Q: How is your service different from traditional winemaking consultation?

A: Traditionally a winemaking consultant is hired to dictate production decisions. The Core Enology model instead focuses on helping individual wineries standardize their unique approach to winemaking. I help wineries create a production environment where product quality is raised and costly production errors are reduced.

Q: Will standardizing my production process take the "art" out of winemaking?

A: No. Winemaking will always be an intrinsically dynamic pursuit. Production process standardization simply aims to pin down the parts of the process that don't need to be moving targets. This allows the winemaking team to focus attention on the truly challenging aspects of their craft.

Q: Are the production process plans "written in stone"?

A: No. The Quality Assurance framework we'll create will allow you to systematically assess and integrate improvements to your winemaking production process. 

Q: Like most wineries, we've had a number of employees come and go over the years. Will the Core Enology system help reduce the impact of personnel changes?

A: Yes. When you standardize your production process you're creating a framework that helps communicate expectations to new members of your winemaking team. It also fosters an atmosphere where the winemaking philosophy is winery-based as opposed to winemaker-based.

Q: Do you provide analytical services?

A: No. One of the critical first steps in working with a new client is to assess the winery's in-house analytical capabilities and to review Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures. Wineries vary greatly in their in-house capabilities, comfort level in the lab, and budgets allocated for analysis. I work directly with each client to find the right balance between in-house analysis and independent analytical services like ETS Laboratories.

Q: Why don't you publish the list of wineries you consult for?

A: The relationship I have with my consulting clients is confidential, even to the extent of not publishing a client list. This allows us to have open and honest discussions about the details of the winemaking production process.

Q: If I become a client, do I have to use the products that are represented by Core Enology?

A: No. You have complete control over the production process, including deciding which winemaking products you utilize. My consulting clients are entitled to certain discounts from vendors I represent but there is absolutely no requirement that clients use those products.

Q: I'm interested... what's the next step?

A: Contact me.  We'll arrange a time to get together so you can tell me more about your quality assurance objectives and I can describe how my services can be implemented to help you meet those objectives. I'll then create a written Service Plan Proposal tailored to the specific quality assurance needs of your winery.