PONZI BOTTLES 2009 VINTAGE IN ECO-FRIENDLY GLASS

Ponzi Vineyards sustainability objectives met with revolutionary new light-weight-glass bottles

BEAVERTON, OR— Ponzi Vineyards is proud to announce its first release from the 2009 vintage, the 2009 Ponzi Pinot Gris, in a new “eco-friendly” glass, produced by Saint-Gobain Containers’ Washington State plant and supplied by Caliber WinePak.

Ponzi Vineyards is one of the first Oregon wineries to bottle with glass from the company’s new ECO SeriesTM line, and the first to use it with the Stelvin closure. The low environmental impact glass containers were developed in response to a lack of high quality, eco-friendly wine bottles. With many wineries, particularly in Oregon, committed to sustainable farming and winemaking practices, access to sustainably produced packaging brings their commitment full circle.

Following in suit with the Ponzi family’s philosophies on sustainable business practices, all of the winery’s 2009 vintage wines, including the nationally distributed Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and two Pinot Noirs, and the small production Rosato, Chardonnay and Riesling, will be bottled in the ECO SeriesTM bottles.

Aside from the obvious ergonomic benefits of the 12 bottle case being lighter and easier to move around, the new design is manufactured in a manner that has significantly less impact on the Earth. Using recycled materials and reducing the overall weight of the bottle substantially lowers the amount of raw materials used by 15%. Additionally, the CO2 equivalent per bottle produced is reduced by 25%, and energy consumption for transportation to the winery is reduced by 25%. This new bottle is nearly one half pound lighter, and also slightly smaller, in diameter and height. These factors allow more cases to be added to shipments, making distribution more efficient.

“With the new glass, we save one truck for every seven making the trek to our warehouse in California, compared to what we were doing a year ago. Every little bit adds up!” says winemaker Luisa Ponzi.

Another happy by-product is the lighter bottles fit more comfortably in the average wine fridge.

Recognized last year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Saint-Gobain became the first glass manufacturer to be acknowledged as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. The company’s immense efforts to decrease the use of energy and raw materials result in significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

With over 400 wineries producing nearly 2 million cases of wine annually in the state of Oregon alone, it’s clear how a little attention to this piece of the puzzle will go a long way.

Ponzi wines bottled in ECO SeriesTM glass make use of the Stelvin closure, a 100% recyclable aluminum screw cap. Look for 2009 Ponzi Pinot Gris at the Ponzi Estate Winery and the Ponzi Wine Bar this week. Ponzi wines are nationally distributed by Wilson Daniels, Ltd.

For more information on the eco glass, visit Saint-Gobain or Caliber WinePak online. For information on upcoming releases in the new container contact Ponzi Vineyards at 503-628-1227.
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Final Stop - Houston!

Renee Hamilton, Wilson Daniels Ltd. Texas Market Manager, is more than a knockout. She’s smart, ambitious and wine savvy and (like me) balances her role as mother, wife and breadwinner. She picked me up at the Lancaster Thursday morning and we were off.

First stop - aromatic YAPA, where we met owner Mark Lewis, who used to have a deli/take-out shop in Eugene, Oregon. He gave us our first order of the day - several cases of three wines – what a way to start the morning!

Our next meeting was a bit more intimidating. We met with the Fine Wine Buyer at Spec's Liquor Stores, Charles Dalton – better known as “Bear”. This man has incredible buying power as Spec's is one of the state’s largest wine stores. “Bear” is one of those buyers who makes you feel small. In addition to his large frame, he doesn’t say much when he tastes. He rather types his comments into his computer, without giving much back. As the presenter, this makes it incredibly challenging, wondering if he’s enjoying the wines or just getting through them. He did take a photo of us for his newsletter, so I figured that was a good sign.

An Italian gentleman was waiting for us at Spec's check-out counter as we left the appointment. He was to be my “date” for the day. Somehow Gabriele (Gabe) Chiocca (a real Italian) found his way to Texas and is now one of Republic’s top sales reps. We immediately hit it off, conversing in Italian in the car as we drove to our lunch appointment. Hearing and speaking Italian always takes me back to when I lived in Perugia many, many years ago. We had a delicious lunch at Arturo’s and met David Andry, the wine buyer there.

Next stop - the father/son team at Divino, a beautiful Italian restaurant. Chatting with Patrick McCray and his father Jim McCray, gave me a sense of connection. Working with one’s folks can be rich and fulfilling, but can also be challenging. Having patience is critical. These guys were great and I enjoyed getting an outside view of a family business relationship.

Busy Patrick Dorrian of Valentino was nice enough to meet with us, but our conversation was short and sweet. By this time, I was getting nervous, looking at my watch realizing traffic was accumulating on the highways and I was an hour from the airport. Tonight was the night I was flying home.

