About Rachell Coe of 4 the Grapes

Why the Wine Industry?

I discovered my PASSION for the wine industry over 5 years ago when I worked at King Estate Winery as a webmaster and photographer. Until then (I have been a web and print designer since 1997), I had never focused on any one business niche, enjoying the challenge of working with many different kinds of businesses and people -- from clothing companies to actors.

But during the year and a half I spent at King Estate, I became involved in all aspects of winery life (as the writer and photographer for the website I was constantly researching all aspects of the wine process -- from grafting, planting, and harvest all the way to production and marketing the finished bottle) and realized I had found my niche.

I loved talking to all the wonderful people who work at the vineyards and wineries to produce the best grapes and wines possible, and the challenge of working in such a complicated industry that not only is constantly changing but involves people from all walks of life and economic levels -- from the hard-working, plain-speaking vineyard owners to the ultra sophisticated wine reviewers!

However, the more involved I became in the wine industry the more I noticed many wineries having problems with their websites -- website updates taking weeks and months to be made; pages not working right or not showing up all-together; technical support people being impossible to get a hold of and not returning phone calls and emails; ecommerce solutions that were difficult to customize and cost over $4,000 per year; content management systems (content management systems allow winery people to update their own sites) that cost $20,000 to set up and $125 per month! With all my experience in design I knew many of these wineries and vineyards were being taken advantage of and wanted to do something about it.

By starting 4 the Grapes I can help wineries and vineyards have customized design solutions from someone who knows their target audience and understands the many challenges of working in the wine industry — all while working within their budgets. The fact I can design their print materials and take pictures of their wine bottles in my studio and in their vineyards is just an additional service I can provide.

Since then, I've had the pleasure of working with some of the top wineries in Oregon (Abacela and Silvan Ridge to name a few) and love the diversity of being covered in mud while taking pictures in a vineyard one day, and dressed in my nice clean 'nerd suit' while programming a client's ecommerce solution the next. Ahhhh, this is the life!!!

Personal

Along with my passion for the wine industry, I also LOVE animals and children and volunteer quite a bit -- I mentor troubled teens, provide a safe place for local kids to play and have fun, take pictures of pets with their people for the local humane shelter and maintain the website for low income veterinarian services. This, along with 4 the Grapes, my two AWESOME sons and menagerie of pets keeps me very busy -- which I love! (I never did boredom well ;)

"By starting 4 the Grapes I can help wineries and vineyards have customized design solutions from someone who knows their target audience and understands the many challenges of working in the wine industry — all while working within their budgets."

Pugsley the Wine Dog

(He loves Gris grapes, but not Noir?)