We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sunny Doench Stricker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sunny below.
Sunny, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
My optimism comes from my brilliant, kind and hilarious folks who always chose to see the good side and who taught me that we are all connected. They taught me, by their example, how important it is to always show up with love and kindness, assuming everyone is doing their best. My Mom & Dad had such a fearlessness about kindness and a tremendous commitment to inclusion. I have seen how embracing that same fearless intent to bring love & kindness into my work and passion projects has bridged me with so many colleagues who could’ve otherwise been considered “competitors”. I firmly believe there is enough for everyone and that we can be relaxed and supportive, knowing that when others succeed, we all succeed. One’s success does not limit another’s success. I believe I am proof positive that choosing to live in joy is way, way more fun than entertaining senseless fear. And, by the way, all fear is senseless. Our hearts already know the way, if we will just listen and leap.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am the female owner and winemaker of Future Perfect Wine, Inc and the company is run by an all-female team. Gillian Arnold is the General Manager and a true, inspiring badass! After studying wine and mentoring under some tremendous winemakers for several years, I launched Future Perfect in 2020 and then my Los Olivos wine tasting room which opened on Memorial Day Weekend 2021. Future Perfect wine, include 2 sparkling wines Methóde Champenoise, Sauvi B “Breakfast Wine”, Rosé “the Porch Pounder”, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and more. The wines have been featured on Michelin Starred menus around the world, highlighted on NBC and in quite a number of periodicals as well as garnering high acclaim over each vintage from Wine Enthusiast. I made a living as an actor (Sunny Doench) and producer in TV and film for most of my life and still get to continue with that work, generally filming about one project a year, but I consider the work of winemaking an absolute dream come true!
I created the brand Future Perfect with an intention on inclusivity. I am making very serious wine but with a lot of joy, because I think that you can taste the difference between grumpy wine and wine made with love. Every June 1st, Future Perfect Tasting Room in Los Olivos, California kicks off Pride Month with a Razzle Dazzle Disco Party and a special PRIDE Rosé that I make as a fundraiser for the local Santa Ynez Valley Pride Foundation. The back of every bottle of Future Perfect has a message from me to you that reads:
For the Fearless, Dreamers, Scallywags, Dazzlers, Explorers & Incurable Romantics… We are all connected and this is for you. Future Perfect.
I’ve been proud to create an atmosphere in the tasting room that is a total vibe. A safe and happy place to be. I don’t know the secret to happiness, butI’ll tell you what, I’ve never been sad at Future Perfect. I hope you will all come visit!
Future Perfect Wine is open in Los Olivos Daily from 11am – 5pm.
2933 San Marcos Avenue, Suite 101, Los Olivos, CA 93441
www.FuturePerfectWine.com
*Future Perfect is now offering extraordinary curated experiences at our mountaintop estate property, Diamond Sky Ranch, just 15 minutes from Los Olivos. With breathtaking 365 degree views, this exceptional tasting includes an exclusive Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA that you can only taste and purchase at the ranch. By appointment only. For more information, please reach [email protected].
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Hope, Joy & Fearlessness. I’ve always been fascinated by wine and amazed that grapes somehow become glasses of liquid delish. I studied wine and the process of winemaking, just as a passion, for years. When I moved to wine country and began learning in cellars from winemakers and doing the work, I realized I really enjoyed the entire process. It lit me up. I had a piece of paper on my fridge for years that said “Figure out what you love and find a way to make money doing it.” You need some impressive hope and fearlessness to do that. I am defiantly hopeful and I think my lack of knowledge (not having gone to school for winemaking, etc) was a benefit for me and helped me be fearless. And here’s the thing, I think a lot of people re-evaluated their life and work during Covid: Why am I doing whatever I’m doing with people I may not enjoy doing it with??? They say life is short, but what if it’s loooooong?! So I decided to leap, fearlessly and follow by bliss. I wanted to do what brought me joy and I made wine that I love, in case no one showed up. Lol – that was my business plan. Thankfully, they’ve come and it’s going better than I could’ve asked for or imagined. But the most important piece is that I love doing what I do. There is a lot of pressure with every vintage, but I consider the pressure to be a privilege. And I am incredibly grateful to get to make Future Perfect. If you believe in what you are doing, stay hopeful. Work hard and stay incredibly hopeful. Don’t be tricked into comparing yourself to others. That is a trap and only leads to fear. And fear is the one thing that will derail you from your great success. Keep hope alive and your eye on the prize. You absolutely can do anything you put your mind to – especially if you’re doing it with joy.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents showed me what it looked and sounded like to be aware and inclusive of others. My mom always encouraged my twin brother and I to shine brightly and be the positive, safe face in any room. My dad taught me that the darling is in the details. The details include everything from my logo and branding to how each and every person feels when they walk into the Future Perfect tasting room. Every, tiny detail is paramount. Everything I do has intention and I learned that from my folks.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.FuturePerfectWine.com
- Instagram: @futureperfectwine
Image Credits
Mike Mesikep Photography
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