After 30 vintages I feel I have learnt many lessons, and most of them were learnt quite early on. Experience has shown them all to be true.
Rule 1: Don’t panic. In the course of any harvest period there are bound to be stressful moments, whether they be caused by the weather, the ferments, suppliers running late or whatever. These can be exacerbated by the general lack of sleep that tends to be the case at this busy time of the year.
Many of the situations you have to deal with during a vintage are not of your making, or are out of your control. Just deal with them in the best way you can. Take your time to analyse a situation, make a decision, and proceed with it. Don’t be afraid to change your mind if the situation changes, or even if it doesn’t.
Rule 2: Only worry about the things that you have control over, not the things that you can’t control, such as the weather.
Rule 3: There is no rule 3.
Rule 4: Don’t be afraid to try new things each vintage if you are confident that they will make a positive change to wine quality.
Rule 5: If things go wrong, the weather turns to shit and all your new ideas turn to custard, refer back to Rule 1.
Some general observations:
Murphy and Parkinson were very wise men. Whenever their laws come into effect, and they do quite frequently, refer back to rule one. Remember that it is never personal.
Critics and buyers are human, and can make mistakes. They also get it right sometimes, and it is then that you have to have the humility to take notice. The rest of the time they are probably best ignored.
When you do get knocked back, or a get bad review, analyse it dispassionately and see if there is any substance to the negativity. If there is, learn from it and resolve to correct it. If there isn’t, forget it.
When you get a good review, enjoy the moment. Don’t rest on your laurels, keep progressing, and be well aware that the critic might have also been wrong.
Apart from wine quality and pricing, relationships are the most important factor in selling wine. It is so much easier when people actually like you.
Michael Brajkovich
