The Wine Knows

There is a link to a related Tri-City Herald article here:

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/929/story/319507.html

Speaking personally, I would do a Hoppes tour, if nothing else -- Fidelitas, Goose Ridge, and Gamache. That would be a fun way of comparing his hand with different wines in bottle and barrel, and also, my friend Mitch who runs the tasting room at Gamache always cooks up something good to pair with a wine. And these are all within proximity. I would also stop in to Canon de Sol, which is between Fidelitas and Goose Ridge (the back way). Charlie Hoppes was a big influence in this winery early on, and Victor Cruz, the proprietor, sometimes has my favorite local Mexican chef catering. Victor is only open to the public two weekends a year. Around the corner from Gamache, Bookwalter always has something fun going on.

Well I hope to make it to Gordon Brothers winery. They are seldom open, so I hope to taste their wines. They have some lovely Syrahs.

David

Don't go Sunday. The Wasps will be there.

I will report back that we skirted the crowds, and only ran into one this morning at Airfield. We were pretty much by ourselves at Walla Walla Village, K Winery, Donitelia, Badger Mtn and Powers, Piety Flats, Apex, Masset, Canyon's Edge, and Tasawik--not in that order, of course.
At all but one winery, and I wont say which one, we had a nice chat with the owners or employees about the wine, which is why we go. The one exception was a winery where the pourer had to come out of a back room and she made us feel like we were really bothering her. She didn't even light up much when we bought a bottle....
So, thanks for the tips..

we bought at least one bottle at each winery we visited.

We try to do that also, although there have been exceptions where the wine is really bad and really expensive.

heeheehaahaaheeheehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Funny, sad, and true......

Cheers!
Tim

Thanks.

We have been to Fidelitas many times but have not yet been to the other two so we will try those. I am proud to say we have been to just about every winery in the Yakima/Tri-cities area over the past few years and I suppose we should head north one of these times and start the Chelan tour. But so many of my favorites are in the Columbia Valley area that its hard to break away.

I havent ever seen the scooters, just the tour buses and limos, but we will keep an eye out. In those cases are stealth tasters and if the place is really crowded, then we slip out the door and head to the next place, or we corner a server so we can buy. Unless I really dont care for the wine, we usually buy a bottle at every place we go to, especially if the wine is only available at the winery. The only exception is when it is too hot to keep the wine in the car and the cooler is full! In that case, I look for it over here...although we recently discovered the grocery store you guys have been referring to, so we will probably end up there too. Paradisio del Sol is on my list of places I need to revisit. Last year we had fun at the Kennewick festival watching the grape stomping contests.

Just try to avoid the "scooter club," which wreaks havoc during Catch the Crush and other wine events. They descend like locusts, sucking every bottle dry while smoking cigs and gobbling up every bit of cheese in sight.

Hi, your location has been submitted for consideration by the West Coast Scooter Council as a future site of our national rally. With attendance anticipated at 500 scooterist, your community will be "abuzz" by all sorts of scooter folk. Everything from casual weekend riders to the more hardcore outlaw sets.

Our rally has received mixed reviews in the past, however, next years event will have more security than in previous years. This years unfortunate events in the Bay area will not be repeated. The sight and sound of 400-500 vintage 2 stroke scooters is truly a sight to behold.

Final site selection will be voted on in January. Hopefully we'll see you next Fall.

