Today we’d like to introduce you to Vincent Anter.
Vincent, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My name is Vince and I’m a certified sommelier and founder of V is for Vino, “The Show to Pair with Your Wine”. I came out to LA in 2010 to be a rockstar, but as it turns out, a lot of other people had the same idea. During the 5 years spent pursuing music, I paid my way through gigs with bar and restaurant jobs and discovered a love for wine. I spent a year becoming a certified sommelier, which was one of the most challenging things I’d ever done; it involved many textbooks and flashcards. I decided I wanted to find a way for people to learn and understand more about the wine in their glass without having to pick up a book. And thus, V is for Vino was born. Video content is everywhere now, and I knew the timing was right for a video-based wine company. I’ve always been a fan of Alton Brown, Anthony Bourdain and Dinner’s, Drive-ins and Dives, so I decided to model my own show as a hybrid of the three. I knew I could host the show myself, as I was used to being in the spotlight from my days with my band, and I learned how to interact with all walks of life from my time bartending. Plus, I’ve always loved teaching, so this whole idea came very naturally to me.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s pretty much easier to ship a hand grenade than it is a bottle of wine in this country. The laws are so convoluted and backward from years of regulation and lobbyists, that it’s a challenge for a small business with limited start-up cash to navigate the red tape. At least those problems can be overcome with persistence. The largest challenges for me are always the mental ones: deciding when to do things in-house by learning a new skill or accepting your limitations and outsourcing. There are also days when the motivation is hard: not because I have a lack of motivation personally (I’m hyper-driven), but because there will be stretches when you feel like you’re not making any progress no matter how hard you try. It’s definitely important to remember that’s its a marathon, not a sprint. Look up in a year, not a week.
V is for Vino – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
V is for Vino is “The Show to Pair with Your Wine”. Each episode, I host the show in a new wine region. You learn about the place, the grapes, meet a local winemaker, and learn how to cook dishes from a local chef that pair perfectly with the wine featured in the episode. Then, you can actually buy the wine (at a discount) from the episode on our website. I tell people it’s like the Anthony Bourdain of wine: only you can actually drink the wine along with us!
So many people put their heart and soul into their wine and cooking, and it’s so awesome to be able to tell their stories. I think we’re unique in the sense that no one is getting as in-depth into the stories behind the wine as we are. And, we’re even turning non-wine lovers into fans: I try to break down topics plain and simple so that everyone can enjoy wine! Wine isn’t this mystical beverage that only snobs can understand and I think, I’m helping contribute to busting those perceptions!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The day I passed my certified sommelier exam stands out. It was one of the most challenging things I had ever done. But I’d also have to say that my launch day was a big deal. This business took a lot longer to launch than typical businesses because of the complexity of the licensing requirements, the fact that I had to coordinate, produce, write, host, film and edit 3 episodes; plus the website and graphic design, marketing and PR, the million and one little things it takes to launch, all while learning skills on the fly and refusing to take outside investment. I hope that in the long run doing things the right way instead of the “quick way” will pay off!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.visforvino.com
- Phone: 440-221-2335
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visforvino/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visforvino/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNhuAy0BYe3r6TxFw_l8zeQ?
Image Credit:
V is for Vino LLC
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