Bill Turrentine, Chairman of the Board at Turrentine Brokerage, was spotlighted in a recent article posted on Wines & Vines.   

“The United States is “by far the most lucrative wine market in the world,” according to Bill Turrentine, and that’s both a blessing and a curse. Turrentine, chairman of the board for Turrentine Brokerage, was one of three industry experts to speak Thursday at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium about the role of the U.S. in the global marketplace.” CLICK ON THE LINK TO READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE…WINES & VINES

Bill Turrentine presenting at Unified 2011! The presentation is at the general session on Thursday. Together with Economist Dan Sumner and Jeff O’Neill, owner of O’Neill Wineries and Distilleries and Bill will be discussing the global character of the wine business. His part of the presentation will look at the different effects of globalization on different price points and in different markets. It will also discuss the effect of the status of the US as the most lucrative wine market in the world on the global strategies of California wineries.

The Turrentine Brokerage team will be present at booth 1310 of the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium, Wednesday and Thursday January 26th and 27th.  Come by to get an update on the dynamic market for California bulk wine and grapes. Janko Pelagic of CIVS, our strategic alliance partner from Europe, will also be attending and would love to talk over the opportunities for French, Italian and Spanish wines in bulk or bottle.

What?  I thought I did a good job!  I performed by meeting your expectations (perhaps exceeding them, given the market) and placed your grapes, in a down market, on a multi-year contract with a good price.  And now that the market has picked up, you don’t need our services?  In essence, what you’re saying is, “You’re Fired!”

Placing grapes in a suffering market with a good buyer in a multi-year contract was not an easy task.  We used our resources, time and reputation to place your grapes.  So, in an up market, strategic information, multi-year contracts, appropriate buyers and other creative elements are no longer important?

I have been scratching my head the past two months in an attempt to figure out why someone would terminate a service that has proved beneficial.  Trying NOT to take it personally, I sought answers with a current client and his response was “it’s  not who you are, but what you do.”  Feeling better temporarily, I was still confused.

I am proud to be a Broker with a focus on long-term success for our clients.  The information we have available to us is HUGE:  Supply and demand of grapes and bulk wine, domestic and global bulk and grape inventories, planting contracts, winery prospects, local, state and global markets.  Not to mention the team we have that is packed with experience and talent who are respected throughout the industry.  And, we are a pretty fun group too!  But the more I think of this, the more grey hair pops up and the interval on hair coloring tightens and the Vodka consumption increases.  Just when I can do the most for their long-term success they want to fire me!

But what I do know is there are those loyal clients, who value our service, in the down market and even more so in the up market.  They understand that we can do more for them in a market with more options. These are folks GROWING their business.  These clients rely on our services and have proven to be  successful with our help and expertise.  So, as their business grows, ours does as well.

The 80/20 Rule applies in this industry:  20% make up 80% of the business.  This is an elite group, a group that knows how to survive down markets and make the best of improving markets.

The answer I’ve found while evaluating all the events in the past few months:  focus on those who value who we are and what we can do for them, especially in a thriving market. Let it happen and it will grow naturally.

You’re RE-HIRED – and the opportunities are looking good

Erica Moyer
Grape Broker/Partner