VineBuzz

Most wineries' visitors centers need to continuously deepen the effectiveness of their engagement with, and delight of customers. The successful cross-functional team always keeps it eyes and ears open toward the aches and the pains that conflict with the customers' readiness to have a beautiful, unforgettable experience. The hospitality staff must persist in their quest to craft perfect moments, the lifelong memories that places them at the top of their customers' mindshare.

One of the very best cases of these precepts works every day at Raymond Vineyards. Each section of the visitor's center is architected to appeal to some specialized niches in the spectrum of needs and preferences, such that the place becomes the most desirable hangout that an ever-growing number of customers can imagine, afford, and attain. Boisset Family Estates CEO Jean-Charles Boisset is among the more masterful in leading his team by example. On August 2, 2012, he shared with me the inspiration for the Frenchie Winery, which has opened the winery tourism experience to the millions of persons who are the loving guardians of dogs. He tells me about how he saw this suffering and found (inside his empathy of the situation) an innovative win-win solution.

As we depart the Frenchie Winery, I leave a note for Marie Antoinette in her boudoir.

Shortly thereafter, Jean-Charles brought me with him as he embraced visitors and took them on his own personal guided tour of the finest rooms in the estate.

In the blending laboratory, ready to design my own Cabernet

Finally, I have a moment to speak with some of the staff hanging around the Crystal Cellar.

Speaking privately with these groups of visitors later, no doubt was left in my mind that I had just been treated to a master class.