They also are featuring their hard apple cider made from local apples from the surrounding areas. “We call it Syber Sipping,” says Burd. “We e also have a weekly Farmers’ Market to bring our neighbors to us and help them get their products out to people traveling or living in the surrounding neighborhoods.”īlack Mesa Winery also offers tastings outside at covered tables while maintaining COVID-19 safety requirements. Black Mesa Winery cyber sipping special is for people to send wine and wine glasses to a friend to which they can then set up their own Zoom conversations. They use Zoom for a biweekly wine tasting featuring their winemaker, two wines and a cider and offer a special rate for purchasing and shipping. Jerry and Lynda began using many online tools to stay in touch with their existing friends and Wine Club members. BLACK MESA WINERY HOW TO“We began to try to imagine and reimagine how to make this new definition of reality work for a small winery and doing it safely.” “Julianna helped us to start to think differently to reimagine and reinvent the winery, while incorporating the safety requirements. Julianna would get back to us with reports and guidance, sometimes these were daily calls and on the weekends and into the evening hours,” Burd said.īlack Mesa Winery continues to support Governor Lujan- Grisham’s safety requirements and is more concerned about their employees and customer’s health safety. “Her time on the phone and on line with us gave us the assurance that we were in this with SBDC and other small businesses. Instead of focusing on what we couldn’t do we focused on what we could do.”īurd said SBDC director Julianna Barbee reached out to the winery to help and guided them in obtaining Paycheck Protection Program dollars for their employees and SBA dollars to continue operating on a daily basis. “It’s been very difficult, almost impossible for Black Mesa Winery to open up any new retail outlets and COVID-19 has hurt Black Mesa Winery wholesale business. “COVID-19 has caused us to work longer hours – no days off just to try to make things happen, make ends meet, and be there for staff and for each other,” owner Jerry Burd said. Much of Black Mesa Winery business is focused on the tourism aspects of New Mexico – for New Mexicans traveling around the state and people traveling through. That is why now, more than ever, this virtual ceremony was so important to shine the spotlight on those who represent the thousands of business owners and lenders that have adapted, preserved in the face of this crisis.”ĬOVID-19 began to affect the winery just like it did most businesses. We know that small businesses are the driving force of American economic stability and are essential to our Nation’s economic rebound from the pandemic. They are the job creators that continue to fuel our economy and they represent over 30 million small businesses in our country as well as the 157,000 in New Mexico. Garcia states, “It is important to recognize our small businesses for their perseverance and their ability to overcome adversity. Their success is proof that the American Dream is attainable. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the winners were recently honored for their achievements and contributions to the national and local economy. Today Black Mesa Winery is shipping to 40 states, they have innovative virtual events and their on-line sales have increased.Įach year the SBA districts recognize small business owners for their outstanding contribution to their communities through their skills, products, and services. Change happened and Black Mesa Winery changed as well and is focusing on moving forward. They had lots to celebrate but the celebration came to a halt as coronavirus quickly took the world by surprise. Owners Jerry and Lynda Burd were recently awarded the Small Business Administration Home-Based business of the year award. Black Mesa Winery Wine Club consists of 400 members one of the largest in the state, with more than half of the members living outside of New Mexico. The biggest share came from New Mexico, with Colorado, Texas and Arizona coming next. Prior to COVID-19, Black Mesa Winery located in Velarde had customers visiting the Tasting Room from across the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. Honoring Black Mesa Winery are from left, owners Jerry Burd and Lynda Burd, winery account Antoinette Martinez, Karen Easton, branch manager of Century Bank Los Alamos, Justin Crossie, Small Business Administration regional administrator, Patrick Metzger, Century Bank universal banker and Espanola Mayor Javier Sanchez. Jerry and Lynda Burd of Black Mesa Winery with their Small Business Administration award.
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