Chapters and Transitions

Written By: Davis Picklesimer - Highlands Wine Shoppe | Issue: 2018/10 - October

You spend your years building a successful company and shaping the industry in which you work, but no one prepares you for the transition after selling.  David Adelsheim receives credit with not only building a successful winery, but also shaping the wine industry in Oregon.  Personally, I believe other business leaders can learn from his efforts in having a transition strategy (while drinking a glass of wine, Adelsheim wine, of course).

First, at age 72, David knew it was time to transition out of the day-to-day business activities.  Wanting to put the interests of the winery over self (or ego), he was proactive in seeking a successor. David approached his daughter, Lizzie Adelsheim, first to discuss her interests.  Growing up in the industry, there was an ongoing “conversation over her lifetime” about the opportunity but “never a deadline.”  David knew it had to be her decision.

This led to a six-month “shadowing” of every email, call, meeting and decision David was part of as CEO of Adelsheim Vineyard.  Lizzie decided she wanted to work more in promoting the Willamette wine region rather than be a CEO.  David honored his daughter by respecting her decision and hired a new CEO from outside the family.

Second, with extra time available, David is focusing more on the macro issues of both the Willamette and Oregon wine industry through promotional events, collaborative efforts and legislative involvement. 

For example, a wine should “have the identity of the place it is grown.”  By learning from the mistakes of California, Oregon can be proactive in the challenges that come from industry growth. 

“In Napa, every project that comes up gets fought.  Land use is not an issue yet, but it will be in the future,” David says.

Third, David understands “someone must work on collaboration.”  From the beginning of the wine industry in Oregon, there was a collaborative effort. 

David explains, “No one had money.  We had to work together…we would show in NYC at trade events together.”  With Willamette having its first pinot noir planted in 1965 by David Lett of The Eyrie Vineyards, the region needed to educate the wine world on the quality of soil, favorable climate and superb wine produced in the region. With the region experiencing such success, David does not want Oregon to lose the collaborative efforts for which it was founded.

Recently, David was in Highlands while on a 10-day trip to North Carolina to “tell the story of the winery.”  I was fortunate to spend time with him here at the Wine Shoppe and a number of people enjoyed a dinner pairing at Lakeside Restaurant with him as well.  Holding true to his new roles, David was highlighting the less prominent chardonnay varietal from Oregon.  For David, there is no retirement; just a next chapter.

May our next glass of wine be together.