Bring Winemaker Wisdom to your Leadership Team

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