Successful Business Leaders |
| for multiple profit centers. Protect your | | | | don't just go to the office they have a |
| production by not relying solely on one | | | | passion that is undeniable. |
| product or supplier. As for protecting that | | | | |
| big crop, Finca Owners use protective weather | | | | Develop your Executive Team while Learning |
| screening as well as decoy fruit trees so | | | | about Wine. |
| that when the grapes are ripe, the birds will | | | | |