The article discusses Jonathan Newman's efforts as chairman of PA's Liquor Control Board to negotiate good prices for PA consumers in return for educating and opening up a new market of wine buyers to wineries. This is probably already being discussed on the board but I thought there might be some additional tidbits or perspectives that might be interesting to folks.
When he visits Napa and Sonoma county wineries three times a year, Newman asks for shocking discounts, such as two-thirds off the original wholesale price. Do they protest? Perhaps some do, but more often the winery proprietors say yes and then serve him a gourmet lunch -- though he says he prefers Jack in the Box tacos.
In less than three years as PLCB chairman, Newman, 43, has transformed Pennsylvania from an enological backwater into arguably the best place in America to buy wine. His Chairman's Selection program regularly offers fine wines from California at prices as low as a third of suggested retail. And not just California -- wineries from Italy, Spain and Chile also bow to his buying power.
edited to add: courtesy of PamelaF's diligent digests of the SF Chromicle each week.
Edited by ludja, 05 May 2005 - 07:52 PM.