Renee wanted us to make one last stop at the Houston Wine Merchant. Gabe drove me there as he popped in a CD from one of his favorite Italian artists. He sang as I got restless in the seat next to him. Gabe dropped me off at the shop, I called Renee to insure she was watching the time, then went inside and met up with Marcy Jimenez, who was sympathetic to my concern over the time, but courteous enough to taste through the line-up.

Minutes later, Renee whisked me away to the airport with an hour to spare. That final flight home is the one I’m always most anxious about – when you’re ready to see your kids, you’re ready.

I spent the following two days relaxing with my family. A soccer game for Max, a trip to the mall with Lauren, a long walk with Sami and Brett, homemade pizza and a good movie at night settled me back into home life in Scholls.

Happy to be home, pleased to have sold some wine and to have met a lot of really nice people in the great state of Texas. Thank you, Texas and Republic. You guys are the best!

Ciao.

Maria

Vibrant Austin!

Landed in sunny Austin. Just as I was making arrangements at Budget, an attractive young woman, Stephanie Stowell, greeted me at the counter with a beautiful smile and rescued me. The bright, ambitious Republic On-Premise Sales rep helped me load my suitcase and sample of 2009 Pinot Gris into her car and we were off.

First stop, The Melting Pot, where we met Michael Swartz. Talk about a nice guy. It’s rare you meet a busy restaurant owner who is so calm, easy going and interested. I actually enjoyed the sales call. I love when this happens, when you actually find someone who is seemingly sincerely interested in your product and appreciates your story.

Stephanie organized a group lunch at Josie’s, where I was able to meet Jennifer of 219, Ike Johnson of Max’s Wine Dive and Sean Minto, Republic’s On Premise Wine Division Manager, a well-dressed charming British gentleman. Cory, owner of Josie’s, was busy in the back while his kitchen crew created delicious redfish tacos, which more than satisfied our entire table. The wines showed well with the dish’s spicy notes and the conversation was lively: how Internet wine sales are affecting independent wine shops and how Blackberrys have created poor manners and never-ending work weeks.

From there, Stephanie and I took a drive to a new development just outside of downtown Austin, The Domain. A new Westin Hotel opens this week and we were due for a staff training with the dining room staff. Hundreds of people were on the scene. Painters touching up the walls, random meetings being conducted throughout the space and vacuums were rampant, anticipating the grand opening. A tall, slender middle-aged man wearing very hip glasses gave us a hearty greeting. He’s known as “B”, Carl Bruggemeier, the concept developer for the restaurant. As “B” shook my hand, he remarked, “Ah, Ponzi, one of the country’s best wineries. Great family, great wines, great story. I’ve been placing your wines in my restaurants for decades.” Nice.

More than 20 servers showed up for the training – most of them sincerely interested in tasting the wines and hearing our story. I was impressed. I have a hunch they're going to sell a lot of Ponzi there.

Last stop of the day was at Eddie V’s where we quickly tasted through the wines with busy General Manager, Jeff Freeman. After being dropped at the hotel, I found my way to Avis and rented my car destined for San Antonio the following morning. Short workday, but well executed by Ms. Stowell, a brilliant rep who has a strong future in wine.

My evening was spent driving around Austin’s active city, alive with young people running, walking and biking along the river. I ended up at the sushi bar, Uchi, and was fortunate to strike up a friendly conversation with a nice gentleman from Dallas. he explained he was a fan of “big reds” and California wines, so in traditional form, I attempted to convince him to give Pinot Noir a chance, suggesting the 2008 vintage as a great opportunity. Who knows, maybe we’ll get another convert.

San Antonio Bound

Left early the next morning in my silver KIA driving South on Highway 35 due for San Antonio. Ray Ayala of Republic’s On Premise team met me at the airport where I traded in my chic ride for Ray’s Cayenne - better suited for the wine queen. We were off to see Oliver-Pierre Ressel of The Grape Wine Company. Yes, he’s very French and, yes, he knows his wine, fortunately he loved ours.

Lunch date at Fredericks (incredible food) included guests Erich Heileman of Vino Volo (the company that has set up wine bars in airports throughout America) and Joey Sholdra, GM at Bin 555. Nice guys. Just so happened the big guns from Republic Distributing were dining there, as well so had an opportunity to thank them for their support. I just love lunches. Don’t get these too often back home.

From there, we headed downtown, tossed back a double espresso and met up with Laz McGill at Bohanans – considered one of the best steak houses in the city. From there - get this - we walked! After passing The Riverwalk and some of the city’s most historic buildings, we sat down with Chris Walling, Director of Food and Beverage for the Omni Hotel. A proud Texan who enjoyed the wines and invited me back to host a future winemaker dinner.

Our final call was one of my favorites of the day – Christian Schimmelfennig of Flemings. Here’s a buyer who offers you cold water, a seat and pays you one of nicest compliment ever, “Your father is a real legend in American wine history. Congratulations.” Okay, so I immediately like this guy, and fortunately, he liked our wines too.

