I was up on Spring Mountain this morning at Paloma Vineyards picking up a few
more bottles of their 2001 Merlot and realized just what a mixed blessing such
a high profile recognition from WS as the #1 Wine of the Year can bring.
Paloma is only a two person family run operation with Jim and Barb doing
almost everything themselves. Today there were stacks upon stacks of papers,
emails, invoices, faxes, roladexs and business cards strewn about the entire
room which just three weeks ago looked like a normal home kitchen. In the time
that it took Jim to walk out to get grab a couple bottles for me the phone rang
three times, two of which were inquiries from wine retailers back east
concerning distribution to their state and the third a person who wanted a case
of wine to be sent to them.
I understand that they are in the business of making and selling wine but I
can't help but feel a little bad for them when it starts to take over their
personal life at a time like this. They only produce a little over two
thousand cases and have long sold the majority of that, and all of the emails,
phone calls and faxes that come flying now are all personally answered to and
dealt by the two of them.
In the same breath I am happy that such a recognition happened to two people
who are completely down to earth, don't spend any money on advertising and will
probably benefit from the audience attention like this will bring to their
wines. Oh yeah, they make great wine too...
Recognition like that sure is bittersweet for small wineries!

jason