Client References

In April 2008, I had the opportunity to do some consulting for a Central Coast winery, Donati Family Vineyard, to help them with Web Marketing and PR. One of the most interesting projects was to create a branded social networking site called WineSpace to improve communication with existing and to attract new customers.

I met Dennis and Julie Grimes from Eagles Nest Winery, located in the Ramona Valley AVA, near San Diego, at the Wine Bloggers Conference in Sonoma last year. We immediately struck up a friendship and I helped them develop their private member only community and their public blog, Wine Tasting San Diego.

Dennis Grimes, Owner/WineMaker at Eagles Nest Winery
“We needed a robust, dynamic, and fun environment for our customers and friends to enjoy and share in the full spectrum of happenings at our winery – includng all the activities that encompass “the wine lifestyle”. “

“We, as a winery, recommend that wineries seeking to implement Web 2.0 technologies including social networking, social media and blogging in particular, contact Cheryl for insight into and services relevant to implementing these technologies to support their winery business.”

Lee Stipp, General Manager at Donati Family Vineyard
“I think blogging is only part of the way a winery should connect with customers and the outside world. I’m proud to say that Donati Family Vineyard was the first winery to actually launch our own community, WineSpace, where not only can we blog, but our community members have their own space to blog, add video, interact with each other and so much more.”

“Nothing will replace the face to face relationship that a winery builds with it’s customers, but when filling in the gaps between visits, WineSpace is a great two-way street for wineries and consumers to bond.”

“Finally, in a shocking move, we even believe that our out of state wholesalers and trade find our WineSpace useful to gather current information on our products that they can share with their customers. This fully integrates our brand building efforts and the cost is minimal.”