Name: Rodney Foster
Profession: Co-Founder Edelheiss Wine
I have put my passion to purpose by: introducing a unique brand of wine to many people that had never experienced this product.
Rodney Foster, a native Washingtonian has a love of fashion, travel, and the luxurious lifestyle. This combination of the good life took Foster to St. Moritz, Switzerland where he developed a love for Gluhwein, or Hot Mulled Wine, that originates in Germany. One taste was all Rodney needed to realize that the Wine business would be in his near future. “Once I tried it I knew that this was something that I wanted to share with people in the United States,” Foster tells BE Modern Man
. Upon his return home from Switzerland, Foster wasted no time and began making the wine in his kitchen with the help of an old european family recipe. He Says, “I would ask my friends to try it and they loved it. It was at that point that I knew that I wanted to create my own wine line and Edelheiss Wine was born.”A red organic wine that is made with a mix of all natural spices, Edelheiss Wine is imported from Zellertal, Germany. Although very popular in Europe many people in the United States were not familiar with this type of wine. “Traditionally the wine is heated up but a lot of my U.S. based customers prefer it room temperature or even add their favorite fruits to make a sangria,” says Foster.
Introducing a new type of wine to U.S. based customers came with its share of challenges. “It is important for you to be extremely focused, have determination, never accept no for an answer and believe in yourself while working your passion into a profitable business,” Foster tells BE Modern Man. “Do your research, use your frustrations as motivation and always remember that your brand is everything. Lastly you must have a strong support system.”
Today Foster and the Edelheiss team is taking a chic, innovative, yet traditionally European wine to new levels. With plans for expansion to additional countries, Foster’s passion is paying dividends. “It’s important for us to have a positive platform like BE Modern Man to show the world that we are pursuing our passion but also striving and achieving our dreams.”
Passion and a vision to provide a soothing and delightful beverage has led to the creation of a deliciously different wine. “Being a Be Modern Man means becoming a part of an elite group of men who used our passion to turn our purpose into reality,” says Foster. “It means being a man who is a fearless
leader, an innovator and a visionary who has the foresight to leap over the hurdles of adversity. I had many people tell me that I couldn’t do it and I wouldn’t do it but I never let that stop me. My goal as a BE Modern Man is to inspire others to keep pushing and fighting for their dreams.”The BlackEnterprise.com team congratulates Rodney Foster for executing on a vision that first manifested thousands of miles away. We are excited to see the growth of Edelheiss Wine across the U.S. and abroad.
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