January 2010 Archives

I'm still pinching myself. There is something unworldly about seeing the who's who of movies and television all drinking Dry Creek Vineyard wines. Think about it. Kate Hudson, Sandra Bullock, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon... Even icons like Sophia Loren and Betty White (who by the way was this year's Lifetime Achievement winner) were all sipping and swirling away as they enjoyed the show. I was there too—on the fringes where the plebians sit. But I was close enough to make the following observations: 1) These people do not have body fat. 2) Meryl Streep is gorgeous. 3) Quentin Tarantino is an unusual looking individual but he does seem to like red wine. Most of my time was spent at the wine bars. But, I really lucked out when I had several television interviews including one that was live on TNT. I have no idea how I looked or sounded, but you can imagine my pride as I strolled the red carpet holding up my 6 liter bottle of SAG Awards Cuvée for the whole world to see!

It's been quite a run really. In an industry where relationships come and go and small wineries struggle to get any kind of exposure at all, the fact that we've been the official wines of the SAG Awards for 10 years is no small feat. It's a relationship that I cherish and one that we're committed to preserving. But like most things in marketing it's a hard thing to quantify. Do any of these people actually go out and buy our wines after tasting them at the show? Do they remember us fondly as they're stocking their cellars or planning their kid's wedding? I have no idea. What I do know is that it's a tremendous honor to be part of such an extraordinary gathering of some of the top people in the entertainment industry. And for that, I'm grateful.

Besides, it doesn't hurt to dream that the next time George Clooney goes to his favorite restaurant, he'll exclaim, “what, no Dry Creek?!” 

I have started this post at least a dozen times. The first was shortly after New Years when I was filled with excitement for a whole new era.  Like many, I was filled with optimism and hope. And a few extra pounds from the indulgences of my holiday spirit.  We had survived 2009 and were looking forward to a bright new year. Then I got distracted and found something better to do like rearrange my sock drawer.  

My next attempt was after I got a call from People magazine (yes, the People magazine!)  requesting photos for their story on the Screen Actors Guild Awards® show.  I had been interviewed shortly before Christmas as part of our 10^th Anniversary at the show and admittedly, I was (still am) on cloud nine after learning that we would be mentioned in an upcoming issue. But then the earthquake happened. And the wind was let out of my sails as I learned about the tragedies and human trauma facing the people of Haiti. No matter how many times I try to put it out of my head, the situation there is so disturbing that it makes a small thing like writing a blog post seem rather insignificant and inconsequential.

This is not the first time I've had this feeling. Granted, running a family owned winery is not a bad way to make a living. And, I like to think that the pleasure our products provide will have some kind of a lasting impact long after I/we're gone. But it's not a cure for cancer, nor is it relevant when compared to the problems of the world today.  

Unless you're a brain surgeon, I'm sure you can relate. But life moves on, and so I need to put my winery marketing hat back on. Please forgive me as I continue on by touting our involvement in this year's SAG Awards show which airs this Saturday, January 23 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on TNT and TBS. I'll be leaving tomorrow to pour Dry Creek Vineyard wines for the who's who of Hollywood. This year, guests will have the added pleasure of tasting our 10^th Anniversary SAG Awards Cuvée, an exclusive bottling we created to celebrate our 10 years of partnership.  It's a one-of-a-kind wine that is available on an extremely limited basis through our tasting room only. Check it out at www.theredcarpetwine.com.

And, pick up a current copy of People magazine if you're at the grocery store tonight. Right there on page 99, in a small caption next to Angelina Jolie's head, is a sentence that sums up a decade of work: “As celebs such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have done in the past, guests will toast the night with Dry Creek Vineyard wines.”