Hugs and thanks to Ray for the long day and next thing I know I’m removing my shoes and laptop at another airport security gate. Ah ... this is getting old. The days are beginning to run together along with the numbers of airport gates and hotel rooms.

Speaking of hotels, I just arrived at my Houston accommodation, The Lancaster. This charming old hotel is nestled in the center of the city. It’s quaint, clean, people are nice, Internet's free and the lights are on! No dinner tonight. Straight to bed. I’ve got a feeling I’m going to enjoy my last day in the Lone Star State.

Ciao.

Maria

Four Days; Four Cities

The Lone Star state greeted me with gray skies and a dark hotel room. Suffice to say, we’re not in Florida anymore. I checked into a well-known hotel chain, was issued a keycard at the front desk and made my way to my assigned room. I opened the door and walked into a dimly lit space with pillows scattered on the floor, jewelry on the desk and a used coffee cup on the counter. It took me a moment to realize – I’m standing in someone else’s room! Freaky. The front desk sorted it out and gave me an “upgraded room”, which was identical to the otherwise “downgraded room” except this one was actually clean. I called home, brushed my teeth and caught the final hour of The Academy Awards. Sandra Bullock rocks.

The abrupt entry into Dallas was soon forgotten the following morning as Linda Torbica, Wilson Daniels Ltd. District Manager met me at the hotel lobby in her champagne Lexus and bright smile. I boarded the luxurious transport and headed out for a full day of visiting the locals.

Our first couple stops were with wine and liquor store chains. This means meeting corporate buyers found in rather mundane office buildings. Nice enough guys, but so unfortunate to have to work in such uninspired interiors – featured colors: gray, beige or cream. And the fluorescent lighting doesn’t help to brighten the situation. In contrast to the décor, our wines shined, including the just released 2009 Pinot Gris, and we successfully placed several wines.

Lunch at Newports was a delight. We met up with an ambitious, sharp, young distributor rep, Courtney Steinberg and an enthusiastic savvy wine buyer, Tiffany Ross of Cork. A girl’s lunch indeed. Topics involved my kids, our husbands, wine, diets, books, careers – the usual. Tiffany, already a Ponzi fan, made for fun conversation and an enjoyable lunch.

Courtney and I managed to dodge the heavy rain and meet with some friendly accounts including Andy Powers at Bob’s Steak and Chop House, Taryn Anderson at The Porch and Yutaka Yamato at Yutaka. Sold wine, enjoyed Courtney’s company and overall had a good day. Linda met us at our last account, Yutaka Sushi (a place where I promise to indulge on my next Dallas visit) and made our way to Hibiscas.

Here we ran into the wine buyer Taylor who has been supportive of our Tavola Pinot Noir over the past few months. Linda invited Stuart Campos, Sales Manager for Republic’s Fine Wine Division to join us. We had an engaging dinner, discussing the distributor’s recent trip to Alsace where the sales team was able to experience the people, the place and the wines of the region. It’s moments like these when I wish I could join their educational visits. We agreed – we’re so fortunate to be able to work in this industry.

Although, I have to admit I miss the palm trees, the Texan accents are pretty darn charming even if the portions are a bit large.

Ciao.

Maria

Day Six!

Getting to bed late and up early on your final day of a market visit is always a bit rough. This was the case Saturday. Visine is a mandatory toiletry when I travel. By a stroke of good luck, it turns out one of my dearest friends and her husband were coming to Naples for some sunshine. Anne, who works for Coach, flew in from Manhattan and her Brazilian Husband Vido, who owns a coffee production company, flew in from Minneapolis. The only free hour we had to catch up was for coffee. Meeting friends when you're on the road is always such a delight, even if it's just an hour.

Following our quick meet, Rik hustled us into his truck and we were off to set up for the Southwest Florida Wine Fest's grand tasting and auction. The extravagant affair was staged at the MiroMar Lakes Country Club, an absolutely gorgeous location just north of Bonita Springs. The grand entry involves two major gates and a fountain that looks like something you'd see in Versailles.

Unfortunately, rain was expected so organizers installed a large tent to host the visiting vintners and local chefs. Last year, the grand tasting was held poolside along shimmering blue waters - two shallow bodies of water that seem to float upon the concrete patio. It's quite a setting, especially when that Florida sun is shining brightly against the blue sky. Today was a different scene.

We found our table at the far end of the tent. Our wine had already been staged (thanks Premier) so we simply added a few brochures and cookbooks to the display. Joan and Laura Teachworth of Teachworth Vineyards in Napa Valley shared our table. Two beautifully gracious women who produce just 150 cases of carefully aged Cabernet. It's always a pleasure meeting other women in the business.

Speaking of women in the wine business, we were cheerfully greeted by Cameron Fischer of Fischer Vineyards in Napa Valley. I adore this wine family. I met winemaker Whitney Fischer years ago in Seattle and her folks Juelle and Fred a few years following. Much like us, this is a real family winery. Over the past few years, Whitney's older brother Rob and younger sister, Cameron have joined the ranks. We have such fun discussing the joy and challenges of working with family. Great wine and truly great people!

