Edward said with a laugh.
The other day, we invited Edward, the marketing manager of the New Zealand winery Pegasus Bay, to Bokumo.
In addition to Bokumo, I also run an online shop for New Zealand wine. When I told him this, he was very interested and asked me if I could show him what the website was like.
He picked up his iPad and showed it to me, pointing to the online shopping site. Every time he found a winery he knew, he nodded and said, "Yes, I see," and remained glued to the screen.
"Can we just sort by North Canterbury wineries?"
His winery is located in North Canterbury. Apparently he wanted to know what other wineries were being handled in Japan. As you would expect from a marketing manager, he was also diligent in checking the trends of other companies.
"Of course," I said, and the moment I showed him the page he smiled.
"Just the way it is."
That's right, Pegasus Bay is the only winery in North Canterbury, so there's no competition.
I was about to say, "Well, actually, you know..." but stopped myself.
To be honest, there are only a few wineries in North Canterbury, and only a limited number of Japanese importers handle their wines. That's why we haven't been proactive in stocking other items.
But then I realized that there was no need for such excuses. The look of satisfaction on his face said it all.
When he paired the beef cheek pasta with Pegasus Bay red wine, he praised it highly, saying, "This goes perfectly with the wine!" He used to work at a restaurant attached to a winery, so he had checked the pairings carefully in Japan.
The talk was more lively than expected, and the venue was filled with laughter at times. He also communicated well with the audience, and at the end of the event he held a sale and autograph session. He was smiling from start to finish, and had a good vibe.
Yes, a fun party is always one in which the guests are in a good mood.
I used to feel the same way when I was a radio director. When a guest on a show is genuinely enjoying talking, that emotion is conveyed to the listeners, and the atmosphere instantly becomes lively.
I went from being a director to being a sommelier, and now I'm in a position to welcome wineries from overseas, but in the end, the fundamentals are the same. If the guests are having fun, the customers are having fun. I realized once again that it is only with that relationship that an event can be successful.
However, there is one thing I regret.
What I forgot to convey was, "Once people in Nagoya like something, they will love it for a long time."
In fact, Nagoya is not often included in promotional tours from overseas. Still, since they have made the effort to come here, we need to make them think, "I'm glad I came to Nagoya, I want to go back again." This is a quietly important point.
We were lucky to have a group of wine aficionados and New Zealand lovers gather and listen to Edward's talk. Seeing the sparkle in their eyes, I knew they would be toasting to Pegasus Bay on their special days in the future.
Yes, Nagoya people are very passionate. They are the type of people who will continue to love the things they like for a long time. I can say this with confidence.
That's why I should have told Edward that. "Because you came to Nagoya, your wine will continue to be treasured." If I had said that, he might have felt that Nagoya was a special place.
But there is still a chance. I plan to go to New Zealand next year, and of course I will visit Pegasus Bay. Then I will definitely tell them:
"The people of Nagoya have fallen in love with your wine. I'm sure it will continue to be loved for a long time to come."
I can already imagine the look on Edward's face when I told him that.
...So this time, instead of using the polite "desu/masu" style, I tried using the casual "da/dearu" style.
