LUSAN – Distell Corp. Premium Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa• Neethlinghof Winery• Stellenzicht WinerySwanson Vineyards, Napa ValleyHAWESKO Germany for special assignments • “US-Guilt Marketing” • Finding a partner for the US market

In 1986 Esser took over Cuvaison Winery in Napa Valley, owned by the Swiss Schmidheiny Family. Sales were down considerably with a high-accumulated loss. Two years later, the winery broke even. When he left Cuvaison, Export share was 25% and total sales were 70,000 cases at high-end super-premium level. Esser’s unique customer approach, to “Cuvainize” them, converting the clients into “Company Ambassadors” made the winery one of the most successfully in the industry. He sold his partnership in the winery in 1998.Started an innovative approach sales approach, "Guilt Marketing," which he has presented to sales teams worldwide in Europe, Asia and the US.

Esser began his professional career and a salesman for a large European winery. In 1974 he came to the United States and in a short period developed from zero (acting as President and CEO) a multi-million dollar Wine Import and Marketing Business (Pieroth/WIV-USA) based in Chicago. When he left, he was in charge of 30 sales offices with 500 employees selling an international wine portfolio.