I haven’t been blogging much recently.  Why?  Selling wine these days is tough—there isn’t any other way to say it, and we’ve spent more than our fair share of time and effort doing it lately.  Everyday it’s something new—“Y” vineyard going into foreclosure, “X” winery going into bankruptcy—and there’s a flood of wine everywhere.  In the end, it is a pretty time to be a wine consumer right now because there’s a lot of great wine at great prices out there.  Different story if you are on my side of the cash register, however!  For all of those who think that making wine and running a winery is a walk in the park—or A Walk in the Clouds (ha ha)—the stunning yet dreary reality of the wine business is that it ain’t much sweeter than any other job.  This job certainly has it’s perks, but it makes up for it in other ways.  Nothing good really is for free, right?
We here at Cima Collina, in spite of it all, and because of it, too, are continuing to push forward.  No, it’s not the most delightful time in my career, but—damn—I’ve actually learned a few things about the wine industry, it’s people, and maybe a little about myself, too.  What I have learned?  I’ll save that for another day.  But here’s how we are evolving to survive these times:
1.  We are selling wine further away from home.  Chicago (look for us at places like:  Whole Foods, Lush, Just Grapes) & New York (ask for us in these and other fine restaurants:  Gotham Bar & Grill, BLT Restaurants, Craft) are doing well right now.  Massachusetts is almost nailed down (should be selling there in another month or so), and two other regions are in the works.
2.  Selling more wine near home in CA in places like  NOPA (S.F.), Passionfish (Pacific Grove), Ciudad (downtown L.A.)
2.   We are advertising and marketing more and participating in more events than ever before.

3.   We are changing up the wine program here a little and making more whites (a new Chardonnay for us will start at our tasting room tomorrow), including a Riesling from Tondre Grapefield.