Tradeshowgate 2014. What really happened at the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago?

A lot has been said about me the last few days and I’ve gotten support and criticism from people all over the country.  It’s hard to know what really happened from just a snippet of a story in the newspaper, so I thought I’d share the details with all of you here.

I certainly didn’t go to the convention with the intent to cause any kind of trouble and anyone that knows me would definitely confirm that.  I’m far from a troublemaker!  I did go to the convention to attend the once-yearly educational sessions and check out the tradeshow, which is really valuable to our business.  

Here’s how it all went down.  Believe me, this is far less dramatic than you’re probably imagining.  The aftermath for everyone else to debate was a much bigger deal, it seems!

I attended last year with my parents (and no kids, since my two older children stayed home with my husband) and the entire weekend was incredibly valuable.  We learned about trends in the wine industry, what consumers were currently looking for and how to improve our business over the next year.  We also made some really valuable connections that could not have been made without attending the show, including meeting wine buyers for national restaurant chains.  We loved the conference and were excited that we had made the decision to attend.

This year, we planned to go to the annual show for months in advance and were very excited about attending and being a part of the International Wine, Spirits and Beer show.  This was a really big deal for us!  I had worked with show coordinators for several months beforehand and then created all of the marketing materials we would bring.  I also talked to media contacts that would be attending to be sure we could meet up with them there.  Because my baby was due right around then, we decided to play it by ear and see how I was feeling.  My husband and my mom would attend regardless, but we’d wait to see how things were going with the new baby.  

The group was planning to leave early Saturday morning and on Friday evening, I decided I would attend too.  I was feeling great, my baby was thriving and everything was good.  In fact, I was excited that I would actually get a few days of rest while there (anyone with older children knows what I’m talking about)!  We packed up and headed out early the next morning.

After arriving in Chicago, we headed to the show.  I put my 10 day old baby in a moby wrap (a baby carrier/sling), he snuggled close to me and slept, and we started our work for the day.  In the first hour alone, we talked to some great people and were finding tons of info for our business.  We discussed things like chairs and online marketing programs. I stepped out to feed my baby in the hallway and when I walked back in, the security guards smiled at me, commented on the tiny, cute baby and let me walk right past without any trouble.  A few minutes later, someone tapped on my shoulder and told me that I would need to leave.  I was surprised, because I didn’t know what the problem was and like I said, I’m far from a troublemaker!  They walked me back to the security guards that I had just passed and they notified me of the rule that no one under 16 was allowed.  The man actually said to me, “can’t you just leave him with his dad all day tomorrow?”  They then walked me out the door.  The security guard assigned to walk me to the door was actually kind and felt awful. I called my family and they met me at the door.

We talked to a few people at the registration desk who told us we could speak to the National Restaurant Association managers.  We walked to a different floor, waited awhile and talked to a woman who informed me of the rule.  Because she told me that it could be a safety issue, I asked if I could attend just the education sessions.  She told me that I would not be allowed anywhere at the conference.  We then left the show and headed back to the hotel and went out for a nice dinner (where they actually brought champagne to the other members of the group to celebrate a new baby joining us!  Go to Senza if you’re ever in Chicago!).    

So, that’s the story.  Not too dramatic, huh?  Was I disappointed?  Of course!  Did I put up a fight?  Definitely not.

I’ve noticed a few questions that several people seem to have had about the situation, so I’ll also answer those.

Did I know about the “no children” rule when I attended?

I honestly did not.  Like I said, I attended last year, but didn’t have a nursing infant at the time, so it wasn’t an issue.  This year, I decided to attend about 12 hours before we drove there.  I’ve attended all sorts of things with a nursing infant and have never encountered an issue before.  In the article, I’m quoted as saying that I knew about the rule and still asked if I could stay.  Yes, I knew about the rule after I was escorted out of the building!  I asked management if I could stay after the security guards informed me and when they said no, we left the show with no further issues.

Couldn’t someone else have attended in my place?

Well, no, not really.  We’re a small business and I’m the only one who does what I do.  Everyone else has different roles in the business.  I was going to attend the educational sessions pertinent to my area of expertise, while others went to theirs.  Many people have asked why my husband didn’t attend in my place.  He did attend, but he’s a winemaker, not a marketer.  He was busy pouring wine at the show (which I did not do and did not plan to do, because I had my baby with), while I had planned to network, pick up marketing information and attend the classes.  It’s a big deal for us to attend shows like this and see what’s happening in the industry and also what’s coming up in the year ahead, so I didn’t want to miss this once-yearly show.

Why didn’t I leave my infant at home?

