Wine Sells Itself

It was another beautiful day in the Napa Valley! Lindsay and I were in bed last night by ten! Our brains must have been so tired from all the learning we are doing! So this morning we woke up early and went for a walk around the mountains and vineyards. Our view was fantastic! The vineyards are filled with mustard plants. It adds beautiful color to the vineyards.

Later this morning, we were observing the tasting associates in the tasting room. This helped me to learn how the different associates treat their patrons and how they close a sale. First, Lindsay and I stood up at the bar and listened in on an associate helping a group of walk-ins. Walk-ins are patrons that do not have an appointment and are usually placed at the bar to do their tasting. These patrons also usually do not have a cheese tray with their tasting and the tasting is shorter than a tasting made by appointment. However, the walk-ins are treated in the same inviting and friendly manner as all other patrons.

Then we sat in on a tasting with patrons who are Jessup Cellars wine club members. This tasting was made by an appointment and lasted an hour and a half. This was a different experience because one of the two couples has already tasted the wine. Most people who come into the tasting room are new to Jessup so the wine club member tastings are conducted a little differently. Wine club members can try any wine that Jessup has to offer, while the other patrons can only try the six on the wine tasting list. This was fun because we got to try the chocolate sauce infused with Zin. It was awesome and is perfect to drizzle over ice cream or cheesecake! It was interesting to sit in on this tasting because Lindsay and I learned a lot about the wine club and what the members like about being part of the club. This tasting was great because the associate who did it had more of a relaxed selling style.

Later this afternoon, Lindsay and I went to another tasting room in Yountville to compare our experiences to the other tastings we have done. The wine there had a totally different taste then the same varietals at Jessup. This was not a bad thing and it was fun to be able to pick out those different flavors. The service was not as personal as some of the other tastings we have done. However, later into the tasting, the owner’s son came in and he finished doing the tasting with us. He was very informative and the two of us girls learned a great deal from him. Overall, my experience there was did not top my favorite tasting from the day before, but I still had a good time.

For supper, Lindsay and I put our Food Network watching to use! We made chicken, rice and veggies! It was delicious!!

After supper, us girls went back to the tasting room to meet Kim, who does outside sales for Jessup, to do a tasting at a bed and breakfast in Napa. Even though there were only two couples who came, Kim did a great job and it was a successful night. Kim gave us many tips on how to make a sale and close a sale. Her main sales advice for Lindsay and I was to ask for the sale. Even though the taste of wine sells itself, it is still crucial to ask for the sale.