For Yuri Vanetik, wine turned business into a cultural experience

Yuri Vanetic was appointed to the California Lottery Commission by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. And earlier, the celebrity governor appointed a Ukrainian-American attorney to serve on the California Criminal Justice Commission. Vanetik is a political operative and Washington insider who occasionally lobbied Congress and represented foreign corporate and political leaders. But in traveling the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Caucasus, in all the people he met and in all the places he saw, Vanetik found himself in a most compelling relationship with those he met through their shared love of wine. I say it’s a great encounter. .

A wine collector for over 22 years, Yuri Vanetic has tasted wines in Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Ukraine, Poland, Turkey, Moldova, Germany, China, Georgia, Canada and 20 different regions. you think of wine

His wine prowess isn’t entirely secret — he was the subject of a feature article in Robb Report — but outside of occasional magazine interviews, Vanetik describes his wine preferences, the places he visits, and his It is private about the relationships that have been cultivated through mutual relationships. Passion for wine.

Vanetik says that wine not only led him to new business projects, but also helped him solve complex client problems.

A lawyer and political strategist, he said, “Whether I’m meeting with a presidential candidate in Eastern Europe or a business executive in the South of France, the discussion often veers into wine.

“The reason is simple,” he explains. “Many alpha people who are looking for meaning and wanting to influence the world around them drink and collect wine. I remember meeting an influential religious leader in .He was strict, hard to get in and empathize with, and negotiations didn’t go well until the topic of Israeli wine came up.”

Vanetik vividly recalls a tangible shift in energy when his business “enemy” lovingly recommended a 2016 Gva’ot Masada Bordeaux-style blend. Can age better than Bordeaux reds.

“It was an instant connection,” Vanetic laughs capriciously.

“Discovering wine with someone or sharing a passion for a particular region or vintage is like discussing a puppy playing with a grandchild,” continues Vanetik. “People smile and their guard drops.”

But mere love of wine is not enough to earn a seat at the most exclusive table. Must have good sommelier taste and knowledge. Vanetik makes it clear that it is measured by the type of wine you drink.

“I was recently discussing terms with a prospective customer in Eastern Europe,” recalls Vanetik. “He promised to gift us a case of the 1992 Screaming Eagle if our collaboration was successful, a rare California cult wine that is prohibitively expensive for many.” A businessman who boasted about having drank a drink called “Eagle” was surprised that I appreciated Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, commonly known as DRC, and treated me not as a service provider but as an equal. began to be treated as “

Vanetik asked me if I knew anything about the DRC. I don’t But don’t worry, I’m not alone. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti sells its ‘entry-level’ wines, Corton for over €1,000 and Monopole La Tache for over €4,000, making it the exclusive importer or the most pedigree. We are selectively open to fine wine journalists from around the world. Only a few thousand bottles are produced each year to maintain strict quality standards.

“If you’re thinking of stopping at a winery, don’t waste your time because you won’t get in,” he grins. “Ironically, the adjacent street is called Rue de Temps Perdu, the street of lost time.”

A wine like this becomes a legendary story. Ownership is the only provider of status. For this reason, some people who buy it do not intend to drink it, but intend to collect or buy it for investment, which often disappoints producers.

“Wine in business can equalize you and turn rivals into collaborators,” a wine enthusiast tells me. degree. ”

For the real few who share their passion and taste for great wine… its story and its history… the joy of sharing it with others… the exhilaration of collecting it… When you find each other, it breaks down walls and creates bonds…it’s a great equalizer and turns “doing business” into a cultural experience.

“I remember visiting Moldova and meeting various business leaders there,” says the enthusiastic storyteller. “A businessman who later became a client took me on a tour of the famous cellars and told me about the historical origins of his favorite wine, Negur de Purcari. He tells us the story of how the law of baptism was established when Emperor Nicholas I issued a special decree to establish the first specialized winery in Bessarabia in Phulcari…”

he continues.

“Some time ago I negotiated to buy a hotel in the Caucasus. A rare California wine popular with wine critic Robert Parker’s Taste and Score adherents, the rare concoction is called Sine Qua Non. … A large law firm partner melted with excitement when he learned that I also collect his favorite wines.

This love of wine opened a huge door for Ukrainian-American businesses. It was a great negotiating tool, a way to show appreciation and respect to people who had flexible resources and weren’t easily impressed.

“Wine in business transcends culture,” he says.