Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Teri Kerns. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Teri thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
Originally from the Oregon Coast, my husband Micole and I moved to Ramona in 2004 after my naval service, which was followed by a career in business development in the Health Care industry, which I retired from in 2021. We started making wine in 2005, and in 2006 planted our first vineyard, Ramona Ranch Winery has focused on sustainability since it’s inception in 2004 and is San Diego County’s only Certified Sustainable Vineyard and Winery, a distinction we obtained in 2017. We’ve planted an insectary, which invites beneficial bugs and birds to improve the bio-diversity of the farm, recognized by the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Wildlife Habitat, in addition to our sustainable certification.
Teri, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My role is the development of our business, including obtaining our winery bond and licensing as a commercial winery and overseeing the tasting room, while handling the marketing and sales necessary to grow our business. Working to continually improve our sustainability, we use native cover crops, have owl boxes, and do not use herbicides on our property, believing that allowing nature to thrive will create the balance we seek in both our wines, as well as our lives.
Our passions include the environment, travel, food and wine, and music – we invite you to experience all four with us when you visit Ramona Ranch Winery, San Diego County’s only Certified Sustainable Vineyard and Winery.
I have an MBA, and recently obtained my Level Two WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Certificate.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Always being true to who we are; not trying to be something or someone we are not. Following up and doing what we say we are going to do is important, and we love helping people who are new to the industry via mentoring, board membership, and I write a monthly industry newsletter.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
Referrals from our fellow wineries as they know we will treat their customers right. We also like to share our passion for the environment, hosting interesting events about things we are passionate about, like our upcoming class in May on Pollinators, or this week’s April 21st class on Raptors.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ramonaranchwines.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramonaranchwines/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RamonaRanchWinery
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRmCi1E6kksrBLsqhj9Ahfg
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ramona-ranch-vineyard-and-winery-ramona