December 28, 2023
GOALS! Yes, even us little guys have goals and strive to meet them. Every day turns into every week that turns into every month and then quarter, all adding up to a year long goal.
Our goal is always to produce world class fine wine, wine that is made from family farmers with very little funny business in the cellar. Having made 25,000 cases or so and sold just as much these past ten years, we've reached this goal of making quality wine with our name on it.
2024 is going to bring new and exciting wines!
Financially, as of 11am today, we missed our 2023 goal due to the 3-tier channel combined with our website underperforming. However in total combined sales channels, as of today, we're up 26% from 2022, incredible growth in the most challenging and unprecedented wine economy in our lifetime. Our tasting room visits grew, our local California fine wine accounts grew the most and we welcomed two new 3-tier markets this year, Oklahoma and Illinois.
We talk about business quite a bit. We can't help but envy wealthy wineries who have separation between making wine and running the business. For boutique wineries like Smith Story, every vineyard row matters as it turns into a bottle and a case. Every light we turn on in the morning in the tasting room, every time we fill up our gas tank to check vineyards, we think of how we can maximize or minimize our costs and expenses. Shipping don't even get us started on the cost of shipping wine these days, it's close to highway robbery happening.
It's all quite exhausting really. If it weren't for you enjoying our wines and the winery/cellar full of new wines to nurture we just don't know if all of this would matter. Oh but it does for us to keep growing and exceeding expectations of wine drinkers all over the world.
If you haven't opened a bottle of Smith Story lately or visited us, please do these remaining days of the year. 2024, the new clock starts in less than four days. We are ready, we're shooting for the moon, thanks for being along for the ride. A ride the promises to be delicious.
Happy New Year!
- Ali & Eric