If you do some research online, you’ll find that The Traveling Vineyard declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy in April 2010. It’s no secret.

That’s when I took every penny of my personal savings and made a plan to buy the company. Yes, in the middle of the Great Recession. My wife was skeptical, as you might imagine. “I’ve never seen destiny present itself so clearly in my life,” I told her. “I have to do this. I know I can make it work.”

I tested the idea with a dozen people and it took off. By 2005, Traveling Vineyard had thousands of independent consultants, who work from their home hosting more than 100,000 home tasting events a year in 26 states. After decades in various sales, marketing and management positions, I had finally fallen in love with a business.

Just when the Traveling Vineyard model had built momentum, a leadership change in the parent company triggered some strategic decisions with which I disagreed, particularly a decision to make changes to the programs we created that supported the self-employed Independent wine consultants. Our consultants form the heart and soul of the business model. How could I be expected to tell these wine enthusiasts about program impacts to them that I completely disagreed with?

That’s when I left Traveling Vineyard and spent five years doing other things – until I heard about the bankruptcy filing. I persuaded my wife, presented my case to dozens of friends and investors, emptied my savings accounts (yes, all of them) and made a run at it. I knew that if our independent wine consultants received the support they needed to be successful, the company would get back on its feet.

By November 2010, the Traveling Vineyard was back in business. Today, we’re proud to have more than 450 happy and satisfied Independent Consultants in 28 states who love their home based business.

So, that’s why the words “bankruptcy” and Traveling Vineyard will show up together in any online search.

I have no regrets. In fact, if I hadn’t seized this opportunity, it would have been a regret that haunted me for the rest of my life. The Traveling Vineyard has always been an entrepreneurial idea that relies on an entrepreneurial spirit to spread the love of wine tasting one tasting event at a time and a business that helps our Independent Consultants one important commission check three times a month.

It works. We’re happily proving that every day.

And the story of this rookie from Albany, New York just keeps getting better.

“It’s exciting to have hit it out of the park on the first time up at bat,” says Jeremy Sherman modestly. “I really never saw myself in a sales capacity. I never thought I could do it.”

Jeremy’s story is not only confirmation that positive energy brings about positive results. It’s also testimony to the Traveling Vineyard statistic that for every event you conduct, two guests will want to book a future Traveling Vineyard event!

The Traveling Vineyard’s Home based business opportunity is the real deal, for a nominal upfront investment in owning your own direct sales business for $174 with the potential to earn a $99 rebate in your first 60 days attracted folks just like Jeremy. If you are a stay at home mom or a wine enthusiast of any type, do yourself a favor and check out what Jeremy checked out. We’d love to have you come and stomp some grapes with us!

The Traveling Vineyard: How did you hear about the Traveling Vineyard?

Jeremy: It was in a text from my sister that I first learned about the Traveling Vineyard. She went to a wine tasting event in late October and introduced me to the concept. She asked me if I’d like to host an event. I have a new apartment, I love to entertain, and I love wine. So, I booked a party for November.

Heather West, Two Star Leader and my sponsor, conducted the event. We had lots of food and a good crowd in my apartment. As I listened to Heather’s presentation, I knew that this was right up my alley. I was looking for part-time work. I work in higher education and I thought, “How do I get involved in this business?”

I signed on with Heather and she has been a great mentor! It was somewhat “baptism by fire” for my first event. At the beginning of December, a host who booked a wine tasting through another company called the TTV home office because the other company cancelled her event. She was looking for another company to conduct a wine tasting for her. Corporate contacted Heather who in turn contacted me because she couldn’t accommodate the host. I didn’t know a single person in the room, but the event was a huge success!

The Traveling Vineyard: What inspired you out of the gate?

Jeremy: In November, my goal was to have two qualified events in 60 days, to meet the $1,500 threshold to earn the supply credit, and to hit $3,000 to get the two tasting set bonuses. These were the guidelines of the consultant incentive program. I was up for the challenge.
Then, in January I ramped things up and worked hard to get events. I believe in the product and I’m eager. So it was a domino effect. I had two tastings in December and two guests booked off of the first one. Then, additional guests books off of those events. (Editor’s Note: This is proof that it truly works - just as Rick Libby explains in his video! (Check it out on the web site)

By networking more with friends and family, I now have seven events coming up - if the weather holds out. I’m really anticipating more events with the outdoor entertaining that comes in warmer weather.

The Traveling Vineyard: Do you have any direct sales experience?

Jeremy: I have no direct sales experience. I’ve never been a fan of sales because I always envisioned a used car salesman. But I have more confidence in this product. Our Wine Director hits a home run with the wines every time. I’ve already bought a case of wine for myself. I used to shop at larger grocery/wine stores, but there’s no comparison. I haven’t gone to a wine store since joining TTV!

