One of the most fundamental exchanges that takes place in the wine business is the purchase and sale of grapes at harvest. For many wine regions around the world this is a vertically integrated and managed resource. This is not so, in Washington. By and large the industry is not vertically integrated yet and shows some indication of heading more in that direction as land values, water scarcity, and labor rates increase. (Not considering huge conglomerates controlling the lion share but, by numbers of wineries and their industry needs)
Creating Time in the Vineyard... Proactive vs. Reactive Farming
I can't speak for everyone, but wouldn't it feel great to be on top of everything in the vineyard and feel like you are ahead of the game for once? In the moment, you'll likely never feel this relaxed. Even if you are on top of things, there will be times when you think you are behind. Aside from those realities, I want to discuss some ways to create time in your business and to assess whether you are really ahead of the game or behind the 8-ball. I'll end the discussion by summarizing three tools I use in getting the work done on time each season for the least cost.