Rebel Rose

True, but let's just pretend for a minute.

You are entirely correct, I did ask! And you have made some very good suggestions. I particularly like the idea of an 800 customer service desk. It would be a gracious way for the WSWA to dialogue directly with consumers, retailers, and wineries. I would like to address one point you made, particularly because so many people have phrased this the same way--that wineries are pursuing direct shipping in order to "increase their profit margins." As pointed out in the Washington Post article I cited, of the 4,000 wineries in the U.S., most are very small--under 5,000 cases. These wineries need direct shipping privileges in order to have a profit margin at all. You see, until the last few years, there were hardly any boutique wine distributors. Nearly all were national firms, or extremely powerful regional firms. They pretty much stick with larger production and/or famous brand names. Small wineries often cannot get representation at all. And as Duggan herself admitted in the quote from Wine Business Monthly, the WSWA doesn't even have smaller, boutique distributors in its membership! I don't think you need to worry about brands disappearing from the shelves. As direct shipping horizons expand, nationally distributed wineries will not pull out of wholesale/retail markets. Direct shipping requires a lot of time, physical labor and paperwork, or the cost of outsourcing. Sure, there's a higher profit margin in direct retail sales, although what many people don't consider when observing these numbers is that many wineries offer generous case and wine club discounts. What's really important to wineries is that we know every order is going directly to a consumer who really appreciates the product. Direct shipments to consumers also lack "market presence." Wineries need those cushy restaurant placements and high end retailers--that's what attracts new customers and (non-review) media attention. The truth is, it's customers as much as wineries that are driving the direct shipment movement. We're tired of saying "no," to our customers, and they're tired of hearing it. I agree with you on all your comments wholeheartedly. The underage argument was a really dumb stance. The tax collection argument was better, until the states with simple reporting and collection requirements piped up that there really isn't a problem. The WSWA's traditional negativity, self-absorbed interests and self-congratulatory praise is holding its members back from progress. I'd like to see a CEO that will focus on the positive. Wholesalers and distributors have untapped potential---hundreds, even thousands of products, that they have not looked at or bothered to carry. The new CEO should strive to make wholesalers relevant in a new market. The CEO should ask, what can we do to facilitate this exchange? Not, what can we do to prevent it. If I were CEO, I would look closely at the resentment that has built up between wine producers and wine wholesalers and eliminate the cause. I would open a dialogue with the Wine Institute and find out ways to turn that organization into an ally. I would welcome small distributorships, perhaps offer them reduced fees. I would encourage principals from some of the hot little distributorships to speak to the members about sales rep training and service issues. I would sponsor seminars about boutique wine productions and how to effectively move these products into the marketplace. (Many dist's consider small lots a pain because they're only available for a short time each year, but look at all the potential sales they are missing.) I also really like Mark's idea of establishing a help desk for consumers. What better way to increase relevancy than by establishing friendly contact with the end users?

Okay, I admit that's a trolling subtitle, but I couldn't resist. It's almost August and the forum appears to be languishing in the summer doldrums. Glut makes Australian wine cheaper than water So let's hear it! What are your favorite Aussie buys, and what's the price? And is the Australian glut a significant threat to American producers?

The CEO of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers Association, Juanita Duggan, is finally out. Here are my comments on her seven-year career, and Tom Wark'srecap. Can you believe that whole NAXON plan? Good golly . . . can you imagine only buying small production wines from one controlled site? Talk about monopolies! Who is her successor? Will we be better off? If you were the CEO of the WSWA, what changes would you make? What corporate and business logic would you apply to the dynamics of this organization? Or is this organization simply an irrecoverable albatross as far as small producers are concerned? I get the sense that it is positioning itself as an extreme opponent of the Wine Institute (which is headed up by Bobby Koch, GW Bush's brother-in-law). Is there any wisdom in fighting the future?

Wine & Spirits Wholesalers Association is changing the guard. What's gone? America's Enemy of Wine Consumers Leaves the Industry Queen of Smoke and Mirrors What's next?

Sneaks, I was being slightly sarcastic. I apologize if that wasn't clear.

Max and PurpleLips, I am with you on this subject. The idea that first growths are only consumed by passionistas is a myth. At these price points, wine becomes a desirable luxury acquisition. Some chateaux have long-standing clients that automatically purchase much of their production. (If I had Max's guillotine-sharp memory I would remember this gentleman's name, but I rely on business cards and can't find it right now . . . however, I met one charming German producer years ago whose entire production is purchased each year by the Queen by England.) Royal families and embassies purchase much of the first growth productions. After that, more of it is mopped up by people who will never truly appreciate it. I recently met a 32-year-old wine consultant from Dallas. He describes his job as purchasing, valuing, and maintaining wine inventories for private clients. He regularly gives them a cheat sheet of what's in their inventory that's rare and/or drinkable. I have met several other people who make a decent living (and acquire some fine perks) doing this. And then what's left is sold to those of us who would exchange our vintage Mustangs for a case of 2005 first growth. Well, okay, maybe not.

