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Wine's Promise

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    Steve McPherson left his job at Disney to become a winemaker

  • Duration 11:06
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Hi have you Wednesday it's Wednesday that means we gotta talk limelight -- -- Wednesday that love this is my favorite part of -- whole week.

We have is awesome guest with us today I love hearing stories about -- evil father -- and make an attempt to make money at it as well.

Steve McPherson is with a -- now president of ABC entertainment he's done shows like lost Desperate Housewives Ugly Betty.

And -- the guys like Allen and vineyard and digging dirt.

-- -- green snaking line Steve thanks so much review -- that my pleasure to experiment okay so you -- -- -- media guy he.

As I mentioned even Grey's Anatomy Dancing With The Stars you you're the brains behind all these phenomenal shows how does a guy like you end up in a vineyard.

Well I you know I grew up in France and I my father was ambassador spoke terrorists and he studied Enders Stephen Spurrier that are you know and -- the academy -- which is the famous.

French tasting where they tasted verses California wines in California one in 76 and -- you know it took me -- -- -- field trips then and got me kind of interest did back then and then when I moved to California.

25 years ago I started coming up to now and collecting when I got a little money and really it's always been a passion of mine and and something that.

I wanted to pursue.

But like a lot of type a personalities that kind of 25 years head down on now Wall Street first and then in the entertainment business then.

It was really I credit my wife when we got married about halfway through my stint at Disney she really told me.

You know it.

It's such a cut throat business -- need some balance in your life you need to pursue the passions and your life and the subtext -- that was really -- the pursuit of wine and and so that's that's how we got started we -- our first vintage in 2004 when we got married and and it's it's been an amazing journey since then.

And you go all the won the promise which and I love this story.

And it's a -- is let's say everyone can read it.

And -- -- -- promise wine dot com if I'm not mistaken.

Correct date that you made this promise your -- that you're gonna follow your dream but interesting that you've gone from one cutthroat business too well another I mean.

It seems to me like everyone's got a wine these days stray I at you know Greg Norman got a wine -- you know it's amazing.

How do you mean -- not you differentiating yourself here.

Well you know that the two businesses are very very different I think you know -- there's been this story quick story -- -- so is you know I've I've probably going to fifty to a hundred.

Wineries out here and sent a letter -- email even knocked on doors of why don't want to try and to a person.

I've always been welcome Dan and yet people love what they do in Napa.

And I think you know there's very few people who are you know grinding it out stuck in the wine business and I.

You know I used to laugh.

When I was at ABC you know somebody came to the front desk and and said hey I'm really -- Desperate Housewives we wouldn't have been like oh great let's go have lunch with the ladies you know we would have called security and it's just it's it's a very different.

Environment I think you know people are passionate about what they do.

It you know it is farming first and foremost and it really is that kind of you know.

-- farm to table mentality and so.

It really actually has been a great balance for me -- and kind of balances out that other perspective that sometimes you lose.

When you're you know when you're in those 24/7 anxiety ridden job.

And he's into it I had a venture capitalist time and that has done something similar to you and he said.

Know whenever -- comes to work and said I got -- often spreads need to show you.

But yet and meet -- maker if they want and what you got the line and share their creation.

-- -- -- Up with the president of former president -- -- refrain and you sit together and decide you're gonna do this.

I -- -- why why go all the way out there.

Well we really you know rich as a wonderful been here facsimile vineyards -- -- and tell us toga.

And she had a lot of a lot of different for I don't he has a -- at -- -- he has.

You know Chardonnay and -- incentive daisy and -- on -- drive.

He kind of had all the different.

Kinda bottling that.

He needed at -- very you know the retail price point and so when I -- them.

We really wanted to do something special week you know do all new French -- know we chose a very special piece of land.

Which is hard luck on -- you know what you really -- first wrote.

Kind of property and -- But a little I don't know what that -- -- But yeah.

I don't know what is that you none -- that that's a cat isn't that boat at about that.

It's but you know -- -- is very special piece of property and we will make 200 cases a year and so between me you know limited yields then they'd really expensive -- making.

Found it it was really a labor of love and sudden that we so.

-- into its portfolio and obviously you know for me was a passion project.

So this is the two -- six promise we're talking about right and -- -- but not mistaken Robb report and it's a -- -- doesn't can guide put it on the list.