Rudy Perez

Warlord/ Public Relations Officer

Lucky Bastards Scooter Gang

Hey Rudy,

That's pretty funny.... I see you have been a member of this online community for a whopping 15 minutes... just long enough to post this. You must be a friend of the purduefan person??? Or just some pinhead trying to get everyone riled up? Or one of the high class, highly paid professional mommies or daddies in the club trying your hardest to improve your groups reputation? Your alleged public relations skills leave me in awe. I just googled your "gang", and found a Myspace page about the Lucky Bastards Scooter Club, and in the comments there was a note about the Bacchus Raucus last weekend. It said that part of your activities would be "visiting Prosser to drink free wine", among other things. That is exactly the attitude we have been talking about in this thread, and confirms what we all suspected about your group, despite your group's (or their affiliates) claims to the contrary. I personally will contact every winery in the Columbia Valley to encourage them to turn you away at the door. After all, the business owners/wineries have the right to refuse service to anyone. That should cut down on the chewing gum left under the tables, the plugged toilets, and the sudden drop in the average IQ in the Columbia Valley when your group infests the area. By the way, the name "Dirty Whores Scooter Club", from Richland, Washington (who posted that information on your Myspace page) sounds like a real group of winners, too. I wonder, are no1purduefan and zohntastic members of this group? Hmmmmm.... For anyone who wants to check out what I am saying, here is the page for the "Dirty Whores"- http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=330787786 Cut and paste if this doesn't show up in a hyperlink since it shows up on two lines here. Here is the page for the Lucky Bastards Scooter Club- http://www.myspace.com/luckybastardsscooterclub

If anyone of the regular readers wants to see what the scooter clubs are really up to, here you go! Sort of leaves their arguments in the dust....

Jeers,
Tim

For photos of scooterists buying and enjoying wine, eating at local establishments, supporting small businesses (restaurants, tattoo artists, and more) and having a grand time, feel free to visit http://scoot.net/gallery/2008/09/bacchusraucous/

Timinspokane, we saved a bunch of corks for you. I'd be happy to recommend a few places where you can insert them.

Gee perduesno1fan..... you shouldn't have! You have really outdone yourself this time. Your charm and wit are quite obvious now that I am getting to know you. I think I will pass on the offer for the corks. I am pretty sure I already know where they have been, and unlike you, I take pride in my personal hygiene. I also looked at the link you posted, and indeed, it looks like you are a very well mannered, polite group of classy individuals. Your picture was most stunning. I have never seen a beard that thick on a woman before. I guess it comes in handy for hiding all of the cheese you steal at the wineries for breakfast the next morning. I hear it pairs beautifully with Olde English 800.

One last thought... between you and Rudy Perez, you have certainly given all of the wineries a big reason to welcome you with open arms next year! Any winery would be proud to have such a fine infestation.

Tim,

The irony here is that I was on the verge of giving this group the benefit of the doubt based primarily on Jen's thoughtful discourse.

Then the rest of the scooterists showed their true colors and reminded me why I shouldn't bother.

Hey Andy,

I was thinking the same thing. How ironic.... to quote the Alanis Morrisette song "Ironic", they are like "a black fly in our chardonnay".

Cheers!
Tim

We descend like a swarm of wasps, my dear- Vespa is Italian for Wasp. But what do you care? Sounds like you're too intimidated- er, pretentious?- to attend the "large event weekends." We'll miss you!

Given the - it must be said - snotty attitudes of the Wasp defenders, one would think that they have no intention of cooling it a bit this weekend, or making up the losses to the wineries with purchases.

Since the Wasp posters seem to be presenting themselves as leaders of their group, we can expect their true colors to show over the next couple of days. The reports of how they acted over the weekend will be interesting next week.

Well, my dear, I'm never pretentious and rarely intimidated. I have experienced your group first hand enough times to know that I have far better things to do with my time that venture out when all y'all are drinking and scooting.

You amuse yourselves - and nobody else. Does that make you clever or foolish?

You have "experienced" our group once, you are obviously amused or else you wouldn't continue these comments, and again, you are using your professional platform (blogs supported by the magazines/newspapers you work for) to push your personal agenda.

Again, keep amusing yourself. Meanwhile, work on your reading comprehension.

As far as pushing personal agendas, you are again sorely mistaken. I took up this issue as it relates to tasting fees. I could not care less about people riding around on Vespas (wish I had one, frankly). I do care about tasting fees because this issue relates to wine lovers in the Pacific Northwest. That's what I write about. It's not personal; it's business.

You think you're clever. I supposed that within your circle of Wasps, you probably are.

Anyone have any Raid?

Cheers!
Tim

Ok Andy, help me out with this one. You referenced the "scooter club which wreaks havoc, smoking cigs, gobbling up the goods". So please clarify the "scooter club": is the groups of motorcyclists or senior tour groups? (Don't take my signature too literally, it is just a joke)

The "scooter club" is a group of Vespa enthusiasts. I suppose they ride other kinds of scooters, too.