Within 30 minutes of showing our wines and chatting with acquaintances and friends, the rain began to come down. I looked behind me and saw a river forming. The rain was pounding down and within another five minutes I showed Rik my discovery and he suggested moving the table further into the tent. As we began to make the move, I look down and poor Laura (my table mate) was standing in 2 inches of water. What a trooper she was, moving her display, bottles and soggy cases as the water continued. I noticed she was wearing ballet flats. I had selected my high wedges so managed to stand a bit drier, but when I looked at her and what was going on outside and the state of the situation, I called surrender. Cases, brochures, bottles, signs were quickly dismantled and we went to seek cover in the club's bar.

The determined guests remained for another hour under that tent, sipping wine and sampling foods from the local chefs. Over 4 inches of water had accumulated in the middle of the tent! It was a real misfortune for the guests, the vintners and the guests. I did hear the auction, which followed the tasting, was extremely profitable, so perhaps the rain was a blessing for the charity as the indoors became increasingly attractive and forced folks to bid.

Nancy and I sat at the bar and chatted with new friends, drinking Napa Valley Cabernet and enjoy the entire scene. We departed MiroMar Lakes for our final evening in Florida, at the home of Kristen and Joe Palazzo. Joe is a caterer and Kristen has been selling Ponzi wines for years. This generous couple had several event organizers, chefs, restaurateurs and vintners over to their home and fed us lamp chops, marinated tenderloin and fresh Gulf shrimp. Needless to say, there was plenty of outstanding wines open for the gathering. Including stellar bottlings from Veuve Cliquot, Banfi, Antinori, Fischer and yes, even Ponzi.

This was my favorite evening. In a casual setting - just good conversation with people in the wine trade enjoying each other's company. It couldn't have been a better close to a full week of fun and business.

Mom and I woke the next morning at 4AM, to grab our flight home. Despite an emergency landing in Dallas due to a violently ill passenger on board, the flight was easy. We were welcomed by my little family at the Portland airport (including Sami waiting in the car) several hours later.

It was incredible trip. We were treated like royalty. The relationships I've been able to build over the many years in this market are invaluable. It's so rewarding. It's so rare all the components come together this way: the wines, the distributor and its talented individuals, the interested buyers, the enthusiastic consumers, one exceptional representative, Rik Steere, and the rest of the team at Wilson Daniels Ltd. Every component has to perfect to succeed, and in the case of South Florida, we have absolutely achieved that and more.

We are very, very blessed.

I hope you enjoyed my postings this week and it gave you a "sneak peek" into this part of my world. I'm will now sign off and get back to work at the winery. Thank you for your interest and perhaps at I'll see you in Beaverton sometime ... that's usually where you'll find me when I'm not playing celebrity in Florida.

Thanks to all!

Ciao

Maria

Day Five!

Sunny skies, but still chilly outside as we left the hotel this morning. I definitely needed my morning run. Day Five and the eating and drinking has gotten out of hand. I'm committed to keeping the weight gain on these trips to a minimum.

This morning the three of us (Rik, Nancy and I) were on our own. No Premier Beverage escort today. Those poor souls were in their month end meeting. Most folks don't truly understand what wine reps do and, like winery principals, I think the perception may be that it's a life of glamour. Actually, truth is - the good wine reps make it glamorous for the wineries.

Wine distributor reps are responsible for insuring correct wine samples are pulled from the warehouse for the day. That means insuring the bottles are of the current vintage. This is a seemingly easy task often botched by the inexperienced, making the goal of selling current wines extremely frustrating and almost impossible for the winery.

Assuming the rep performs that step properly, the next is to insure the wines are correctly handled. That means temperature controlled and not being tossed like a well shaken martini. White wine must be chilled (but not too much) and reds should be presented at room temperature. Again, this seems simple enough, but if you happen to be selling wine in Palm Springs or in the high altitudes of Aspen, the task can be challenging. The successful and innovative wine reps get creative: ice packs for the whites, which are stored in insulated wine bags, or standard coolers filled with ice (not a favorite technique of mine). Be sure to watch the soggy labels on those "cooler wines" - nothing worse than walking into the Ritz Carlton without a label on your $50 bottle of wine. As for the reds, some Type A reps wrap those bottles in baby fleece blankets, others casually stick them under their armpits before the grand showing. Tacky, but it works.

Our Wilson Daniels Ltd. representative, Rik Steere ( I refer to him as "Master of Wine Sales") has a truck. It's bed is covered and under the roll up top, custom coolers with temperature control have been installed. One for reds, one for whites. This insures all wines are stored at their most ideal temperature and enjoy a smooth ride. His rig is a movable wine cellar with a very secure lock.