As you said there's only 220236.

Pieces produce a lot of people how is it out there I mean it's unseen on retail stores.

Yeah we we allocated to about thirty restaurants in -- new York and and London now and then.

You can go to -- one dot com and get on the allocation list and we really tried it started out too many people as we can because it's.

You know sharing it is what it's all about I mean that's.

That's what are accolades are it was great that.

That Robert Parker spoke so highly doubt that they have is that -- is that process is.

New guy let's look -- as well and we're about to release -- 2008.

But we don't be jealous picked because again it also helped out -- -- but I'd encourage anyone who wants to try to go to promise like that comment.

Check it out let me ask -- -- I'm sure there's a lot of other people in your situation.

Doing the grind every day I mean I'm here in Manhattan and you know that in LA you name it we we -- we do -- work.

We -- of people or what can you advise people who want to go out and do this because.

Macon lion takes time to so how do you -- both jobs basically.

Actually you -- I really encourage people to pursue -- -- I -- my father always says you don't find out what you love and and figure out how to make money at a news the realist but.

I I think we often get so.

Myopic about what we're doing and overly anxious send and just involved -- I really urge people that have balance in their lives you know that two small children and you know I look at them growing up in it it's just a faster world that's a really encourage them to pursue all the things they love -- I think having.

Other pursuits.

And it.

In addition -- primary job there's a really positive saying it is actually very helpful people think -- I would have enough time.

It's energizing.

Men and so -- so it's been -- light -- And it gives you perspective I think to.

I know I got to -- quickly ask you about this whole whiskey foray to -- insurance when sends back.

PM GMT chatted it has been a great.

Project you know light that was of that three years ago I -- Went to school at Cornell and upstate New York we should drink grain alcohol that Simon.

I really saw what was going on and in these spirits business you know our social spirits and kind of -- spirits are really on the rise because I think.

As much interest -- people out and lines and really in discerning about where they're from and how they're made in the different bridal.

You know a lot of people with Procter and and -- you know it was just you know drink the bottom shall stop -- And the accidents -- and I think you're seeing this sort cocktail culture has really been on the rise so.

When we would just sent out and make moonshine we found this you know this is a talented down Oprah religion as a third generation distill -- First generation legal.

And making clear corn whiskey and that category is on fire right now you know people.

Called moonshine hard work on -- -- park like whiskey.

On this -- different kind of -- for it but.

The category itself is sure to stay and and that it well big time.

The way -- It with platinum which -- and so miraculous which are under age and people.

People accepting them like mixing them more.

So you know militia and you know art is still out lynch signed the original -- -- and you know again we make -- in Culpepper Virginia it's distributed.

Around the country and it's been an incredibly fun venture.

Before I let you go I have to ask how your business background has played in today's game you know I know there's a lot of wind people that are.

Very almost artistic and creative about wine and don't have the business side and that could be why a lot of -- still make it.

How do you feel that having such solid 25 years experience -- washing in LA has has helped you here.

Well you know it's probably could be a little look at the white business and -- -- -- it's a very difficult thing.

-- and that's that's one of the reasons that we keep our our production so small and really.

They could have boutique effort I think I have friends who say we're just gonna make a little while we're gonna make 5000 cases that's.

You know if you run.

A spreadsheet on 5000 cases of line.

It's actually a lot of -- in Europe itself.

And that the market is so full -- now you know you go into -- Trader Joe's or any supermarket now and there.

I don't -- -- with wind and so you know if you've really helped me to look and say.

In my opinion there are two places to -- in wonders -- the very small boutique high end one business.

Or in the giant kind of conglomerate -- business and obviously I'm not going to be in the -- so.

For me you're keeping that project small.

Annan has really been by design and and I guess you know -- it if that is not because -- -- business -- then you know up credit.

Well and you kept your promise and that's -- Levy story so much Steve McPherson.

President ABC entertainment as well as.

Why maker -- baton web sites up right now check it out promise wine dot com.

Steve thanks so much for taking the time to be with us and I guess I should think your way from pushing you phobia.

Now she's she's an amazing woman I think there every day so thank you so much -- -- and I really appreciate.

Sir affect thanks so much and again everybody check -- the website promise wine dot com.

And go pursue your dreams I love that's -- since then hold point at the end of the day right he -- noted you know not agree with your money and know that much.

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