They live all over the Northwest and hold events. One of them is in wine country. They come from Seattle, Portland and other regions. Apparently, they tow their scooters here, then ride them around wine country. They think the wineries like them because winery owners and workers are generally polite and too shocked to say much when the group shows up.

There are a couple of locals who say they come back to the wineries later to buy wine. My contacts at the winery say they are not good customers.

I wrote about this group, holding it up as an example of why tasting fees are put into place throughout the Northwest. No, they aren't the only reason. No, they aren't even the main reason (bus groups and bachelorette parties are the primary culprits). But they embody everything that is wrong with wine touring and why many of us avoid big event weekends.

These folks deeply dislike me because I point out their foibles - apparently something nobody else has had the courage to do.

I will say this: Winery owners have said that the scooterists have cleaned up their act somewhat since my article on them. They still don't buy wine, and they still seem to care more about drinking than tasting. But apparently they're more polite about it now.

Your comments have made it through the grapevine already. The scooter club is a fearsome bunch of folks, it's true. Highly-paid professional mommies and daddies on equally expensive vintage and modern Italian motor scooters. Prepare yourself for the terror. We're so unclassy and uncouth- that's why we hold an annual event touring award-winning wineries. Be afraid!

You said it! Unclassy and uncouth... I personally could care less if you are highly paid or professional. The fact remains that most of these wineries are truly small businesses and rely on customers that visit, enjoy their time at the winery, and purchase a bottle or six to enjoy in the years to come. It is hard for the real customers and patrons to enjoy themselves when a boistrous crowd storms tasting rooms, taking up all of the space at the table, using the palate cleansers for snacks (after all, riding those scooters really works up an appetite!), sucks the place dry, and leave in a cloud of dust thinking that everyone should feel privileged that they were graced by the mere presence of such highly paid professional mommies and daddies on their expensive, vintage "Wasps" with wheels.

Most of us like the chance to visit with the winemaker, learn more about their methods and varietals produced, and develop relationships with those who are practicing and perfecting their craft while sampling their liquid art. People, such as the aforementioned tour groups, bachelorette parties, and the plagues of locusts (sorry... Wasps...) who think that tasting rooms are good for a free happy hour should really go bar hopping. Besides, most bars serve free popcorn. No purchase necessary.

No "Cheers" this time,
Tim

ps.... just because you choose to tour award winning wineries doesn't make you classy. Annoying real, paying patrons so that they don't want to show up on the event weekends simply hurts the very establishments that I would think you "classy, highly-paid professionals" would like to support and encourage.

But not impressed either. Thanks Andy, we will adjust our choices accordingly.

Andy, thanks for clarifying. I did miss the post you directed me too as we had been participating in a major event at the time. Activities as you described, be they scooter clubs, large bus tours, or moving parties can detract from routine wine tasting trips or special event weekend wine tastings. I hate to see the increasing number of tasting fees popping up at wineries, but, ofcourse, the economics are clear why they are becoming so prevalent. Wineries have to cover the cost of wine, staff, and during events, special foods and snacks supplied. Fortunately in our northwest area, most tasting fees are refundable with purchase. A couple traveling together can easily share a pore, thus incur just 1 tasting fee.

I must admit, I have never run into the scooter brigade. Thank goodness! Is this a new phenomonon because of the high gas prices? Are the tour busses now run as scooter tours? ;) We tend to avoid many of the big event weekends simply because of the tour busses and groups partying their way through the valley. I know lots of people who also avoid the situation, which is very sad for the wineries. I can certainly understand the issue of tasting fees being implemented to cover the costs of the wine, food, and extra staff. As long as the tasting fees are refunded upon purchase, I have no problem with them. It does help to weed out some of the leeches and free-drink seekers.

