
Similar to the origin stories of many Sonoma County vintners, Lloyd Davis fell in love with the wine industry seemingly out of the blue. Working in finance for over 30 years Davis, 65, helped clients buy and build their companies; he was eventually introduced to the wine industry as a financial advisor for a New York wine retailer.
After years filled with constant traveling, Davis felt he was ready for a change—and that change led to the founding of Corner 103. He looks back on his time in finance fondly but is happy to not be so on-the-go. “There are times I do miss [finance] and most of the time I am very grateful that I had that experience—but I’m also very grateful that the experience is over.”
Davis now prides himself on the more informal atmosphere at Corner because, as he says, learning about wine should not be an intimidating process. Corner 103 instead takes a more approachable route in order for patrons to decide for themselves which wines they enjoy. Interested in visiting Davis at Corner 103 should head to 103 W. Napa St. or learn more at corner103.com.
What inspired you to create a “non-intimidating” environment at Corner 103?
I have found that most people are afraid of wine. If they are not an expert, they will defer to other people to tell them what’s good and bad. When it comes to anything else, no one does that. And, in starting to see that and deciding to open my own wine brand, I wanted to help my guests understand that they are experts because everyone knows what they like and what they don’t.
What’s the biggest myth about drinking wine?
It’s probably that you have to go through the swirling, the looking at the light and the smelling before you taste the wine. I tell my guests to pick up the glass, put it to your lips and take a sip. You’re either going to like it or you’re not going to like it. Now, going through the swirling and the smelling and looking at the light is all helpful, but for me it’s not necessary.
All-time favorite wine and food pairing?
I’m a sucker for Italian food. Anything with a red sauce, from spaghetti and meatballs to lasagna. I’m a huge fan of that and with my Italian dishes that have a red sauce, I love my zinfandel. It just pairs exceptionally well with it.
How did your finance background lead to launching a wine brand?
It helped me understand that running a business has some basic fundamentals. You have to have a product or service that somebody wants and offer it at a price that someone is willing to pay. But a key part of that is making sure that what the customer wants to pay will allow you to make a profit on that product or service. That’s where a lot of people miss the mark, they don’t understand the true cost of producing the product or service.
What’s your favorite place to go in Sonoma County?
I grew up in New York in Rockaway, Queens, which is by the beach. So, when I have free time, I like going over to Bodega Bay, going to that part of the world.
Any seaside hobbies?
I like sailing. It’s one of the few things that relaxes me. When you’re out on the water you don’t have the noise of the engine, the fumes from the gasoline. You have the beautiful fresh air and to me it’s just totally relaxing.
Favorite restaurant in Sonoma?
I really like Cafe La Haye. It’s a small restaurant a little off the [Sonoma Plaza]. The food has always been amazing, and the staff has always been super nice, super friendly. The last time I was there I had the steak, and it was just cooked perfectly.
How was the shift of moving from the Big Apple to so-called Slow-noma?
It was a challenge. When I first started coming out here, I would spend two weeks here and then two weeks in New York. I was commuting back and forth. And then as I got more comfortable with the slower pace, I started spending more time here and less time in New York.
What’s your remedy for a bad day?
I have a glass of scotch. I love wine—but scotch gets me to my happy place a lot quicker.