The Traveling Vineyard: What’s your approach when you conduct an event?

Jeremy: I like to experiment with wines. I think it’s exciting. I’m willing to try anything once – so I’ve sampled many different varietals. I enjoy comparing the flavors that come from different aging techniques and when wines are produced differently. I also like to understand what contributes to the flavors you’re getting in the wine – when it was harvested, the climate, the soil, etc. I don’t want guests to be intimidated. I’ve found that if I show enthusiasm for this when I pour the wines, people walk away feeling like they’ve learned something. I’m not a wine snob. I don’t need to know everything, but I like to share interesting factoids.
Wine has been a part of various cultures for centuries – in many different levels of society, in religious practices, at times of celebration and with various cuisines. I want to incorporate that attitude – that it’s part of life. I’m a foodie and wine is an affordable part of that lifestyle.
I look at wine like an art form. When you look at a painting you analyze it and appreciate the colors, patterns, brush strokes, etc. It’s no different with wine. There’s a lot that goes into each vintage.

The Traveling Vineyard: What are your favorite TTV wines at the moment?

Jeremy: That’s tough to say. Right now my favorite white is the 2009 Kuri, Limari Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Chile (CHI127) $14.99 and I have three favorite reds, the 2010 Bailando, Famatina Valley Bondarda, Argentina (ARG040) $14.99 the 2008 Bailando, Mendoza Malbec, Argentina (ARG036) $14.99 and the 2006 Tria, Pinot Noir, California (CAL908) $24.99.

You don’t have to be a Traveling Vineyard wine enthusiast to enjoy this sweet summer sparkler.

Sweetness refers to the level of residual sugar in a wine after fermentation which is demonstrated with the following formula:

Sugar + Yeast => Alcohol + CO2

Sweetness is one of the major components of a wine’s taste including:
Fruit - the distinct flavor delivered by the type of grape fermented
Alcohol - defined as a percentage by volume and a function of the sugar that has been converted to alcohol during fermentation
Acidity - which refers to the tart “bite” or pleasant sour taste of a wine.
The word “balance” is used in reference to the relationship between acidity and sweetness.

Sweet Sensations

The sweet nature of a wine can come from a variety of factors:

• The grapes used - Certain grapes lend themselves to being produced as dessert wines. The Finger Lakes region of New York state produces many dessert wines using indigenous grapes – not your popular traditional vitis vinifera grapes (i.e. Chardonnay, Merlot, etc.) The popular sweet kosher wine, Manischewicz, is produced using the Concord grape which grows in abundance in this area.
• When the grapes were picked - “Late harvest” dessert wines are produced with grapes left to ripen on the vine after the typical harvest time. This increased hang time gives them a greater percentage of sugar. These vines are often infected with a beneficial mold called botrytis cinerea or “noble rot”. The mold causes the grape skin to break and the water inside to evaporate concentrating the sugars inside. Ice wine similarly is produced during a late harvest when the grapes stay on the vine until the cold freezes the water inside the grape concentrating the remaining flavors.
• How the grapes were vinified - With fortified wine for instance, clear brandy (neutral grape spirits) is added to stop the fermentation and preserve the natural grape sugar. This is the method used in making Port wine.

In the 2010 Tanglerose, Sweet American Rosé, we’ve brought together three upstate New York varietals and three traditional varietals. The result? An easy-drinking wine that capitalizes on the natural residual grape sweetness of the white Niagara grape, the red Catawba grape, and the red Concord grape – all native to Hammondsport, New York. These grapes were then blended with three traditional vitis vinifera grapes, Pinot Grigio for its fresh character, Chardonnay to give the blend some substance, and Riesling known as the grape of the Finger Lakes area. The word “sweet” appears in the title because of the type of grapes used in its production. It’s a fun and fruity wine similar in style to a White Zinfandel.

Pale pink salmon in color, this blush wine is not considered solely a dessert wine. Like most rosé wines, it’s quite versatile and can be paired with either savory or sweet dishes. It combines crisp refreshment with magnificent bright fruit flavors of fresh red berries, watermelon and nectarine. This makes it a great match with dishes that make use of chocolate and berries as well as savory dishes that call for a sweeter, lighter companion like fish.

We worked closely with the oldest bonded winery in the US, Pleasant Valley Wine Company (better known as Great Western of sparkling wine fame) to bring this wine to you straight from the southern tip of Keuka Lake in New York’s world class Finger Lakes AVA.

To find out more about our newest addition send us a request to host your very own free home wine tasting.

Cheers!

The Traveling Viineyard Grape Stompers!

We figure that the incentive trips we run every year for our top achievers is not only a great way to reward them, it’s really a great way to make believers out of their spouses or significant others (see what they have to say here). How many times have we heard from the spouses that the highlight of their year is getting to travel with their achieving spouse on an all expense paid trip to an exotic destination.