When wine reps hear a "wine supplier" (that's what they call us) is coming into town, they start making appointments. The thing with appointments is buyers tend to cancel or change them over the course of a week, a day, the hour or the minute. This fun routine makes for an exciting day - never really knowing how it's going to end up. Again, if you're fortunate to have a experienced sales rep, they somehow magically fill in any empty time. This is rare and so appreciated if and when it happens.

What many "wine suppliers" don't understand is there can be anywhere from 10 to 30 other wineries in the same market at the same time visiting the same accounts. Insane. And, what's even more crazy is all "wine suppliers" truly believe they represent the most important winery in the entire world and demand access to the best accounts.

And, here's the big gift "wine suppliers" give distributor reps: a full day of themselves. Yes, only one winery to focus on out of perhaps hundreds of brands they're responsible to sell. This one winery may stick around for several consecutive days. Have you ever spent an entire day with someone who is so involved with themselves, their ideas, philosophies, and their product they can't talk or even consider anything else? Well, imagine that all the while being expected to schlep 12 heavy wine bottles, a 30 lb. briefcase, smile, open doors and nod as "the supplier" complains how their brand isn't well represented in the market. Ah, joy.

This part of the wine business deserves it's own book. What distributor reps do for wineries everyday is extraordinary. And, unbelievably, they rarely get thanked. So, today, I'd like to recognize how grateful we (and I'm sure there are other wineries) are for all those good people who slug around nearly 100 lbs. of weight each day for us, put on those cheerful attitudes, turn on the wine knowledge, polish wine glasses, show their smiling faces and somehow turn on the enthusiasm, which enables us to sell our wine. We couldn't do it without you.

Thanks to those of you who take the time to actually clean your vehicles (including removing the sippy cups and dog hair) so we can ride alongside you for eight plus hours. Thanks for letting us sleep in your car on those more than 30 minute drives to the next key account. Thanks for opening the doors. Thanks for running across the street with that heavy wine bag hanging off your shoulder, insuring we make our appointment (even though the buyer probably blew us off). Thanks for the city reps who sprint down the subway stairs, or up the same ones, for the same reason. Thanks for dealing with the occasional negative energy and huge egos of both buyers and (those few) inconsiderate suppliers.

Thanks for putting up with us. And even though I know you take some of those half drunk samples home with you as a reward for dealing with the personalities of the day. I know you try to enjoy them as you finish your daily sales report at 10PM. Please know I recognize you and realize you all deserve (at least) a magnum of Ponzi Pinot Noir Reserve. Someday I hope we're large enough to accommodate. In the meantime, enjoy what's left in the bottle.

It goes without saying we had another successful day here in Florida. After several earlier sales calls, we finished with a beautiful dinner held at Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp's home. It was a charitable dinner benefiting the Fort Meyers Children's Hospital and part of the Southwest Florida Wine Festival. A wonderful way to wrap up the day.

More tomorrow.

Ciao.

Maria

Day Four!

Got to bed after midnight last night, responded to emails and checked in with my kids. Little worried about "Sami" thinking he might be missing me as I'm missing him. The kids and husband are fine, it's the dog I'm worried about ... my new baby.

Up at 7AM for a nice long run this morning, and after returning emails and getting myself together Mom and I met Rik in the lobby. Off to Naples again. Nancy decided to indulge in the shops along main street as Rik and I met up with another Premier Beverage representative, Larry Trautschold.

First stop was at one of our longest standing accounts, Pazzo Italian Cafe. Pazzo is just one restaurant owned by Skip Cowen. He owns five others in the area, including landmark Chops Steak House. He's been generous enough to put Ponzi wines (multiple listings) on every single list. We were fortunate enough to steal a few minutes with Skip on his way to a meeting. With one hand on his coffee, the other managed a wine glass allowing him to taste our lastest release of 2008 Tavola. A true professional - it was all of 10AM. We also met with his Bar Manager, Kendra Rizzi, who was engaging and friendly. Skip has been a huge fan of ours for years and it seems as though he remains one. Very grateful.

Lunch today was especially fun. We found Nancy amongst the shops and met at The Jolly Cricket. This absolutely packed lunch spot was bustling with folks escaping the unusually chilly weather outside. We had the privilege of dining with restaurant owner, Jane Wood, another British export, mother of five who runs another three cafes with her husband. Jane is beautiful, brilliant and absolutely hilarious. We had a lively conversation discussing the comics involved with the restaurant business. She remarked her book would be filled of true stories, placed in the fiction section. Nancy and Jane got along famously. She picked up our Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and lunch tab.

We traveled uptown to visit Jim Anderson of The Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club. How folks in Florida decide which country club to join is beyond me. So many! Jim was great as he kept asking questions -- about the wine! The quizzing got me back on my game. Interested and knowledgeable, Jim is my favorite kind of buyer. He already has the wines, but is taking more. Thank you, Jim.

