PS : I do believe it ’ s a holistic approach to the industry that ’ s really important and it ’ s what makes us sleep well at night : we can grow the grapes , we can make the wine , we can go out there and sell it , and actually bring the money back and re-invest it in our business . We are totally self-sustaining . If you came to our Cellar Door , on any day , one of the winemaking team will be there as well .
MM : Really ?
PS : And people are blown away . They ’ ll come in on a Sunday and be chatting away with a guy and say “ What do you do here ?” And he ’ ll say , “ Oh , I ’ m the head winemaker ” or “ I ’ m the owner .” They can ’ t believe it ! But if the head winemaker can ’ t actually sell a bottle of wine to someone , and talk to them at their level , then he ’ s not really a winemaker ; that ’ s a technician . The place is noisy , cluttery , clamoury , stuff going on all the time , but it ’ s full of kids and grandmas and blokey blokes who drink beer — they ’ re not even drinking wine — and then , of course there ’ s a whole lot of wine people here as well .
We try really hard not to force our wine or our wine culture down the community ’ s throat . We ’ re just really glad they came to see us . We don ’ t have rules about trying wine and you don ’ t have to buy things — hopefully they just remember our name , so that when they are picking up a bottle of wine for a dinner party , they don ’ t just go to Jacob ’ s Creek .
MM : Does this go back to your holistic approach — being part of the community ?
PS : Yes . One night a week , we have what we call a “ 3-Double-7-Anything ” night because the postal code out in this part of the world starts with 377- , so if they can prove to us that they have a local postal code , they get 30 % off everything they eat and drink . It works ! They love it .
MM : That would go over well in my town . Everybody loves a deal in Winnipeg ! Listen Phil , thanks so much for your time . I look forward to getting the new vintages of Innocent Bystander and Giant Steps .
Banville & Jones is the exclusive retailer of Innocent Bystander and Giant Steps wines in Winnipeg . Watch for new vintages from the Sexton Vineyard arriving in the fall . �
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