You're both right, actually. There is a new breed of wine hobbyist I call the 'wine flipper.' I would categorize a flipper as nearly always male, uberyuppie and image conscious. Probably passionate about wine, but just as likely to be as interested (or only interested) in having a fine wine cellar with some rare and expensive labels to show off. However, since he doesn't really have the income to purchase and consume all these bottles, he anxiously studies resale possibilities and 'flips' the wine (his own term) after a few years, thereby changing up his cellar. Spends a lot of time on WineBid.com and WineCommune.com. Will almost always take a photo of himself with a favorite winemaker for display, and will thereafter drop repeated references to said wm by first name in such a manner as to imply they are good friends. Sort of a 'Miles with Money.' Sound familiar to anyone?

Charles, thank you for maintaining your sense of humor in the face of these outrageous prices. What if 2007 turns out to be the vintage of the millenium? It's fruit! It'll be there again next year.

My first choice would be a Burgundy-styled pinot noir, something lighter with acidity and earth/mushroom overtones--always nice with a range of flavors, particularly olives--or a tropical, tank-fermented chardonnay, chilled. Oh, now you've got me thinking about grilled ahi tonight with a Windward gold label pinot, and I could finish off the bottle tomorrow night with a Nicoise spinach salad . . .

In many ways this is true, but I think generic styling applies most often to large productions. Limited productions are more likely to reflect terroir and/or individuality as the winemakers have less concern about having to sell tens of thousands of cases.

I am a firm believer in terroir and the importance of site. But sometimes, when I hear arguments claiming that the proximity of eucalyptus trees creates eucalyptus aromas in wine--either through the soil or airborne oils--my irreverent sense of humor takes over and I just can't help but wonder . . . . Our neighbors are putting in lavender fields immediately to the north of us. Will that be good for the syrah? What about the zin? My field garden is between the zin and syrah lots. I was going to plant elephant garlic this fall. Thoughts? Every spring between rains we spray the soil in the zinfandel lot with fish emulsion. Maybe not a good idea? If eucalyptus oils coating the grapes produce eucalyptus flavors, what will bird poop produce?

Now that is fascinating! Truly a detective's POV. Gives me a whole new take on tattered awnings.

I don't find it puzzling at all. Perhaps Chris' producers could explain in more detail, but I think it only makes sense, if Chris' first season is to be a success, to focus on markets with strong local viewership, and for this particular concept, to also use cities that attract a lot of business travelers who would enjoy discovering interesting, affordable, non-tourist-trap venues.

From Decanter, Parker slams Medoc for 'pride, provincial jealousies and greed' And from the same article:

Chef Ramsay Stings Celebrity Winemaker Comments were put forth that Richard had tasted "six" wines previously, and that presenting an expensive wine overchallenged his palate. Hmmm. One wonders how he gets through an afternoon of barrel sampling or blending trials.

Two North Coast wineries are in one Big Ass label dispute.

Congratulations, George! According to Decanter, The Judgment of Paris has been optioned as a movie by Clear Pictures Entertainment in Studio City, California. The movie will tentatively star Hugh Grant and Jude Law.

Music and cars--what an excellent analogy. You're totally right, John. I never thought of it that way . . . As for comparing the WA and WS, they are different, but similar in their focus on 100 pt. scores. I just found Miller's statistics on readership for both interesting. I guess men are different.

Goodness, Shanklin is getting curmudgeonly. More than half the fun of the Paris re-enactment is watching the opinionated fallout afterward.

What an amazing opportunity! Congratulations, Chris. And how exciting for our members to be involved in the hunt for locations. Will the network be selecting the cities for each episode based on viewing demographics or culinary potential? Or will you get to have some say in the selection of each city? Will you get to borrow police cars? What will the show be called? Food Beat? And what do your co-workers have to say about your new project??

According to this article by Christian Miller of Full Glass Research, women's tastes in wine do not really differ that much from men's. But subscribers to the Wine Advocate are 4-1 male, and 2-1 male for the Wine Spectator. According to Miller, men also rated the buying influence of these publications higher. On the other hand, there are "women's" wine websites, newsletters, and even a magazine, and they don't seem to attract the same competitive posting on their related forums as the men's forums do . . . so maybe women just prefer not to discuss wine online as much. But I wonder, might some publications and reviewers skew toward their male readership because their feedback comes primarily from a metro-centric, competitive, male audience? If a young woman just getting seriously into wine asked you for a reference to wine publications, which writers and publications would you recommend? (Personally I love the Wine Advocate, and don't care for the Wine Spectator, but then I'm kind of a wine tomboy.)

we should all drink what we can and be happy wether in Petrus or Puppy kibble. I can't decide which of these lines to use as a sig quote!

Received today from the Wine Spectator . . . Wine Spectator Editor Blogs