Operation French Invasion, to the Golden Gate has been a success!

I continue working, in San Francisco. 
'Tis the season! 
The work has been hard, and very detailed. The slightest things can try and derail. 

However, I'm starting to feel that things, will get a little easier. Especially now that my French posse, is here SF.
 We're ALL together again. 
Encore! #lifeofanimporter

Dieselle has arrived. Rufio and she are reunited. The reunion is priceless....

I also really missed my guy. 

 Operation French Invasion, to the Golden Gate.....has been a success! 

The last few days have been about paperwork, pallets of wine, champagne~~ BIG Shipments arriving very soon, from France to California. Going to be all over West Coast Territory.....Nevada, Oregon, next Mexico! 

A busy, busy life, that moves really fast. 

In this business, with all the stress, and even down to precise planning, sometimes things just don't go as planned. Every year, another lesson.....more shizzz to do, more to think about the next year. I Don't take too much personal anymore. I just can't. There's way too much to do and it is a total waste of time. Save the brain space.  ALSO Sometimes no matter how well you can plan a shipment, it will all arrive at the same fucking time. LOL Why?!

The paperwork! 

There is so much paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork. 
The whole tedious situation, and detailed paperwork can make a girl go CRA!. 
And, I ask myself, why am I doing this to my nerves. I also ask, what it is that I want to do?! 

Truthfully, I just want to sell this wine! 
I'd like to Stop, relax and enjoy drinking it somewhere. 
Ohhh If only it were that easy. 

(mega-sigh)
I have to pencil this in.

MEGA Sidenote: 2016 Thanksgiving in Sonoma, reminded me why, I love this work so much! (I penciled in...lol) The last 3 years, I've been in France. This year I spent time, @ my very good friends home in Guerneville, the Russian River Valley, California. My guy and our 2nd dog came to the US a few days later. I had to force myself to relax. This was really nice, and very much needed time. I think at one point I cried in the jacuzzi, because I was so chill. 

Wine and bubbles are a must have in life. 
Why people say it's a bad combo? 
Can't possibly understand why... 
(smiling)

My friend's property is next door to Korbel Sparkling Wine vineyards. They pretty much have this area covered in this part of Guerneville, CA.

We had the BEST steak dinner at Stark's Steak and Seafood Restaurant on THANKSGIVING DAY!

Classic steakhouse offering dry-aged cuts, seafood & whiskeys galore amid dark woods & brick walls. Address: 521 Adams St, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Memorable. I always include the info.....this is a must visit, when fine dining in Santa Rosa!
Again, absolutely memorable.....for me.
One of my top favorite, chill and relaxing Thanksgivings in Northern Cali, America. It's been a while.

The view from my friends, hot tub. This was getting me out of bed in the morning. I work so hard, these are moments I absolutely appreciate and think about, when work consumes my being. LOL

Can I get a HOT TUB?!

Then there is the wine tasting and Sonoma. 

FOR PLEASURE and BLACK FRIDAY!!!

Mauritson Winery.
Their Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah are serious must have for me. This wine is for my personal living and awesome trade with my French winos that have things that I desire. I make it so, they can not resist. I will mention more of these Cali treasures in more to come blogs! 

Sips and tips: Single soil. Single vineyard.@mauritsonwines Great wine and part of the LOAM series which are 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 100% identical clone and rootstock. Limited availability, just 3 barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon produced for each single wine. Loam, Suther, Positas, Clough, because of it's lightness, and sophistication it's a nice introduction to California Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma. Especially for Europeans. Clough soil is gravelly loam found on old terraces of layered quartz &chert w/elevations ranging from 200-1000ft. Farmed and vinted by hand. This is a memorable wine for me and I am dreaming of this collection...  Santé. 🍷 

Eating in the Russian River continues, and another recommendation:

Kinsmoke Barbeque Restaurant

www.kinsmoke.com/

304 Center Street • Healdsburg, CA • (707) 473-8440 • Open Daily

Back to work. Brings me back to the shipment, non-sleeping, and the next few days of craziness. Of course everything comes at the same time! 

What is that Murphy's law?! Here are some of my favorite examples: You get into the shower, and that's when the doorbell rings. You step outside for one minute so your dog pee, and the call you've waited for all day, comes right as my dog is looking for the perfect place to shit....which is up a hill. (eye-rolling lol) 

Oh here's another one, you can be the only person at the beach, and with all that beach,  someone will still sit right next to you....urgh. 

