Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/591609
118 WINES&VINES November 2015 BUSINESS PRACTICAL WINERY & VINEYARD an ongoing series of concerts and a range of other events for visitors. The restaurant is open 10 months per year (closed January and Febru- ary) serving lunch and dinner every day. "The worst decision was more a series of decisions made in 1999, an extremely difficult growing season from a meteorological perspec- tive. We did not trust our crop numbers. We knew it was going to be a large crop but did not believe it was as big as the numbers were telling us. We did not drop enough fruit to get the grapes into balance. "We brought the grapes into the winery thinking we could salvage them. In hindsight the wines were mediocre, and the selling job was an uphill one that cost us a lot of money given that it was one of the coldest years on record in the 20th century, which concluded with a leaf-stripping autumn frost. I have calculated that we would have made more money by not bringing in a crop at all. It took us a few years to get out from under the bad weather but also the bad decisions we made that year." On a brighter note, "Other than coming into this industry when we did 20 years ago, being good timing in itself, my best move was the key people we have hired who have transformed our business such as our vine- yard manager Andrew Moon from Australia. He has brought a new approach to our 150 acres of vineyards in converting us to drip irrigation, spraying chemicals nearly not at all, and in treating our farmworkers better. It is a tricky environment where you are not always easily blessed with adequate sales or supplies, so key hires like Moon and others have helped us become more efficient and profitable." www.walterjelly.com 608.831.1405 whj wine print.indd 1 2/6/13 5:59:47 PM STEROX The Safe Way to Clean Safe for workers and environment compared to other cleaning chemical alternatives. Available in 2 formulations: Sterox: Standard formula Sterox K: Phosphate Free, Low Sodium formula Call for details on getting a free trial! Pacific Coast Chemicals Co. (510) 549-3535 • www.pcchem.com 444 Laguna Vista Road Santa Rosa, CA 95401 e-mail: vickitec@aol.com www.transitionequipment.com Tel: (707) 537-7787 Fax: (707) 537-7174 Cell: (707) 484-8776