Well, we certainly know how to pick our incentive trip destinations. We are a three tool player….our destinations are always top rated by trip advisor or some other renowned travel authority, the hotels are always first class, and the food is top notch. Our consultants are world class so why would we choose anything less? We just can’t seem to miss on our picks.

Here’s a rundown on our first two years choices.

le blanc resort, Cancun, Mexico - Trip Advisor Travelers Choice 2012 Winner. Heck, we didn’t even know it would be the 2012 winner. We picked it because we know what our team likes. They like style, they like being catered to, and they like fun. This place had it all!

Nestled in a secluded enclave between Nichupte Lagoon and the glistening Caribbean Sea in Cancun, Mexico, this resort was extraordinary. We knew when we arrived that luxury had reached its pinnacle and the service was warm, genuine and sensational. At Le Blanc we embraced the exhilarating freedom of doing whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted, in a tropical paradise from our most vivid dreams. It didn’t hurt that it was ALL INCLUSIVE and we could eat and drink whatever we wanted! I loved this place and so did our top earning wine enthusiasts!

This year we are really excited about our upcoming trip to Hanua Kai Resort & Spa on Kaanapali Beach in Maui, Hawaii. Once again, we picked a winner! Honua Kai is the top rated resort on Kaanapali Beach. We are sure this one will be a future award winner! They all are after we stay there.

Here’s a fresh post from the Tripadvisor web site…all the reviews are of this caliber.

“Five star experience. Top quality location, beach, staff, facility, condo unit. We stayed in a roomy, 1900 sq. ft. full kitchen, 3 BR, 3 Bath, 8 adults, plenty of room, privacy, etc. Consistent high quality, responsive service, check-in, valet, housekeeping, etc. Beach is great, frequently saw whales from balcony. Quick trip to town, north beach, airport. Grocery store right across highway, walk-able. We will definitely stay here again and recommend to friends.”

We can’t wait to go in January of 2013 with all our top performing Independent Wine Consultants from the company!

Bringing the romance of vineyard tasting rooms to consumers in the comfort of their own home has been the Traveling Vineyards pillar for over a decade. At a Traveling Vineyard tasting, everyday consumers and wine enthusiasts are encouraged to “taste” wine and let their own palates decide what is right or wrong for them. However, a recent article found consumers are “taste blind” to many of the subtleties of wine in a recent University study. The findings indicate that expert recommendations in wine magazines may be too subtle for average wine drinkers to experience.

“What we found is that the fundamental taste ability of an expert is different,” said John Hayes, assistant professor at Penn State’s sensory evaluation center. “And, if an expert’s ability to taste is different from the rest of us, should we be listening to their recommendations?”

The Traveling Vineyard free home wine tasting has found over many years that the expert subtleties are indeed hard for the average consumer to identify. Rick Libby, of The Traveling Vineyard notes, “The average consumer palate decision is influenced with a simple pairing of sweet or sour. We’ve found over the years that if consumers are not tasting wine, then most are purchasing based on recommendations, price points and label artwork. Letting their palate make the decision is the best way for a consumer to be completely satisfied with their purchase.”

Will Parker wrote a blog that outlined the recent study.

Wine critics typically rate wines on a 100-point quality scale that incorporates a range of characteristics, including tartness, sweetness and fruitiness, varietal typicity and overall liking, among others. Their descriptions of the wines can be specific, highlighting grapefruit or grassy notes, or the balance of sugar and acid.

However, according to Hayes, average wine consumers probably cannot discern these subtle differences between wines. While prior experience matters, biology seems to play a role. “Statistically, the two groups were very different in how they tasted our bitter probe compound. Just like people can be color blind, they can also be taste blind,” said Hayes. “It’s not just learning, experts also appear to differ at a biological level.”

The research involved two groups. The first made up of professional winemakers, wine writers and wine judges and the second being wine consumers, or non-experts.

The participants in the study sampled an odorless chemical (propylthiouracil) that is used to measure a person’s reaction to bitter tastes. People with acute tasting ability will find the chemical extremely bitter, while people with normal tasting abilities say it has a slightly bitter taste, or is tasteless. The findings, in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, show that wine experts were significantly more likely to find the chemical more bitter than non-experts.

One of the most successful wine accessories we have ever presented at our unique in home wine tasting is the wine aerator. At the end of 2011 we decided to discontinue the product for a number of reasons. One, it was being shipped separately from our corporate headquarters office and the shipping expense made the economics less than favorable. Two, the size of the packing material of the aerator did not allow it to fit into a wine case shipment.

WOW, were we wrong in discontinuing this item. I have great news! It is coming back by March, 2012. We have now fixed all of those issues mentioned earlier.

