2009 turned out to be pretty transformational year for me and my family. Things got going early in the year as I left my corporate HR job the first week of the year. After 13+ years of doing HR work, it was time to try something new, but what?
After taking a few months off which included a trip down to Peru a little clarity settled in and I decided to pursue my passion for wine by starting a business focused on wine. After a substantial amount of due diligence, my brother-in-law and I started Uncorked Ventures. Our focus would be to bring exciting and great wines to individuals across the US via our wine clubs. As we stand on the verge of 20101 our long hours have been rewarded as we prepare to send out of grand opening announcement emails. While getting the business off the ground was more complicated than we fully anticipated, it has been an enjoyable and mind expanding. I have much more respect for my fellow small business owners than I had prior to beginning this adventure. I am also thankful for my business partner/brother-in-law. Having someone to rely on and share the ups and downs makes the journey bearable at times and down right pleasurable at other times.
Starting Uncorked Ventures has been transformational not just on the work front, but also on the home front. Eliminating 2 hours plus of commute time from my day has been freeing. Working from home several days a week has also allowed me the opportunity to interact with my kids much more. I feel like I know each of my kids better and that they enjoy having me around more. My kids are growing up fast and I am glad I am enjoying them now. My sons has already proclaimed that he wants to sell wine like daddy when he grows up.
As this year ends, I feel more alive and refreshed. I hope that all the hard work pays off and that customers make their way to our website. Here is to the new year and all the possibility it holds for me and my family and hopefully for you as well.
Take care.
This fine little wine was purchased at significant discount ($4.99) from Fresh & Easy Marketplace and actually is a great little performer for it’s price point. A blend of 80% Corvina and 20% Merlot it is very light, but flavorful. It’s not a fruit explosion by any means, but a good wine to serve guests with just about any dish I can think of. Very ripe with plums and little notes of berries and a slight afternote of almonds. If you live near a Fresh & Easy and want a wine that goes well with chicken or steak, this blend may be a good party piece to bring along for the ride. Light, pleasant and a real joy… Plus nobody can argue with the price!
d Less Traveled”) for a long time. We’re glad they opened a tasting room over here as we don’t get to Walla Wall very often. The space is shared with Maison Bleue and is really well done. The colors are great and there is plenty of room. It helps that we liked everything they poured. Dad is a member of the wine club but if I remember correctly, there is no tasting fee for non-members either. Wines are great, labels are pretty and the prices are fantastic!
alter – Another great example of a tasting room opening up on this side of the mountains. Dad and I had been to their Richland location once (many years ago) but now that they’re local we’re there much more frequently. Their tasting room (also called a “tasting studio”) is really nice. It’s huge and is located next to Mark Ryan and Ross Andrew…a triple threat. The wines are very good and can be found in all price ranges. The Subplot and The Protagonist seemed to be everyone’s favorites on this trip. Oh, and the names of the wines have a literary theme which I think is great! Neat place all around.
Cabernet/Syrah release that was great and almost got purchased by me…until I had his damn Cabernet. I buy his Cab every time I’m there, even when I go in thinking that I won’t; I can’t stay away from it! I also can’t keep them around the house and drink them as soon as I buy them. Seriously, this is one of my favorite Cabs right now. All the wines are stellar, but that Cab…
Great wine! The other wines that were being poured were the Syrah and the Shya Red – a Bordeaux blend that I flip for. The music was good, the passed appetisers looked great (I was holding Vegas so we didn’t sample anything – much to his disappointment!) and everyone there seemed to be having a great time. In fact, I didn’t want to leave!
– They were tasting the new Cabernet and the new Merlot, both were fantastic! The new Merlot is all bright fruit, very little tannins and absolutely wonderful! The Cabernet is young but drinking really well. Good fruit here too although (as expected with a Cab) a bit more tannins. I loved both and bought both. I don’t know that I’ve ever been here and not left with at least a couple bottles. 
was there talking to people about social media. William Church is one of the Woodinville wineries that is active on Facebook and Twitter. They’ve even incorporated a neat new contest. You’ll have to check them out to see what I’m talking about.
Patterson Cellars just released a 2006 Malbec and it’s fantastic! I’m not always wild about Malbec on its own so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m so glad I didn’t just pass it up thinking that I wouldn’t like it. I loved it – even bought a bottle! As usual, we loved the people there too. 
The Ursa is consistently one of my favorite blends in Woodinville. The blend in the Arctos changes from year to year but is also very good. I like it best when it is Cabernet dominant, which it is again. And I can’t wait until they release their Cab Franc! They’ve never done a Cab Franc varietal and I’m betting that the wait is going to be well worth it.
. I had a scooner of Cascade Premium Light but couldn’t finish it so Adam helped me. We also shared those pistachios. I think they are my favourite nut, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. 
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Dessert was a box of Cadbury Favourites. I had 2 of these Turkish Delight’s. I love these 
