Happy New Year

I have started the new year on the road in the Virginia and Washington D.C. area.  If there is a time to work the DC market it has to be now.  Everyone here is gearing up for the inauguration of President elect Obama on the 20th of January. An estimated four million people will travel to the DC / Northern Virginia area to be part of the inauguration celebration.  That is a tremendous amount of people.  The restaurants are already booking up on days before and after the election.  Hours that restaurants and bars are open are being being extended to 4:30 A.M. on inauguration day. This will be great for the wine business and we should see a huge amount of wine consumed during this time.  The area seems somewhat recession proof, since the federal goverment has not stopped doing business.

I am also spending some time in Richmond, Virginia.  Richmond is the capital of the state of Virginia and about a two hour drive south of Washington D.C.. I am staying at The Jefferson Hotel. This is a must see if you ever come to this area.  I had a tour of the hotel yesterday when I arrived and was very impressed with how they have preserved this building which was built in 1895. We poured wine last night for a group of hospitality executives in the area. I am working the market today and finish my trip off tonight with a dinner tonight here at the hotel using our wines exclusively.  The dinner is full with about thirty people attending. You really do feel like you are in the south being here in Richmond.  The restaurant in the hotel serves peanut soup and deep fried pickles,  amongst other local specialties.