Blogcritics Comments on Winery Tasting Rooms: Trick or Treat?

Comment by marisa d'vari on Winery Tasting Rooms: Trick or Treat?

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 03:21:52 EDT

Thanks Sarah, good point! In today's NYT there is an article about this ... I referenced it at my blog here

Comment by Sarah on Winery Tasting Rooms: Trick or Treat?

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:13:33 EDT

I've been wine tasting for the past 20+ years, ever since my parents introduced me to wine when I came of age. I can understand when a fee is charged for tasting at a festival, where there may be a large crowd, and the winery has little control over how much people drink. But quite frankly, I think the practice of charging at the winery is just plain greed, and is an insult to the customer. The winery should take care to make sure that the staff offering the tasting is well versed, well paid, and well capable of distiguishing between a sober customer and an intoxicated one. If they can't do that, they don't have any business offering wine to taste - paid or not.

Comment by marisa d'vari on Winery Tasting Rooms: Trick or Treat?

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:36:18 EDT

Thanks Phillip, appreciate your wise comment!

Comment by Phillip Winn on Winery Tasting Rooms: Trick or Treat?

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:16:01 EDT

World Market was recently offering a big discount for purchases of four or more bottles (matching or not). I should have jumped on it! I think the problem is that vintners are not economists, and some are lying. Yes, it's a good idea to charge *something*, to screen out the freeloaders and so on. But some of them are using that excuse but then charging enough to more than cover their costs. They've turned a marketing expense into a profit center, and aren't being up-front about it. To achieve the benefits they're claiming, they wouldn't have to charge much at all. Freeloaders tend to be freeloaders, not cheaploaders, so charging even very little would accomplish the same thing. Applying the cost of the tasting as a credit toward purchases that same day is another brilliant move that more wineries ought to try. Great article, thanks!

Comment by marisa d'vari on Winery Tasting Rooms: Trick or Treat?

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 23:52:34 EDT

You are so right! Recently, I was at a unique wine shop that "rewarded" shoppers in two ways: 1) when they bought more than 12 bottles, they got a HUGE discount on every bottle and they didn't all have to be the same wine. 2) they received "points" they could use for tastings. Sweet!

Comment by Joe Becerra on Winery Tasting Rooms: Trick or Treat?

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 11:31:53 EDT

The best tasting room policy is when the fee can be applied to the purchase of wine. This is a "Win-Win" situation for both the winery and the visitor to the tasting room. I am surprised at how few wineries have adopted this type of tasting fee.