Testimonials and Comments
 “I became acquainted with Erik's knowledge of wine and business when we were colleagues at CPWM (Cost Plus World Market). His impressively insightful and articulate comments were legendary among his peers, and years later when I wanted to launch a wine program for Harry and David stores nationwide I eagerly sought his counsel. Erik provided us with a powerful and detailed survey of the wine industry in the US including consumer preferences and buying patterns and the mechanics and methodologies of actually getting it done."
"He has the rare combination of attributes of having an excellent palate, thorough working knowledge of wine making and wineries, complete understanding of running a national retail chain of stores, and the desire and ability to drive a business. The information he provided to us enabled me to make a compelling argument to the Executive Committee and begin the process of opening the first of a few dozen wine stores -- no easy feat as the byzantine nature of buying and selling wine in the US is rivaled by only the nuclear regulatory commission. I recommend Erik highly.”
- Elizabeth Tagami, President & Founder, Tagami International – Formerly VP Merchandising for Harry & David, Divisional Merchandise Manager for Cost Plus World Market, VP Merchandising HomeChef, Director Merchandising Williams-Sonoma
“Erik has an extremely keen eye for business. He knows how to implement with great intuition, has fantastic knowledge for strategic marketing, and he is a marvelous public speaker. What I value most about Erik is that he is a take-charge person who is able to present innovative concepts and communicate the benefits. I’m proud to say that he is a mentor for me in this industry.”
- Scott Cunningham, Owner, Bottleneck Wine Brokers
“Erik and I have worked together over the years developing unique high end neighborhood restaurants and wine shops. My role as his architect has been enhanced by Erik's honesty, knowledge, drive, and participation as a creative colaborator. I have also hired Erik to determine the viticultural worthyness of a piece of ground and am constantly impressed with his business accumen and knowledge. I strongly recommend Erik McLaughlin.”
- Andy Erstad, Principal and Owner, Erstad Architects
“I've come to respect Erik as one of the area's most knowledgeable wine professionals. He has an engaging personality and interacts well with both colleagues and the general public. Erik has excellent public speaking skills as well as outstanding organizational skills as demonstrated in his role as chief judge for a number of local wine judging contests such as The Idaho Wine Festival and The Treasure Valley Taste Test. In addition, I've been impressed with how many Idaho wine industry people Erik personally knows. He has been passionate about the quality of Idaho wine and has been one of the main people promoting Idaho wine to the public.”
- Garry Scholz, Wine & Food Writer/Columnist, McClatchy Company
“Erik is an excellent business person with a distinctively creative mind. What sets him apart from all others is that he is able to execute on original ideas whereas others might simply come up with concepts. Additionally, Erik has a knack for understanding people's needs, often times before any issues are brought to light. This quality, in conjuction with many others, has proven to be a successful advantage in business relationships.”
- Keith Nyquist, Wild West Wines & Spirits
“Erik managed our brands for several years. In that capacity, he was successful in greatly improving sales, exposure, and profitability. He did this through creativity, knowledge, and hard work I can recommend him without qualification.”
- Dave Crane, Assistant National Sales Manager, Heck Estates (Kenwood, Korbel, Valey of the Moon, Lake Sonoma and others)
“You alway knew where your business was going with Erik. If he made a commiment...I never worried about him not following through on it. I always found him to be a person of high intergrity and treated everyone with great respect.”
- Tom Congdon, VP, Director of Spirits, Kobrand Corporation
“I know Erik as a dedicated wine professional, detail oriented and a person to whom integrity and ethics are very important.”
- Brian Larkey, Direttore, Dalla Terra - Winery Direct
“Erik is an expert in his field. He can be counted on to produce superior results and is always available to us. He is someone I recommend to the most very challenging clients, and I look forward to working on another project in the future with Erik.”
- Lynn Bradescu, Real Estate Investor
“Erik and his staff have gone out of their way to provide the most professional service possible at the most reasonable rates. We are often approached at the last minute to pull something together and he and his staff have accommodated us with short notice. His employees are very polite, professional and respectful, and the food is to die for. Erik delivers on what he promises and there are no hidden surprises. I give Erik McLaughlin my highest possible recommendation.”
- Rick Carpenter, Publisher, Idaho Business Review
“I have worked with Erik on many occasions and have always been extremely impressed. My clients are visitors who are often experiencing Boise and Idaho for the first time. Erik and his staff have continued to show Idaho's local food and wine as top-notch.”
- Melissa Cleland, Tourism and Promotionas Manager, Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau
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