We were delighted to learn of Attimo Winery's new name.  In Italian, "attimo" means "a moment," and we look forward to many exciting moments ahead to share with Rik and Melissa Obiso - particularly that first sip of wine from the very first vintage!  Congratulations!  A toast to Attimo Winery!

All are invited to join the Attimo Winery Planting Party, April 17-18, 2010.

Eclipse Winery changes name to Attimo Winery

Christiansburg, VA – Eclipse Winery, LLC announced that the Company’s members approved a name change to Attimo Winery, LLC at the annual meeting on January 31, 2010.

Attimo Winery, a farm-winery in Montgomery County, Virginia is beginning its third year of vineyard operations this spring.  The company expects to move forward with TTB bonding and its first grape harvest in 2010.

Attimo, which means “a moment” in Italian, expresses how its owners, Rik and Melissa Obiso feel about their venture. 

"We’ve been working hard on this project for a number of years, and now we're poised at the edge of a new beginning for Attimo Winery.  We are truly starting to see the fruits of our labor, and the hopes of what is yet to come.  We know that it is the beginning of many memorable moments for us and for customers of our wines," said Melissa Obiso about the winery and the recent name change.

Attimo expects to harvest Cabernet Franc, Viognier and Raspberries this year to produce its first year’s vintage. Attimo Winery, LLC, formerly Eclipse Winery, LLC, was founded in 2007 and is privately held. The Company is located in Christiansburg, Virginia.

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Rik and Melissa Obiso, co-owners of Attimo Winery, a new winery located in the New River Valley of Virginia, write a weekly wine recommendation for Handshake 2.0. Attimo Winery plans to open to the public as early as 2012.  Attimo Winery (formely Eclipse Winery) was featured in  Couple hope grapes will yield dream business and Wine business budding in Montgomery County in The Roanoke Times.  You're invited to read all the recommendations, more about Attimo Winery on Handshake 2.0, to follow Attimo Winery on Twitter @attimowinery.

Attimo Winery, a Virginia winery, is a client of Blacksburg, Virginia-based social media and public relations company Handshake Media, Incorporated, the parent company of Handshake 2.0.

Connecting you through wine

It may be the world's oldest cliché, but patience really is a virtue, especially in the workplace.  Being an effective manager requires patience.

The Villa Appalaccia's Aglianico 2007 is a concentrated red wine with chocolate and plum undertones.  This Italian grape requires extraordinary patience, as the vines are stubborn to grow and the fruit is slow to ripen - often ripening long past the end of the normal harvest season.  Luckily, it requires little to no patience to enjoy this Virginia vintage!

Patience with people or patience with grapes - there is little difference.

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Guest columnists Rik and Melissa Obiso, co-owners of Eclipse Winery, LLC, a new winery located in the New River Valley of Virginia, write Today's Eclipse, a weekly wine recommendation for Handshake 2.0.  Eclipse Winery, LLC plans to open to the public as early as 2012.  Eclipse Winery was featured in  Couple hope grapes will yield dream business and Wine business budding in Montgomery County in The Roanoke Times.  You're invited to read all the Today's Eclipse recommendations, more about Eclipse Winery, and about Rik Obiso on Handshake 2.0.  You can follow Eclipse Winery on Twitter @eclipsewinery.

Connecting you through wine

Good Customer service will keep loyal consumers happy, but great Customer service - service that goes above and beyond to an unexpected level - will win over new clients and consumers.  That unexpected element may be all it takes to set two competing businesses apart.

The Nine Vines Rosé, 2007 brings that unexpected element to what can sometimes become hum-drum - a blush wine.  This Grenache-Shiraz blend, with robust raspberry and cherry flavors, is unique enough to set itself apart from the everyday rosé. 

With Nine Vines Wines - expect the unexpected. 