Any breastfeeding mother out there knows the answer to this one. I'm no crusader. I left my other boys with sitters when it was appropriate. But this baby was 10 days old and the American Academy of Pediatricians does not recommend giving a bottle to a breastfed infant at this age.

There are knives and open flames at the show!  Couldn’t your baby have been injured?

I was in a trade show talking about some pretty mundane things.  There were no cooking demonstrations near me or sharp knives at any time (in fact, I never saw either of these things at any point).  It’s disappointing that people don’t give a mother the benefit of the doubt that she wouldn’t put her infant near these types of things anyway!  My 10 day old was pretty stationary, so reaching for things, crawling or putting things in his mouth is not going to happen.  I could understand their rule though so when I spoke with management, I asked if I could attend the education sessions.  They gave the same reasoning.

Are you ‘generic internet person?’

This is the only phrase I can think of to describe how people seem to treat each other when we’re separated by a computer screen.  I’ve been on the receiving end of some of the nastiest things ever said to me or about me.  I’m typically very kind to people and don’t cause much of a stir.  I’ve found this week that it’s easy to judge when you don’t know the whole story or if you don’t know the person.  I get that, but I hope that some of these people don’t typically treat online strangers this way and certainly not people they meet in their everyday lives!  When I’ve replied to the personal messages sent to me, I’ve been quick to get an apology.  I’m sure their emotions about an issue  just took over and they thought of me as a faceless stranger.  The emails below were not just online commenters on an article or blog, but they sought me out personally to send a message.

SELF-ABSORBED PRICK! CALL A NANNY NEXT TIME!

I sent him a reply email and shortly after, I received this:

Im very sorry I didn't mean to insult u

or this one:

Buy a breast pump and find a reliable local sitter.  Expecting an entire trade show to cater to your infants feeding schedule again is ridiculous. And frankly sub par parenting.  

I sent her a reply and shortly after, I received this:

I am very sorry.  My email was thoughtless and completely out of place and caused you hurt.  Thank you for kindly responding.  Again I am very sorry.

The apologies were really nice to receive and meant alot.  I hope people can realize that when you’re yelling at a stranger on the other side of the computer screen, that it’s still a real person.  

Why do I think I’m so special?  

I don’t think I’m anything special, but I do think babies are pretty special!  As a society, we’ve made some great strides in making breastfeeding possible for so many women (laws regarding nursing in public places, laws regarding pumping/nursing in the workplace, etc.) and I guess I’d never encountered an issue with this in my day to day life before.  Everyone has always been so tolerant and supportive of an infant’s need to be with their mother.  People have also inquired whether I would take my baby to work with me and yes, I do every day!  That’s why we started this business.  We wanted to run a family friendly business and we do!  I’m so lucky to work with my family and our great staff!  We’re extremely supportive of nursing mothers that work with us also.  If you’ve visited us before, you’ve probably seen us with one of our children!

I was contacted by Good Morning America, CNBC, CBS News, Chicago news stations and papers from across the country and England.  I wasn’t interested in taking the issue further because honestly, I was home with my children at that point and didn’t want to engage the people that this seemed to upset so much.  I learned that people feel very, very strongly about this matter!  I’m pretty non-confrontational, so, like I said, I was on the receiving end of some of the nastiest things I’ve ever heard in my life.  Over what?  I asked someone if I could keep my baby with me and stay, they said no and I left. But I also received some of the nicest messages from people all over the country!  They were kind and supportive and really thoughtful.  

Here are some of my favorites:

• Wishing you all the best, Mama! And I am so very sorry that you were treated this way in Chicago. You and your baby were doing the right thing!

• I come from a family of farmers.  My mom was a farmer and so was her mom.  They lived and worked their farm though WWII and the Civil War in Greece.  My grandmother had 7 kids, all of which she carried on her back at some time in the fields.  By the age of 5, my mom was up at dawn getting the kindling and starting the fire to prepare the daily meals for the family and the field workers, most of the time on her own.  When my sister and I came along, my mom still worked (though in Chicago) from 6am-9pm.   
   
  Now I am a working mom and I understand the love and agony that comes with it, especially with a newborn.  But we are working women and this is what we do.  We work for our family, to leave our kids a legacy and to teach them that work is valuable and worthwhile for so many reasons.  This is especially true of farmers and winemakers when your work involves the whole family and it is something you breathe and touch and nurture every day.
  