We moved onto our final call for the day. An elaborately designed Asian restaurant, Azn, is situated within the Mercato development. Restaurant owner, Raymond Hsu, has three other restaurants in Atlanta and couldn't have been more of a gentleman. We were able to meet with him, his Manager Greg Christensen (so great), and their Chef Chris DeGenoa (Pinot lover). Nice guys all of them. Have the Pinot Gris BTG, and plan to take on a few Pinots. Very nice.

Following the call, Larry encouraged us to take a trip up an outdoor escalator to SilverSpot Cinema. How cool is this place!? A theater with a dining room in the lobby, wine, beer and champagne for purchase next to the popcorn and Twizzlers. The leather lounge chairs in the theater are outrageously comfortable and the custom trays have been designed to accommodate a large popcorn, chilled bottle of Schramsberg Brut Rose and two glasses. Talk about an ideal date! We got lucky and were able to meet Leonardo Garcia, Executive Chef, originally from Venezuela who shared the concept of this outstanding attraction. Of course, he has Ponzi Pinot Gris BTG and Pinot Noir. Nancy was thrilled to meet someone from Venezuela (she lived there as a young girl) and she confessed her real favorite meal (excluded from the cookbook) is Pinot and popcorn.

We were late for our most important date - Angelina's Ristorante. My very, very good friend Angela Roberston, who I met five years ago always puts on a great show and tonight was no exception. She reserved the back room of this gorgeous Italian restaurant for a wine tasting and book signing for her guests. Local media was present, so we squeezed in a quick interview and more celebrity photographs. Consecutive days of autographing wine bottles and books does something to one's ego. I have to admit .. it's quite satisfying to hear nice things about your product over and over again. But, one must be careful not to believe everything one hears.

Angela invited us to dinner and we sat right in front of the restaurant's famous "wine tower". This glass cylinder is situated in the center of the dining room and is two-stories, 25-feet tall, holding 3200 bottles of more than 100 vintages from around the world. It's incredible. And what's more incredible is that Angela knows where every single bottle lives in that tower and the story behind each and every label. Proudly, Ponzi is prominently stored within its thick walls.

As we enjoy the handmade pasta and ravioli, we are randomly interrupted by enthusiastic servers who drop by to comment on their love for our wines. One of Angela's favorites, Kenny, was an airline employee who lost his job due to a collision on the tarmac. Apparently, seven small carriers linked behind his baggage cart created a domino affect after he was forced to come to a screeching stop. He recalls the story as thinking, "s#@!, s#@!, s#@!, s#@!, s#@!, s#@!, s#@!". Can I say that in a blog? Fortunately, he loves to wait tables and sells a tremendous amount of Ponzi .. as does Charles, who requested a hug, recognizing an embrace will always be more valuable than any signed bottle of wine, and Jeff, who has promised me a trip to the Willamette Valley. Great guys who know how to sell great wine.

Super fun day. Beginning to tire, but the biggest night is yet to come! Stay with me ...

Ciao.

Maria

Day Three!

Early morning wake up call at 6:30AM. "The Dynamic Duo" are out the door by 7:15AM. (Two women in the bathroom takes extra time.) My aunt and uncle chauffeured us to Naples - a two hour drive. Again, feeling more like a family holiday than business. Fortunately, I get a call on my cell at 8AM from one my closest friends and one of the world's best wine reps, Rik Steere of Wilson Daniels Ltd., who reminds me I am not on vacation and he has a full day planned. Good. I like it that way.

As we pull into the hotel parking lot, Rik greets us. I consider Rik my other brother. We've been working together for more than eight years and it's like homecoming whenever we get together. He's an absolute class act. After a quick hug, we store our bags in the hotel, grab a cheap coffee and ten minutes later, board his truck. I've got the brochures and he's got the samples carefully stored and ready for our busy day. I never have to worry about the care of our wines when I work with Rik and that's an understatement. He takes care of every detail, making our "ride-alongs", absolutely delightful.

Here's another first for me ... our first stop requires taking a tram along an elevated walkway, through a mangrove swamp (no alligators in sight), which leads us to a private club. We're greeted by David Kiefer of Pelican Bay. His casual dining room sits only yards from the beach and he promises its view offers the best sunset in all of Naples. Kiefer is another young ambitious wine buyer with a calm about him and a sincere interest in our wines. He brags on how Ponzi Pinot Noir has always been one of his favorites and inspired him to get into the wine business. That's always a huge compliment.

A group lunch was organized at one of my favorite places in Naples, La Playa. This charming, 1920's romantic resort is absolutely elaborate and the Food and Beverage Director Jerry Janus, is fortunately a big Ponzi fan. He's had both Reserve wines on his list for years now, along with every single other wine we produce. At this point, Jerry, a native Czechoslovakian is considered a dear friend, and he welcomes us to a specially prepared lunch - five courses to be exact. It was impressive, as well as delicious. The white chocolate goat cheese tart with marinated strawberries and black pepper cream anglais was exceptional. Yes, I finished that particular dish completely.

