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Construction Update …
Drywall is up, tape and mud finished. Painting soon. The floor in the tasting room is going to be an acid wash/varnish to look like aged leather. Diana is working with a friend of hers who does faux painting and is designing something nice for the walls in a sophisticated faux-painting scheme to match the floor. Tile in the bathroom is a dark, mottled stone look. The grates for the floor drain are in, and we’re setting the sand/oil trap on Wednesday, pouring final concrete on Thursday. We’re putting in a big stainless steel sink and I’m revamping the lab area. It’s gonna be great to have this finished and working in the winery will be so much easier. Speaking of…
Wine Update …
First racking of the ‘07 reds is almost finished. We’re behind on this, Steve over at Vino Con Brio is finishing up second racking on their stuff. The ’07s are off to a good start and my earlier pessimism is dissipating. Chris reminded me the other day that I’m always pessimistic about the new wines this time of year …
As noted in earlier blogging we ordered way too many barrels this past fall - there are several still sitting empty and unused. I don’t feel so bad about it now though. The 2008 price list from Seguin Moreau just arrived and hoo, boy… as I expected prices on American barrels are up about 10% - Frenchy barrels range from $925 to $1,170 at today’s exchange rate. Those six empty Francois Ferre barrels that we didn’t use but paid for are looking like a bargain!
Wine Availability Update ….
For months Chris and Diana have been talking with several wine brokering companies to represent m2 in California. We’ve been cautious about hiring/using their services/paying someone to sell our wine for us; we’re new and small and don’t have THAT much wine to get into broad distribution but do need to get more m2 in the hands of the people who want it. Now, however, a wine brokerage firm in Napa named 5 & I Wine will be representing m2 across most of California, from Bakersfield to the Oregon border, San Francisco to Reno.
Up until now C & D (Chris and Diana) have been primarily responsible for most of our outside accounts - meaning restaurants and retailers who carry our wines. I’m great at cold-calling on places and introducing them to m2, but am lousy at the follow-up required (read that as closing the sale.) Chris is good at networking and he knows a lot of people in the retail wine business. Diana’s really good at it the follow-up thing- but it takes time and time is something we’re always short of.
Short version of a long thought process here … we’re excited that 5 & I Wine is representing us. Look for m2 soon at your favorite wine shop, and if you don’t find it there, tell them to call 5 & I Wine.
Event Update…
May 18 is the date for our release party and fourth anniversary of the creation of m2. Capitol Cellars in Roseville is hosting a release party for m2 at their shop on May 31.