The wineries of Northern Virginia had some celebrities in their ranks last month.  Family members of Oasis Winery in Fauquier County, Tareq and Michaele Salahi were in every newspaper, news magazine, interviewed on the Today show and invited to speak to the United States Congress.  Along with successfully attending a state dinner at the Whitehouse, the couple is gaining media coverage for their unpaid debts, questionable charity organization and creative personal histories.  With all of this coverage, are these folks getting exactly what they have wished for? We in the wine industry are very familiar with the antics that have tarnished the Oasis name over the years.  Fauquier County residents and politicians have been permanently tainted by the helicopter rides and rock concerts that have become synonymous with spoiling the tranquility of a peaceful wine industry.  

Having these folks in the spotlight has helped me define what I am and what our business is all about.  Maybe my parents taught me about thinking of how others are affected around you.  I have been interested in building a reputation for quality, honesty and being good for the community.  All of these pieces come back to family and hoping to work together in a way that we all do better.  Anytime I waver, I have a wife that has a stronger moral compass than me.  She is able to redirect me so we can build a business based on strong family values.  It has been great to work together and compliment each other but also push hard in the right direction.  

I have defined the issues that steer people (and businesses) off base are two character traits: Greed and Ego.  These two issues give us crooked politicians, lousy banking practices and generally undermine a good society.  History says that these were the keys to the fall of the Roman Empire.  Have we learned yet?  As we start this New Year and decade, hopefully we can find ways to work together and being genuine people.  Maybe we can also look at the media characters for what they are: they may be entertaining, but the true virtuous leaders are the ones that we need to follow and help.  

What does all this have to do with wine?  I am lucky enough to contemplate what I do and change how I do it if I feel necessary.  Wine can be made using grape juice concentrate from other countries, with aging methods that are easier, faster and cheaper than aging in wooden barrels.  We all have corners that we can cut in our jobs, but the true character of the product and job is in embracing the labor and doing the job right.  Make a great wine, charge a fair price and recognize that your customers will appreciate the devotion to quality.  I do this to teach up and coming winemakers the value of character. I also try hard to build a reputation for the industry of quality and customer service.  The Virginia wine industry is well on its way toward building a strong reputation, but there are always the choices, especially in the tougher times, to cut corners and do it cheaper.  Quality and honesty will win in the end!  Keep up the great work and carry it on into the new decade.

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