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Guest columnists Rik and Melissa Obiso, co-owners of Eclipse Winery, LLC, a new winery located in the New River Valley of Virginia, write Today's Eclipse, a weekly wine recommendation for Handshake 2.0.  Eclipse Winery, LLC plans to open to the public as early as 2012.  Eclipse Winery was featured in  Couple hope grapes will yield dream business and Wine business budding in Montgomery County in The Roanoke Times.  You're invited to read all the Today's Eclipse recommendations, more about Eclipse Winery, and about Rik Obiso on Handshake 2.0.  You can follow Eclipse Winery on Twitter @eclipsewinery.

Connecting you through wine

A "roux" is literally an equal blending of two or more things.  In business we call it a merger.  A successful merger is supposed to result in a company that is far better than any one of its original components.   

The Trou de Bonde Roux, 2006 is a blended red wine in the French style.  This delightful wine is surprisingly plush, with bright berry and warm vanilla flavors.  The blend of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Tempranillo is well done, with no single grape taking the stage.

Acquire a great merger - Roux!

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Guest columnists Rik and Melissa Obiso, co-owners of Eclipse Winery, LLC, a new winery located in the New River Valley of Virginia, write Today's Eclipse, a weekly wine recommendation for Handshake 2.0.  Eclipse Winery, LLC plans to open to the public as early as 2012.  Eclipse Winery was featured in  Couple hope grapes will yield dream business and Wine business budding in Montgomery County in The Roanoke Times.  You're invited to read all the Today's Eclipse recommendations, more about Eclipse Winery, and about Rik Obiso on Handshake 2.0.  You can follow Eclipse Winery on Twitter @eclipsewinery.

Connecting you through wine

Few in the business world do not understand the laws of supply and demand.  This complex relationship holds true for agrarian products, such as grapes, as well.  Growing conditions can cause a significant decrease in the quantity of a particular grape, thereby increasing the demand.

The Braxton Hall Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 is exemplary of this business law.  A late spring frost in 2008 resulted in a small of harvest of prime Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in the Santa Rosa, California region.  The resulting wine is highly coveted for its earthy feel and berry flavor, and yet hard to come by. 

When supplies are low, and demand is high - take advantage!

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Guest columnists Rik and Melissa Obiso, co-owners of Eclipse Winery, LLC, a new winery located in the New River Valley of Virginia, write Today's Eclipse, a weekly wine recommendation for Handshake 2.0.  Eclipse Winery, LLC plans to open to the public as early as 2012.  Eclipse Winery was featured in  Couple hope grapes will yield dream business and Wine business budding in Montgomery County in The Roanoke Times.  You're invited to read all the Today's Eclipse recommendations, more about Eclipse Winery, and about Rik Obiso on Handshake 2.0.  You can follow Eclipse Winery on Twitter @eclipsewinery.

Connecting you through wine

Many companies look for and hire summer interns.  The influx of youth, energy and exuberance in the summer season can bring an eagerness to try fresh ideas.

The Provam Vineyards Vinho Verde, 2008 is a style of white wine made from green grapes in an effort to capture the taste of the young fruit.  This style of Portuguese wine, with its slight sparkle and distinct freshness, has definite fruity and floral aromas reminiscent of a fresh garden. 

Youth may indeed be wasted on the young, but the exuberance of the Vinho Verde need not be wasted.

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Guest columnists Rik and Melissa Obiso, co-owners of Eclipse Winery, LLC, a new winery located in the New River Valley of Virginia, write Today's Eclipse, a weekly wine recommendation for Handshake 2.0.  Eclipse Winery, LLC plans to open to the public as early as 2012.  Eclipse Winery was featured in  Couple hope grapes will yield dream business and Wine business budding in Montgomery County in The Roanoke Times.  You're invited to read all the Today's Eclipse recommendations, more about Eclipse Winery, and about Rik Obiso on Handshake 2.0.  You can follow Eclipse Winery on Twitter @eclipsewinery.

Connecting you through wine

A person labeled a one-trick pony won't get too far in the business world.  Gone are the days where employees had a single role to play.  Employers are looking for people with many facets and talents - everyone needs to be able to multi-task.

The Silver Pony 2007 California Syrah is certainly that multi-faceted wine.  This ultra-dry red has a depth that allows it to pair well with a variety of foods. It is both bright with berry flavors and briny with distinct olive flavors.