• I would argue her treatment — from the trade show officials to Twitter, where the 31-year-old Osborne is also being pilloried — represents all that's wrong with this country.  I would argue that from the moment their infants are born, moms — parents, really — are given a stew of messages so conflicting and contradictory that "mixed" doesn't even begin to describe it.
• We are so thankful and grateful to you for being such a good example in this world that so often makes us choose between our work and out kids. Hopefully things will change before our daughters are having babies.   I just hope you have a wonderful baby carrier to keep your hands free as you work! 

• I just read about your disappointing trip to the convention in Chicago.  As a mom who nursed her kids while working, I took them everywhere with me.  The way you were treated in McCormick Place is reprehensible and the staff there was so narrow-minded.  Clearly none of their wives worked and nursed at the same time.   If they did, I am positive what you experienced would not have happened.

I can't even imagine driving down here so quickly after having a baby, being a mom of two older kids and then going to a trade show.  You are a strong, wonderful mom.  Please know the rest of Chicago is much more open minded and real when it comes to nursing moms.

• In these economic times, this woman should be commended for trying to put food on the table and achieve the American dream. Certain conservative pundits have called maternity leave a "racket". In a country that doesn't seem to value unpaid caregivers or maternity leave in the first place, I'm surprised this woman isn't being hailed a saint for putting work first.

What a week!  Thank you everyone for the support and nice comments.

Kristin Osborne

Guided Tour and Tasting with the Winemaker. April 12th

The four new wines that we released last Friday are some of the best made wines we've ever had.  They could have been bottled around Christmas and they would have been good, but I thought the potential for greatness was there and spent the next 4 months fine tuning and evaluating them with professional tasters.

I'd like to take everyone on a little tour and guide them through a tasting of the four new offerings.  Everyone will get 3 ounces of each wine, which adds up to roughly two and a half glasses total.  Then, we'll go through some basics of tasting, what to look for in a quality wine, and what processes I used in the making of these four wines that is making 2013 an exceptional vintage year at Four Daughters.  You'll leave with a greater knowledge of and appreciation for wine.
--Justin

To sign up for the 3:30 pm guided tour and tasting, click here, call 507-346-7300 or email events@fourdaughtersvineyard.com.

To view information on our website, click here.

State of the Wine Union Address. Take 2.

Aaaaannnnnnndddddd we're BACK!  Welcome to the updated state of the winery address.  With you here is your local enologist updating all you oenophiles on all of this years.....enos?  Yeah that's not a real word but it seems like it should mean wine.  Anyway, I join you now with a belly full of sloppy joe nachos and a test bottle of sparkling La Crescent.  When you work at Four Daughters and eat lunch here every day, you really have to pace yourself because there are so many good options available.  The sloppy joe nachos are my guilty pleasure, and i rarely have them except as an occasional treat.  But, when you consume a bottle of sparkling wine beforehand in the name of science, your judgement gets a little cloudy.  Did you all know that the carbonation in sparkling wine causes the alcohol to enter your bloodstream faster than still wine, and that just two glasses of bubbly can significantly impair you?  Well its true, i just tested it out.

I've said it before that everything in the winery is subject to change, and this year is no different.  Below you will find my assessment of the wine from a couple months ago, and in parenthesis you will find my current assessment.  My how things have changed...    

1. Brianna – Different this year, it’s lighter, a little drier (less sweet), a little more complex, more tannin.  It still has that hallmark Brianna taste, but after 2 years, I’m just trying something a bit different.  Available December 2013.  (This is still forecast to be the same wine, but due to some issues beyond our control, the bottling date is somewhere in the end of February.)

1. Currently unnamed – This used to be Edelweiss, it is now an Edelweiss based blend of 4 wines, and possibly a 5th.  It is the driest white wine we’ve ever had at 4DVW and I think it could be a candidate for some hardware at the next cold climate awards.  I always try and balance the sweetness and acidity of my wines, and it is pretty rare that a cold climate wine could be dry and not acidic, but this is one of those wines.  Available December 2013.  (The wine is now named Chad's Folly, come on in to find out why its called that.  This will be bottled end of February as well, and i think its one of the better wines we've had here.)

1. Frontenac Gris – I know many of you love our current Frontenac Gris, and we have several thousand bottles still available of that, but our 2013 Gris will be different.  I think we have some of the best Gris growers in the state, and this year I got some really apparent peach aromas out of those grapes.  So think of our 2011 LaCrescent, aka” the grapefruit wine”, only this time its Frontenac Gris, aka “the peach wine.”  Available January 2014.  (The Frontenac Gris has turned into Nude Etude II.  If you liked Nude Etude, you should really like this.  This years version is slightly more mellow, i sometimes feel i can retain so much varietal character of Frontenac Gris that it almost becomes too much.  This years wine just seems to be nicer than last years.  Coming out end of February.) 