Every month we survey our event guests and hosts. Over the past few surveys we have had so many people tell us that they were disappointed that the event they just attended did not provide them with the opportunity to buy a wine aerator.

Starting in March, 2012 this great product will be back. What does it do you ask? Well, for the uninitiated…..the wine aerator takes the two hour breathing time of a red bottle of wine down to seconds with the pour of the wine. I’ve been using this for over a year and the difference is remarkable. It really smooths out the wine like a good decanter would do. The aerator draws in and mixes just the right amount of air, allowing your Traveling Vineyard wine to breathe immediately. Your glass of Traveling Vineyard wine will have a better bouquet, enhanced flavors and a smoother finish, right away instead of waiting for it to breathe and gives you all the taste without the wait.

The Clever and Very Popular Traveling Vineyard Wine Aerator

This clever accessory item is a must have for any wine lover for $29.95. Should you host your very own Traveling Vineyard event or attend as a guest you will be able to purchase this item for $9.00 with a Traveling Vineyard wine purchase - a great value. You can organize your very own home wine tasting here or you can email support@travelingvineyard.com to be put in touch with one of our wonderful independent consultants.

Our Independent Wine Consultants would all agree that our home based business is very popular. If you are seeking a part time, medium time or full time career, The Traveling Vineyard can provide an interesting way to make extra money, feel more fulfilled, have some fun, create a felxible schedule around your terms and meet new friends. This opportunity is ideal for moms who have other priorities or professionals looking to augment their income.

Feel free to visit us or call or write us for more information.

Cheers

Rick Libby

Chief Grape Stomper and Head Cheerleader

We’re sure you’ll like the price/value ratio of Traveling Vineyard wines. We were the first company confident enough in our selection process to offer the entire inventory “in a try before you buy” format via our in home wine tasting education program – The Traveling Vineyard. True, some wines are cheaper, some wines are occasionally better, but we always deliver optimum quality for your wine dollar. With TTV you don’t pay for the scads of overhead and advertising built into the cost of every general market wine. Before our wines are finished to be bottled they’ve been blind tasted against similar types in the same price ranges, and always prove to be among the best. We earn the “non-in-house” awards and reviews to prove it, too.

To further back our claims, in recent years a certain segment of the general market keyed towards the “smarter buyer” has emerged - the 3 Thieves line, the Cameron Hughes wines and the like – whose whole spiel re: their approach is essentially what we’ve done for years. We work with the vintners and winemakers in each region of production. We do not buy from wholesalers and importers.

The easiest task for us is to find, buy, then bottle an existing wine for ourselves. Recent Chilean example 09 Kuri, Sauvignon Blanc, pushed all Sauvignons from not only Chile, but the US (including Lake County and the Napa Valley), Argentina, Uruguay, France (the Loire Valley, Bordeaux and the Midi), Northern Italy, the Eastern Bloc and South Africa right off of the blind tastings tables for value for your wine dollar.

The 08 Scotto, Chardonnay Marsanne is an example of us tweaking an existing wine. In our exclusive-to-TTV blend, we eliminated the Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc from Scotto’s general market bottling, which allows the varietals on the label to sing more. Not only did we arrive at a unique-to-us wine, our wine is a more faithful expression of the blend’s components, is prettier, and, on a practical note, shows better in our unique in-home tastings.

If we can’t find an existing wine or tweak a bottle blend for the better, we assemble the wine ourselves. This is our most difficult problem, requiring not just copious tasting notes, but enlisting a commitment from the producing vintner and winemaker to build a wine for us with the best possible price/value ratio. We only work with wineries that pride themselves in over-delivering. Tanglerose, Backyard Red is a prime example. We coined the term “Backyard Red” years ago, when working on red field blends, knowing that each new field blend bottled would be comprised of different components. We wanted a proprietary wine (not label) name that would allow for perpetually changing blend elements that was easy-to-remember, connoting accessibility without elitism. The current Backyard Red started out to be a Sangiovese, aiming for that good Chianti with spaghetti and meatballs comfort food vibe, but we had so many small amounts of undervalued components to work with to potentially make the wine better – here the “spice rack” was huge- that there’s Primitivo, Barbera and Merlot in the blend. Since there were multiple vintages of some of these components, we used what we felt were the best ones in each case, yielding a non-vintage wine because it cannot be labeled with multiple vintages.

What other US wine sellers blind taste literally everything available before they choose their offerings, tweak already-existing wines for the better, or totally make the wines themselves if necessary? Then, offer you a chance to sample the wines free at a tasting, essentially bringing the tasting room to you?

Only the one and only original in home wine tasting company The Traveling Vineyard, that’s who!

Cheers – Rick

The Chief Grape Stomper at The Traveling Vineyard