At lunch we were able to present to several other buyers including Lori De Kett of McCormick and Schmick's, Joseph Gross, the Chef at The Club at Pelican Bay, Peter Sereno, owner of M Waterfront Grille and Joseph Elwell of Quail Creek Country Club. Two talented women, Megan and Diana of Premier Beverage, represent Ponzi wines all year joined the gathering.

It's always difficult to follow such a grand lunch with a sales call, as you feel more like taking a nap than pitching and pouring more wines. But, we do it all the time. Made a quick stop at a lovely wine shop called decanted and met Jessica Palmer there who quickly purchased three of the four wines we showed. Thanks, Jessica.

After a quick greeting with the owners at Sea Salt, we ended up at Tony's off Third/Ridgeway Bar and Grill...my home away from home. I met co-owner Sukie Honeycutt eight years ago. She's one of those intimidating wine buyers. My first visit she told me she'd try all our wines with the exception of Chardonnay. Told me she wasn't a Chardonnay fan. Of course, I told her the only way to the Pinots was through the Chardonnay. She obliged and before I knew it she had our Chardonnay Reserve on BTG in the restaurant and case stacked in her shop. We've been close friends ever since and I have yet to walk in her shop and not find every single varietal we make on her shelves. She's brilliant, energetic, fun and bright. What more can I say? She's the best.

With Ponzi cases, bottles and cookbooks flooded throughout her store, she hosted Nancy and me for a sold out consumer tasting. Met the nicest people - interested, complimentary and pleasant. A pure delight. Autographing several bottles before I left, Sukie always makes me feel like a celebrity. A comfortable dinner followed in the open dining room and good conversation flowed - as always. We were pleased to have co-owner Tony Ridgeway, his wife Wynne, daughter Alison, along with Ellie (the champion of Fine Wine at Premier) sit with us.

Although the weather is unseasonably gray and wet, all I feel is pure sunshine. I am among friends. Tomorrow promises to be another wonderful day.

Ciao.

Maria

Day Two!

Florida always delivers and today was no exception. Got my three-mile jog in this morning along the Sarasota shore, passing sandpipers and shellseekers along the way. What a way to start the day.

My good friend Robin of Premier Beverage picked me up at the hotel and whisked me off. This cheerful Brit found his way to Florida, via Manhattan. He's been selling wine as long (if not longer than) I. The great thing about Robin is he still has a "bloody good" sense of humor and seems to truly enjoy what he does. He's an honest delight to spend the day with - helps he knows just about everyone in Sarasota - and sells wine very well.

First meeting was with smart, wine saavy Georgina Frost and her assistant, Jerry, at Morton's Fine Wines. She remains a strong supporter of ours and continues to present our Pinot Gris and now, the 2007 Tavola Pinot Noir. Morton's is a gorgeous market, its shelves are stocked with fresh produce and ingredients to inspire any chef.

We took a bit of a drive to Lakewood Ranch, where we met up with Shane Pringe and Mark Sweeny. Two young bright guys who have got their plates full running this remarkable property. Generous with their time, the knowledgeable duo decided to bring in a few of our current releases, including Tavola "by the glass". This is something like a home run for wine producers - the most effective way for the most people to experience your wine and for us, equates to selling cases, which helps to pay the barrel bills. So, thanks Ranchwood!

Next stop was in a tent. Temporary housing for the Sarasota Yacht Club while they finish building out a new $15M facility. This venue is one I'd never quite experienced. I'd guess you'd describe it as casual. Jon Patella met us there who explained he had applied for a "cellar rat" position at Ponzi years ago, but at last moment decided against the move. Nice guy, enthusiast and eager, who selected some Ponzi wines for his opening wine list. Very grateful.

I insisted on eating. It was 3PM and I had passed on breakfast that morning, so Robin was kind enough to call ahead to Libby's and request food be prepared for us. We parked the car, rushed across the street and were greeted with mouthwatering wasabi tuna and fries on the bar. Delicious. Seven minutes later we were walking out the door. I was able to shake hands with owner Patrick Seidensticker and thank him for the amazing service. Good people, good food - even on the fly.

Final stop for the day was The Crow's Nest. Owner Steve Harner has been there for over 30 years. Impressive and gracious with his time. Took too many wines to remember. Thank you, Steve!

The evening concluded with a gorgeous dinner at Michael's Wine Cellar. These guys pulled off an absolutely stunning evening. Michael Klauber, who has been in the food and wine business since the 70's, transformed his modern wine shop into an intimate dining room for the event. Candles surrounded the space, hundreds of votives scattered amongst the steel walls of wine and a enormous family table (40+ seats) sat in the middle of the room dressed in white linen, towering votives as centerpieces and sparking wine glasses filled the space. The meal was exquisite, showcasing octopus, quail and duck adorned with local vegetables. Michael is a generous man - eight of our wines were poured and guests from Slow Food, Suncoast Food Alliance and Edible Sarasota were in attendance to celebrate the focus on organic and locally grown products. What a show! Michael and his chef had specifically built the menu around the wines, selecting each dish to show off the wine - making it the focus. So memorable. I look forward to my next visit with Michael, one who works hard, but also knows how to enjoy his success with his customers and friends. The evening's focus on sustainable food worked perfectly into pitching The Ponzi Vineyards Cookbook and Nancy was able to sign several for the guests. My good friend, Wayne Rayborn, of Wilson Daniels Ltd. who does an outstanding job representing our wine in the SouthEast and has attended hundreds of wine dinners, drove 150 miles to meet up with us in Sarasota at Michael's. That means so much to us. It was good seeing him there.

