#9 Barking Squirrels

Now 1 week post the final presentations, and no doubt influenced by Richard’s charismatic portrayal of the Barking Squirrel’s embodiment of mid-western grit, it is interesting to note that it is the only presentation, other than our own, that I remember with any sense of clarity. Yes it was funny, and yes the wine-induced humor certainly added to the flavor, but there was something more. It was catchy. I was intrigued. There was a symbol. There was identity. There was location. It was provocative. And it was iconic.

So I googled barking squirrel, and turns out that there is a barking squirrel brewery. That said, I prefer the wine barking squirrel more. Was it authentic? Perhaps. But it was authentic in its self-deprecating humour, rather than a carefully curated perspective on the origins of Norton red wine in Missouri. It wasn’t anything other than it sought to be. Does that mean all wines are subject to the life they are born into? Through hard work, strategy, and perhaps a bit of luck, can they not punch above their weight and force their way into other leagues? Yes of course, but those will no doubt be the exception, rather than the norm. And while we, here at the GSB, all no doubt seek exception rather than the norm, in doing so, and with regard to a paternal wisdom that wineries in pivotal moments must surely seek from all those who do offer, one must ask whether the juice is worth the squeeze.

So in 5 years time, what will I remember? Will it be the three-tier system, Granholm v Heald, interesting global emerging wine regions, the Mondavi fight, the Wheatley confidence, Yarrow Tourettes, authenticity, the Bordeaux classification, global trends, the 1976 judgment, an exceptional class taught by a super smart inspiring business person? Or will I simply remember Barking Squirrels. I hope you remember to ask.

FitWine: “We crush grapes, you crush life”

Is wine truly good for you? Sure, we all know that a glass of red a day keeps the doctors away but can drinking a certain type of wine help? Would you drink a wine that was marketed as the cleanest wine with the highest antioxidants? If so, I’ve got the wine for you! Found on the end cap at Whole Foods, Fit Wine is attempting to cater to the healthy eaters who are active and care about what they are putting in their bodies.

FitVine is marketed as great tasting with 95 calories or less and less than 0.2 grams of sugar per 5 ounce glass. Fit wines also contain < 35ppm of sulfites.

Reviews online generally speak to a light not overwhelming flavor of a very drinkable but not memorable wine.

Have you had it or would you drink it?

#8 What’s in a name?

“And even though the moment passed me by
I still can't turn away
'Cause all the dreams you never thought you'd lose
Got tossed along the way
And letters that you never meant to send
Get lost or thrown away

And scars are souvenirs you never lose
The past is never far
Did you lose yourself somewhere out there
Did you get to be a star
And don't it make you sad to know that life
Is more than who we are

We grew up way too fast
And now there's nothing to believe
And reruns all become our history
A tired song keeps playing on a tired radio

I think about you all the time
But I don't need the same
It's lonely where you are, come back down
And I won't tell 'em your name”

#7 Barbarians at the Gate

While Kravis Kohlberg and Roberts will, much to their chagrin, be forever associated with the acclaimed novel and precursor to a financial model that both created and destroyed value across the world; it’s application with the wine industry is interesting. It can definitely be leveraged as a tool to fuel significant growth aspirations, but may also be odds with the tension between financial returns and quality, authenticity and legacy. It may also be an interesting tool to diversify wealth for many family owned businesses, as well as method through which to strategize succession planning when there may not be interest or talent within the current generation. Given the global trends with respect to wine demand, watch this space for more geared growth deals, and possible consolidation within particular parts of the community.

#6 Wine Tourettes

Tourette syndrome is a common neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by motor or vocal tics. Tourette’s is most often associated with coprolalia, speaking obscene words or socially inappropriate remarks. Wine Tourette’s is defined as the unexpected but welcome onslaught of expletives inserted into sentences that describe both quality-induced wine incredulity as well as a basis upon which to cynically lament upon the farcical nature of the world in which we live. While Alder’s unexpected outbursts yielded a smile or two, I think that they were reflective of both his candidness, but also a lingering provocativeness that exists within branding today. I would have fallen asleep had he been dressed in a tuxedo elegantly sharing tasting notes looking down his nose at us plebeians wishing desperately seeking the social nuance to one navigate high society. But alas, I was awake and alert to every word he said, reveling in the swear words, the self-deprecating view on wine and critics, unashamedly pointing to the hypocrisy we all see. And within that very provocation, I was drawn to his opinion, ready to allow his thoughts to influence my own. Within the very democratization of wine through social media and apps, we cyclically entrench the confirmation bias from those we allow to influence perspective; be it from a position of quality or branding.

#5 The Winds of Reputation

In the Kingston Family case I was struck by how Chile developed a ‘reputation’ for commercial value wines; predictable and drinkable. When discussing the Bordeaux classification, the tension between the classification or ‘reputation’ versus the actual quality was evident throughout the case. It was interesting too, that Robert Mondavi sought to change the perception of Californian wines from large volume ‘bulk’ wines to makers of fine wines. When do you fight and when do you ride the winds that exist. How do you change reputation? One might argue that you change reputation through performance and quality. That it will ultimately be recognized, as it was in the 1976 Paris judgment. But then again, does the broader public know the difference between good and great wines? If opinions are swayed by perception, does quality even matter? So much of the class discussion centered around brand and authenticity. While the Paris judgment sought to equalize concepts of quality, today’s ease of launching a brand, suggests a trend towards perception. Who cares how good the wine is as long as everyone else can see the label.

Fergalicious - Definition: Make Some Wines So Tasty.

So...how does one become Fergalicious? I used to believe that the only way was to be up in the gym just working on my fitness (with a witness, of course). But a recent Google of the pop diva has yielded another option: start your own winery. That's precisely what Fergie and her father Pat did in 2006 on a 6-acre estate in Santa Barbara. The vineyard specializes in Syrah, Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pat is the viticulturalist while award-winning Joey Tensley (famous for Syrahs) is the winemaker. As for Fergie and her sister Dana? They pitch in with picking (image below) and stomping and helped to design the family-crest label (image below).

Fergie pickin' some grapes:


Ferguson Crest bottle:


Fergie also leverages her pop star power to provide PR for the brand, drinking a glass of Ferguson Crest after every concert. The winery started as a passion project for Pat, and though it is still a boutique location, the small-batch wines produced there have earned several local awards and favorable ratings. In fact, one of the signature blends is a big red called - you guessed it - "Fergalicious", and its 2011 vintage earned a rating of 92 on Wine Enthusiast.

Of course, not all critics have classified the wine as totally "T to the A to the S T Y, girl, you tasty." Buzzfeed (a highly reputable news source, to be sure...) released an article in 2013 where a master sommelier tried Fergalicious (along with a cadre of other celebrity wines...who knew there were so many?!) and deemed it "lacking structure and tannins...would be disgusting with food." Yikes.

But Fergie is not doing it for the "Robert Parker perfect score;" she just wants to work on something with her dad. And I respect that. Given the opportunity, I would gladly try a glass of Fergalicious, and during the toast, I know exactly what I would say...

Hit it, Fergie.

Source 1 (winery site)
Source 2 (article)
Source 3 (article)