Drinking versatile wines leaves the one-trick pony at the circus.

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Guest columnists Rik and Melissa Obiso, co-owners of Eclipse Winery, LLC, a new winery located in the New River Valley of Virginia, write Today's Eclipse, a weekly wine recommendation for Handshake 2.0.  Eclipse Winery, LLC plans to open to the public as early as 2012.  Eclipse Winery was featured in  Couple hope grapes will yield dream business and Wine business budding in Montgomery County in The Roanoke Times.  You're invited to read all the Today's Eclipse recommendations, more about Eclipse Winery, and about Rik Obiso on Handshake 2.0.  You can follow Eclipse Winery on Twitter @eclipsewinery.

Connecting you through wine

"Better the devil you know, than the devil you don't..." This proverb is of Irish origin, but is often used in a business setting regarding another entity - boss, subcontractor, etc.

Casillero del Diablo literally means Cellar of the Devil.  The 2008 Carmenere- a deep, richly oaked red - is one of Chile's finest wines, rated 89 by Wine Spectator.  It is smooth and warming on the palate, much like the devil you know... Only, it's a grape you don't.

At work: Stick with the devil you know.  In wine: Give this little devil a try!

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Guest columnists Rik and Melissa Obiso, co-owners of Eclipse Winery, LLC, a new winery located in the New River Valley of Virginia, write Today's Eclipse, a weekly wine recommendation for Handshake 2.0.  Eclipse Winery, LLC plans to open to the public as early as 2012.  The Eclipse Winery story, Couple hope grapes will yield dream business was featured in The Roanoke Times.  You're invited to read all the Today's Eclipse recommendations, more about Eclipse Winery, and about Rik Obiso on Handshake 2.0.  You can follow Eclipse Winery on Twitter @eclipsewinery.

Connecting you through wine

The truth of 2009 is that many businesses are failing and falling.  The crumbling lending industry is eliminating businesses that are not strong enough to stand on their own financially.  Strong businesses are even re-evaluating their structures and spending habits.

The La Milagrosa's Milcampos Tempranillo, 2006 is truly a stand-alone wine.  Its robust flavors and silky floral undertones give this wine structure.  It is rare to find a wine that can be enjoyed alone or with food equally.

May sipping La Milagrosa's Milcampos Tempranillo help you find the strength and structure to stand alone and make it through these tough times.

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Guest columnists Rik and Melissa Obiso, co-owners of Eclipse Winery, LLC, a new winery located in the New River Valley of Virginia, write Today's Eclipse, a weekly wine recommendation for Handshake 2.0.  Eclipse Winery, LLC plans to open to the public as early as 2012.  The Eclipse Winery story, Couple hope grapes will yield dream business was featured in The Roanoke Times.  You're invited to read all the Today's Eclipse recommendations, more about Eclipse Winery, and about Rik Obiso on Handshake 2.0.  You can follow Eclipse Winery on Twitter @eclipsewinery.

Connecting you through wine

While some companies diversify, others stick with what works best.  Many Fortune 500 companies are known world-wide for one product or a group of products. 

The Laxas Albarino, 2008 is an amazing white with earthy aromas and tart fruity flavors.  The Albarino grape, grown mainly in the Rias Baixas region of Spain, is truly a local product, but know world-wide.  It is gaining so much recognition that Albarino is becoming known as the other white grape.

The Laxas Albarino, 2008 is a wine to sip while contemplating, "Can we do one thing well enough to become known world-wide for it?"

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Guest columnists Rik and Melissa Obiso, co-owners of Eclipse Winery, LLC, a new winery located in the New River Valley of Virginia, write Today's Eclipse, a weekly wine recommendation for Handshake 2.0.  Eclipse Winery, LLC plans to open to the public as early as 2012.  The Eclipse Winery story, Couple hope grapes will yield dream business was featured in The Roanoke Times.  You're invited to read all the Today's Eclipse recommendations, more about Eclipse Winery, and about Rik Obiso on Handshake 2.0.  You can follow Eclipse Winery on Twitter @eclipsewinery.