Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Gary Eberle, owner of Eberle Winery, located in Paso Robles, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are a winery where we sell wine, but I always say that we are also in the hospitality business. You can make the greatest wines in the world, but you also must provide excellent service and make your customers feel welcomed. Our customers are anyone who enjoys fine wine and hospitality. I learned this early on from one of my greatest mentors, Robert Mondavi.

Tell us about yourself

Growing up in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, it never occurred to me that I would have the opportunity to go to college or end up being in the wine industry. I was an All-Star football player in high school and earned a full-ride scholarship to play football for Penn State. I started my college career in 1962, where I balanced between being a defensive tackle for the Penn State Nittany Lions and being an undergraduate biology student. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, I attended Louisiana State University (LSU) for graduate work in cellular genetics, where I earned a National Science Fellowship to Charity Hospital in New Orleans.

This is where one of my professors introduced me to the decadent world of food and wine, and my newfound passion was realized. Now, 50 years later, it is still my passion. I am still having fun, and I look forward to sharing our wines and winery with those who come to taste and visit every day!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Early on, it was achieving milestones in the wine industry like co-founding the Paso Robles appellation, establishing Syrah in the U.S, and receiving honors from various organizations. Later on, I started to realize that one of my most meaningful accomplishments is the ability to take care of my employees and treat them well. They are like my family, and we take care of each other. I provide health insurance, 401K, raises, bonuses, and plenty of fun. They are one of the most important assets to my business.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The constant rules and regulations that are imposed on a business by the government.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Make sure you love what you are doing so that it doesn't feel like work.
  2. Make sure you have proper capital and financing to get up and going.
  3. Treat your employees well, and they will help make your business a success.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Again, I will say, do something you enjoy doing, then it is rewarding and fun being at your job.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.eberlewinery.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eberlewinery
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eberleboar/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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