Pasek Cellars Makes the Case for Growth

Dave James, '92 MBA, grew Pasek Cellars from 1,500 cases to a peak of 15,000. The former wine seller says you don't have to start a business from scratch to follow your entrepreneurial spirit.

Overhead view of wine glasses on a table

'The most rewarding thing was to make something that people love.'

What problem/market need were you addressing when the business started?

Gene Pasek produced wine as a hobbyist. He received very positive feedback for the fruit (non-grape) wines he produced. He followed that enthusiasm for his wines into commercial production. The wines filled a niche in the market and were felt to be the best in the category. I discovered the wines in 2001 when I was selling wine for five Washington
wineries. Although I was skeptical of them at first, I quickly learned that they were winners in the market. The Paseks needed financial and logistical help to grow, and I stepped in to provide both.

What has been the biggest challenge and the biggest reward throughout your journey?

The biggest challenge was managing cash flow. Revenue for us and most wineries peaks in October, November and December. Major expenditures for us (mostly annual fruit purchases) were centered in the summer. We grew the business from about 1,500 cases when I first became involved to a peak of 15,000. I was always proud of that. The most rewarding thing though, was to make something that people love.

What Small Business is About

Dave James

We used to joke that I was Pasek Cellars' CFO: Chief Financial Officer and Chief Forklift Operator. In a small business, you need the confidence and ability to wear many hats.

'92 MBA

Taking an existing business to the next level

What, if anything, did you learn at Albers that has helped you in running your business?

We used to joke that I was Pasek Cellars’ CFO: Chief Financial Officer and Chief Forklift Operator. In a small business you need the confidence and ability to wear many hats. My Albers experience gave me both the confidence and ability to tackle financial decisions, logistics issues and production efficiency opportunities.

What’s next for the business?

I sold the business in January. The new owners are exploring a variety of ways to grow the business. They are working with new graphics for our packaging, participating in many local festivals and amping up our social media presence.

If you were to recommend one thing from your winery that newcomers should taste, what would it be?

I’d say try the winery’s signature wine, Cranberry Wine. It represents 35 to 50% of our production, depending on the year. It is made from whole cranberries grown in Washington and Oregon. It is modestly sweet with a tart finish. It’s popular all year long but has become a tradition on many Thanksgiving tables, where it finds new fans each year.

Two-sentence advice for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

You don’t have to start a business from scratch to follow your entrepreneurial spirit. You can apply your ideas and energy to an existing business to move it to the next level.

Learn more about Pasek Cellars' wines at pasekcellars.com.

Pasek Cellars Fast Facts

1995

Date of founding

Ownership details

S-corp. James became part owner in 2003 and sole owner in 2015 upon the Paseks' retirement. Although he was technically the sole owner, his wife Judy Pascale was an integral part of the business.