Between the Vines So, what have you learned?
Operating a small winery is risky, whether starting new or acquiring an existing business.
By Susan McIver I
n keeping with the adage “experience is the best teacher”, the owners of four small
Okanagan Valley wineries agreed to share their experiences during the first few years of business, comment on what they would do differently, and give tips to anyone contemplating joining their ranks.
“Don’t think you can do it all yourself,” said Paul Graydon, who with his wife, Jayne, owns Saxon Estate Winery in Summerland. In 2011, the Graydons purchased Hollywood and Wine, formerly owned by the Massey family, and renamed the business in honour of their Anglo- Saxon heritage.
Originally from England and with extensive backgrounds in sales and marketing, the couple arrived in
SUSAN MCIVER
Jayne and Paul Graydon in the tasting room of their Saxon Estate Winery.
Calgary in 2003 and Paul established the North American sales presence for Emtex Software, which later was bought out by Pitney Bowes. Eventually they wanted to do something entirely different so the couple started a business to import wines from major wine producing areas. This led them to the Okanagan and their decision to buy a winery. They quickly followed the advice of consultant Gary Strachan to do what they were good at and enjoyed. “Danny makes the wine. We sell it,” Paul said.
“Neither one of us likes paperwork so we’ve hired a bookkeeper and an administrator,” Jayne said. Mike and Gillian Stohler own Summer Gate Winery, which opened in 2010.
SUSAN MCIVER
Gillian and Mike Stohler, owners of Summer Gate Winery in Summerland, keep tanks outside so nature can cool them.
Mike works full-time as a realtor and together he and Gillian are raising their five children, who range in age from seven months to 12 years. “We’ve built a community to cope
British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2013-14 21
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