To bed. Early morning drive to Naples.

Ciao.

Maria

Day One!

So, the glamorous task of selling wine began at 3:30 this morning. Re-adjusting the alarm clock insuring my husband woke in time to get the kids up and ready for school, I pulled myself out of bed. I passed on washing and blowdrying the hair as I thought I'd use the 5 minutes for coffee instead of the tedious routine of styling the locks. Who says middle-aged women shouldn't wear ponytails. If Sarah Palin can do it, I figure so can I. Despite the darkness, I managed to find my way back to my husband still in bed. I kissed him goodbye, told him thank you, then found my newly rescued Chow Chow, "Sami", sleeping on the floor. I did the same to him, promising I’d be home soon. Leaving my bag in the hall, I found my way to my daughter and son’s room and gave them each a kiss.

I've been on the road selling wine for many years, but this particular market visit is special. I have a companion. My mother, Nancy, is traveling with me. Her mission: to promote her new cookbook, The Ponzi Vineyards Cookbook, while I promote our wines. This visit is one of my longest - seven days.

The trip to Florida has become a February tradition for me. I’ve been making this trek across the country to South Florida for nearly 15 years and each time - as painful as it is to leave my family - I look forward to seeing my good friends in Naples, Palm Beach and Sarasota. The sunshine is one thing, but the good people and their commitment to enjoying and supporting our wines is even better.

My father, Dick, insists on driving us to the airport. He hates spending money and that weekly parking fee is something we can avoid. So, he and Nancy arrive at my doorstep at 4AM.

The five hours to Atlanta is long, but fortunately I’m reading Jeanette Walls’ new book, “Half Broken Horses”, which more than accelerates the time. She’s one of my favorite authors, if not My Favorite. We have a two and half hour layover and convince ourselves we can survive the day on peanuts, pretzels, water and tasteless Pinot Grigio. Ugh. Can hardly choke the stuff down. I'm always amazed people drink that garbage, but that’s another story. I better just stick to water.

As it turns out my uncle, David Ponzi, a retired Ford Motor Company engineer is vacationing with my aunt Fil, in Sarasota this month. In the Italian tradition of being a good family man, he insists on picking Mom and I up at the airport and takes us to dinner before we crash at the Lido Beach Resort for a good night’s rest. With Mom on the plane and family awaiting our arrival, this trip feels more like a vacation than business. It's going to be a great week!

Thanks for coming along...

Ciao!

Maria

Southwest Florida Stops

On the road this Spring, Nancy and Maria Ponzi will be visiting Southwest Florida to share Ponzi new releases and celebrate the winery’s 40th anniversary. The dynamic mother-daughter duo will be showcasing Ponzi wines at the following events:

MICHAEL'S ON EAST, Sarasota

Tuesday, February 23, 7:00pm- $95 per person michaelsoneast.com

TONY'S OFF THIRD, Naples

Wednesday, February 24, 5:30pm- $20 per person tonysoffthird.com

ANGELINA'S RISTORANTE, Bonita Springs

Thursday, February 25, 5:00pm angelinasofbonitasprings.com

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINE & FOOD FEST- CHEF VINTNER DINNER

Friday, February 26th- $1000 per person swflwinefest.org/dinners

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINE & FOOD FEST- GRAND TASTING

Saturday, February 27th, 12:00pm- $300 per person swflwinefest.org

Follow Maria Ponzi's Travels

Ponzi wines can be found on store shelves and restaurant wine lists across the United States. Every year Maria Ponzi Fogelstrom, Director of Sales & Marketing, travels to various markets to meet buyers in person and show Ponzi wines at celebrated food and wine festivals. This is a particularly exciting year to trek from market to market as it marks the 40th anniversary of Ponzi Vineyards. Additionally, at the end of last year, winery founder and gastronomy expert Nancy Ponzi released her first cookbook, The Ponzi Vineyards Cookbook. Nancy will join Maria on several trips, both looking forward to celebrating these milestones with Ponzi wine lovers and friends across the country. Over the next three months, Maria will travel to Florida, Texas, Colorado and Massachusetts sharing forty years of winemaking passion and adoration for the Willamette Valley and its bounty at each stop. We’d like to bring you along for the ride. Follow Maria over the next few months as she shares stories and experiences from her travels.