I feel like Murphy's laughing at me, whomever he or she may be.

IN this business it can come on schedule, or just when it comes! I planned two very different shipments. A boat of big pallets, and another one by air....I am still waiting for product. LOL

 So many variables involved. Whether Airfreight, Boat delivery, or a bit of both...ship to the east coast or LA, and truck the rest to warehouse......

There are so many ways to import. Give yourself time, you never know. Generally it takes about 2years to get all the paperwork in order. 

Word to the wise, you'd better have a good source of savings. You just must. 

Also, the 1st import, generally the 1st is said to be the worst. In TRUTH?! It is....the 1st shipment is the fucking worst.

I didn't understand when people said this to me before. Denial makes you hopeful. 

However, I am an importer. 

I will confirm this......

As you continue to grow, you will learn how to play, this game of cards. There are all sorts of players in this game. No one is perfect. People make mistakes. Don't assume, they got it and lower your expectations. Always go back and check... Time is your friend, if you use her carefully, you'll get into the right flow. Almost when you finally speak that foreign language with ease and confidence. Not arrogance, I said confidence. Never a good idea to start being an asshole. Learn from mistakes and pass on the information. 

I learned that knowing your weather, terroir, and the regions that you broker/buy in, will better your seasons of earning... 

It matters what time of year you're sending bottles, delivering, and accepting shipment. 

This is important, when dealing with freight, and where it's heading. 

KNOW THIS~Everyone wants a piece of the pie, before it's even out of the oven. I feel if possible, they'd gnaw on the dough.

Also, know your countries and their holidays that you work and live in. Why?! Because you're probably going to be the only foreigner working, when everyone else is on bloody vacation! 

 I've tried to plan early and correctly. 

Hey, even planning ahead of time, and having all things moving correctly, sometimes things just happen out of your control. You just have to be cool and learn not to promise too much in advance. This way, you're not looking too stupid, when your merchandise is still on a boat. 

What happens when your merchandise gets flown internationally, only to get stuck at a hub, in Cincinnati Ohio?! You're thinking, wtf?! Start to panic, and this was not your destination! 

What are you going to do?! 

Oh and when this happened, to me, they had the nerve to ask me to clear my shipment. You mean the shipment that was sent to California? 

*I had a good friend over the weekend tell me his landlords raised the rent on his bar. Then they tried to bully him into selling them his "liquor license!" Really?! What is wrong with people?! 

NOT hypothetically speaking, people will try to punk you. Hopefully you can you recognize  actual shade, even when they're nice. Sometimes they're actually really nice...

(shaking my head)

.....when they're trying, to get you to clear your merchandise in another state! WHY Not?!? 

Why wouldn't they try to make a little money off the shipment, that you need. Lame, right?! 

It happens. Hey, sometimes people aren't out to get you. But, I learned it's good to know all angles, in this business of sales. When these type of things do come up, I personally think of how'd I'd handle it back in my old, fine dining restaurant days. Or giving my flight attendant crazy smile at 30,000 feet in the air, when someone was trying to push those buttons. 

Just Breathe.    

This is why you get a GOOD Customs Broker, and Lawyer. 

(I like to think of them my awesome big brothers, looking out for me and my stuff at the amusement park.) 

Also having all your COLAs in order, gives you the advantage of being in a position to not take any shit. Stand up for yourself and taking your power. I may be a woman, but if you mess with my money, I can be dangerous. 

What is was the lesson I learned?! 

Have your own people clear your merchandise in your state, for your warehouse. 

Simple. End of story.

Make sure your importers information is correct and up to date....

Make sure the sender has your correct address! 

Sonoma relaxation, my little posse from France here with me, gave me the mojo, to be strong. Keeping it together for what's to come. 
THE SHIPMENT! 
The pallets.

This is what I work 1/2 the year for, and the other 1/2 the year is waiting to receive the shipment. Then wholesale, and filling orders is how you get paid. OKAY...This is the life I love, chose, consistently grow in from all the challenges above and beyond. Staying sharp, but having to remember to schedule in relaxing moments. Reminding myself what's important, and why I'm driven by this passion. 

It's definitely not for everyone. 
 But for me, this is what it is. #lifeofanimporter #womeninwine #workinghard 
Also, goodbye, so long November.
Hello BIG APPROACHING HOLIDAY SEASON.
December in San Francisco! 

WINTER IS COMING....

Staying Humble and Grateful....

I am truly happy the Mr.& mes chiens(pooches) are "beachy" and content.