Congratulations, you’ve graduated from college.
Now what?
For many students, that’s the question they find themselves struggling to answer soon after the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” have died down.
1. Kuni got her first job at age 16, working at The Limited inside her local shopping mall. She stayed with the apparel company, moving up the ranks, until age 26.
2. For a 15-year period during her career in retail, Kuni was charged with visiting more than 400 stores within one year. This equated to spending almost all of her time on the road.
3. Kuni said many similarities exist between the world of retail and hospitality (Village Vineyard includes a bed & breakfast). The learning curve, she said, has involved the governmental side of her small business (licenses, labels, etc.).
4. What was the inspiration behind opening a winery? “My mother-in-law wanted one,” she laughed.
5. “The rural parts of Clark County are perfect for growing grapes,” said Kuni, adding that the region excels when it comes to producing white wine and light reds.
6. Kuni said she will pursue organic certification for her wines, even though “no one recommended it” because of the challenge. She said the vineyard is already following many organic practices, and that her family strives to eat organic, whole foods.
7. This winter, Kuni said she will try her hand at making hard cider. “The process is quite similar to winemaking,” she said.
8. Does Southwest Washington have a bright future in the wine industry? Kuni thinks so. “There are already 16 wineries in my area and more are up and coming,” she said.
9. Kuni fears that the Board of Clark County Commissioners is slowing the growth of her industry. “Unfortunately our commissioners feel wineries are bars,” she said. “We have been testifying to convince them we are not … I’m not trying to break the rules or go past curfews … Trying to change rules that don’t need to be changed is one of the things will hinder development here.”
10. When asked if now is the time to form a local alliance with fellow winery owners, Kuni said yes, and that there have been conversations about it. “It would be a great way to band us together,” she explained.
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