1. Frontenac Rose – This wine will always be about the cherry flavors, but this year I’m trying to introduce tannin and a couple other rose’ wines in to create some complexity and a little more interest for the drinker.  Available February 2014.  (Blended into polygon)

1. Sparkling Marquette Rose – A new one for 2013, I’m hoping this reads somewhat similar to traditional rose’ sparklers that are blends of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  No clue when this might come out.  (Blended into polygon)

1. Sparkling LaCrescent – Think Moscato, but with LaCrescent.  Sweet and lots of citrus, I think this will be a popular one. Available Feb 2014.  (This is looking good.  It is going to be a champagne style wine, made in the traditional methode champenoise.  This is going to be a nice wine, probably a contender for some high awards, but it will take time.  I wouldn't expect this until summer.)

1. Sparkling Moscato – Don’t fix what isn’t broken…not too much new here!  All Moscatos start with a base wine, and this year’s base wine tastes better than it ever has in the past, which should mean an even better finished wine.  Available January 2014.  (I would push the bottling date to March)

1. Rose’ Blend Sparkler (unnamed) – Think Moscato, but add cherries.  I really like where this wine is at right now—big aromas and lots of fruit.  This will be a popular wine.  Available February 2014.  (This wine will be apart of new brand to be rolled out before memorial weekend in liquor stores only.  We'll keep you updated)

1. Zinfandel – This wine is a bit of a mystery to me.  It’s got some good things going, but I’m unsure exactly what this wine will turn into. It’s reading like bing cherry as opposed to black cherry, so perhaps it will be the heir to our Sparkling Pinot Noir, or it will go on to carry the Big Boy torch.  Available late summer 2014.  (The flavors of this are developing and deepening nicely.  Still a ways off though.)

1. Marquette – Marquette is always a tough one to evaluate before the malolactic fermentation is completed, and that is what is going on here.  Marquette is always at best a light to medium-light bodied wine.  I can always get bigger flavors out of Marquette that are usually associated with bigger bodied wines.  This year though, I’ve tried a few new things and the Marquette is looking pretty thick, so I may have actually bumped this wine into a higher “body” bracket, if you know what I mean.  No clue when this might be out.  We still have plenty of 2012 Marquette which will give this more barrel time, which improves the quality.  ( This is still my big unkknown.  I know its going to be good, but there are so many directions i can take it, i just don't know what the finished product is going to look like.  To make a great wine takes time, it has to start out pretty harsh and then soften up, and that's what i've got going on here.  Its  going through the processes required to become exceptional later on.)

1. Cabernet Sauvignon – These are high end grapes from a high end vineyard in California and so far, it’s producing a high end wine.  I have high expectations for this wine; the crummy part though is it may be a 2 year aging process.  Don’t worry, when this wine is ready, we’ll definitely let everyone know.  The Vikings might have a decent quarterback by the time this wine is released. Until then it’ll be relaxing in French oak.  (No changes here) 

1. Last but not least exciting, we are going to bottle the cider this year.  2012 was a terrible year for apples, but 2013 is much better, so we’re gonna hit the cider hard this year to ensure it will always be available.  Expect a big announcement when the cider is finally ready, probably in the first few months of 2014.  (no changes here either)

The big obvious change is that most of our rose wine has been axed and blended into a single wine that we are calling Polygon.  It is 6 separate wines blended to make one exceptional rose.  This is easily our best rose ever, an in house favorite, and something we're excited about. Look for this wine to be released  the same time as the Brianna, Chad's Folly, and Nude Etude II.  I know the International Cold Climate Wine Competition is trying to focus more on rose' wines, and I'm quite sure they'll be focusing on this one plenty.

Lastly, I've been doing some experimenting with our Marquette, Zin, and Cab, as well as a few leftover barrels of 2012 syrah, 2012 petite syrah, and 2012 Zin to come up with another vintage of the Big Boy Blend.  So far, it looks promising.  The code name for these trials is BB3.    

Thanks for reading everybody!  

Justin

Polygon Rose'

Off 90 ran a segment on us! The PBS segment is so fun and educational. Watch it below!

This was filmed starting in August and the final details were captured up until December.  We had a lot of fun with the crew at the Grape Stomp and during our harvest this year!

Our segment starts at 16:09. :)  Enjoy!

Ready for 2014?

We had a big 2013, but we're even more excited for 2014!  It's going to be a really big year for us!  

Post Bulletin covering our big NYE dinner!

Four Daughters Winery Has Plans For New Year's Eve

Four Daughters Winery to Hold Annual New Year’s Eve Bash
A special food and wine pairing event.

December 29, 2013—Spring Valley, MN.  Four Daughters Winery is gearing up for their 3rd annual New Year’s Eve special event, which features one of the most diverse and unique menus around.  The 11-course dinner is carefully crafted by their team of chefs and the suggested wine pairings perfectly complement each dish.

Because they are the only winery (or restaurant!) in the state to make their own bubbly, this event has grown larger and more exciting each year.  This year, Four Daughters Sparkling Moscato will greet guests as they walk through the door.  Throughout the evening, the winemaker will be visiting tables to discuss wine and suggest wine pairings.

Commenting on the night, owner Vicky Vogt said, “This has become a flagship dinner for us.  When we opened 2 years ago, this was our first big event and it continues to hold a special place in our hearts.  We try to make each year bigger and better than the last!”

Reservations are required and can be made by calling the winery or by signing up directly from their website, www.fourdaughtersvineyard.com.  Interested parties can also peek ahead and check out the menu on the winery’s blog.

ABOUT FOUR DAUGHTERS VINEYARD & WINERY
Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery is the perfect location for locals, visitors and tourists.  Located adjacent to Minnesota’s bluff country and just down the road from the Mayo Clinic, the winery is close to the city but far from hustle and bustle.  The culture is a blend of Minnesota-nice and casual elegance.  Check them out at www.fourdaughtersvineyard.com.  

New Year's Eve Menu Revealed... 2013 Food and Wine Event of the Year

Social Hour
 Hor d’eourves. Glass of Sparkling Moscato included. 

Veal
Roasted Veal Bone Marrow, Grilled French Bread, Parsley-Citrus-Shallot Salad

Oyster

Blue Point on the Half Shell with Sparkling Moscato Mignonette

Duck
Seared Duck Breast, Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Red Onion, Pretzel Bread Crostini, Warm Blueberry Vinaigrette

Lamb Chop
Pureed Rutabaga, Beet Jam and Veal Stock Reduction

Pear
Marquette Poached Pear, Field Greens, Amablu, Candied Walnuts, Braising Juice Vinaigrette

Lobster
Butter Poached Tail, Preserved Lemon Mashed Potato, Grapefruit-Knuckle and Claw Buerre

Sorbet
Hard Cider Sorbet with Roasted Apple

Beef
Porcini Crusted Tenderloin, Oyster Mushroom and Pearl Barley “Rissotto”, Demi

Cheese
Candied Lemon Stilton, Thyme Shortbread

Dessert
Chocolate Mousse and Brownie Parfait with Fresh Raspberries and Whipped Cream

Reservation only.  To reserve a spot, click here.

$95

(tax and service fee not included)

Register online or call 507-346-7300 or email events@fourdaughtersvineyard.com for reservations.  

For a printable certificate to give as a gift, click here.

Tips on how to Chill, Handle and Open Sparkling Wine for the Holidays

Watch the video here! (link to KAAL.com)

UPS Zone Map

Need wine shipped?  There's still time!  Check out the UPS zone map below to see how long it will take your shipment (by regular ground) to arrive.  UPS delivers up until December 24th!  1 day and 2 day AIR delivery by request. 

KAAL Visit

Watch for the segment on the KAAL morning show and evening show on Monday.  Our winemaker, Justin, will be sharing tips on serving sparkling wine over the holidays!

Bottles & Baskets!

CYBER MONDAY OFFER!

CYBER MONDAY OFFER! Today only, our Bottles & Baskets gourmet gift-making event is 20% off.

Join our winery's professional gift-basket creator and create your own one-of-a-kind gift baskets! We'll provide the upscale basket and the packaging material, as well as give you a glass of wine and appetizers to snack on while you create! We'll also give you a 5% discount on all of the retail items you purchase for your basket! We'll have a large selection of wines, gift items and unique wine accessories to fill your gift baskets with. So, just gather your items and start assembling. We'll help you with the rest! We're excited to spend a day Christmas shopping with you!

You can sign up right from our website or by emailing events@fourdaughtersvineyard.com.

$20  TODAY ONLY $16
December 8th. Register here.
December 15th. Register here. 

New Year's Eve Printable Certificate

Brunch Changes

We are revamping our Sunday Brunch for the winter!  Our chefs have been very busy creating new menu items that will keep us warm until spring.  In addition, we're switching Sunday hours from 10-5 and will serve brunch items all day.   

New items include:

Chimichurri Breakfast Tacos

Ham and Brie Stuffed French Toast

Hollandaise Fondue

Frittata Skillet

Chilaquiles (a tortilla casserole topped with eggs and pork belly)

Watch for more fun changes throughout the winter!