We ran into a big bus full of seasoned citizens at Basel Cellars last spring... it would have been a lot more fun to see them all zipping around on scooters... and little sidecars for those with canes and walkers... and you are right - most drank the wine, but very few actually bought anything. It was about 11:30am and must have close to lunch time for them, since they must have eaten about $200 worth of cheese, hors d'eurves (did I spell that right?), sweets, breads, crackers, and anything else they could get their hands on. C'mon, people... this ain't Granny's Buffet! Last year during our trip to Sonoma and Napa, we got out of the Napa/St. Helena zoo after less than an hour and two attempted visits to wineries we really wanted to check out. Limousines and busses were everywhere, taking up the parking, crowding the tasting rooms, and making it a totally futile exercise. We left and went back over to the Sonoma side... we also spent a considerable amount of money on wine there!

I will stick to my Town Car with the cooler in the trunk, some Pink Floyd on the stereo, and my beautiful blonde wife next to me! We will continue to avoid the big event weekends because of the thoughtless boors who think it is their God given right to take advantage of the hospitality of the wineries and the good will of fellow wine travelers. If anyone ever sees me stumbling off of a tour bus with a pocketfull of cheese from the last winery and a $5 bill for another glass of wine, just shoot me and bury me next to some cab vines at Champoux.... someplace with a view would be just fine! Now, back to my 2005 Fort Walla Walla cab before I get completely stupid.

Cheers!
Tim

My first post (have lurked for quite some time), but it had to be a kudos post to Andy for taking on the "Scooter Crowd/Club" once again. Can't wait to read the letters you get this time from those complaining about your lack of understanding to that crowd! I'm with you on your thoughts of them wreaking havoc!!!

Here's the article I wrote on tasting fees and the scooterists (click).

Scooter rallies (what we do every year during Catch the Crush) are put on by scooter clubs all over the country, even the world. The purpose of these rallies is to get people together with a common interest, just like public tasting events. Since people travel to these rallies for one main interest, the clubs that are hosting often try to incorporate another passion specific to the area so visitors can get to know what, in this case, The Columbia Valley, is all about. Since many of us local scooterists in town also share a passion for wine we decided about six years ago to hold our rally, entitled Bacchus Raucous, during Catch the Crush each year in hopes of exposing our friends to the wonderful wines we have to offer.

“Six years? I haven’t seen these annoying pests around for the last six years!” you say? The only reason you all know of our presence is because of Mr. Perdue’s stunning article, and the only reason he ever noticed us is because attendance has grown exponentially over the years (Bacchus Raucous I consisted of eight people!), hence the “swarm of locusts.” The number in attendance this year is expected to be upwards of 75.

Every year, we do everything in our power to encourage responsible and polite tasting practices amongst our guests. We ALWAYS bring bottled water and snacks, as well as a vehicle to store bottles and yes, even cases of wine. We have even gone so far as to include a sheet filled with tasting room etiquitte tips in the bag of goodies our guests recieve. Whether they choose to follow these guidelines is up to them.

As I’ve stated earlier, we are expected to have a total of about 75 bikes this year. We aren’t scheduled to go to any wineries on Friday, we are going to the Prosser Vintner’s Village on Saturday and Gordon Brother’s Winery on Sunday. If you would like to know exactly what we are doing so you can avoid us altogether, check out www.bacchusraucous.com, or who knows? Maybe after all of your wine tasting you would like to stop by and visit us “crazy” scooterists at a local show, or bbq. We aren’t picky, welcome everyone, and won’t trash talk you for not knowing how to rock out to a punk show. The truth is, no matter how much you bad mouth us we are here to stay, so you can “avoid us like the plague”, or you can put up with us for one day a year and learn a little bit about our culture as we learn about yours. Who knows, maybe we’ll make some friends along the way.

If any of you have any questions about scooters, the rally, or anything in general, feel free to contact me at jenifernoel@yahoo.com.

Jenifer Zohn

You want to prove your responsibility? I'd challenge everyone in your group to purchase one bottle of wine at each winery you stop at. Do that and I will sing/write your praises. You'll also go a long way toward making yourselves more welcome by the wineries.

It's fairly simple. Most folks on this board buy a lot more wine than that on a weekend like this.

Up for this challenge?

Let's take scooters out of the equation for just one minute. What I would like to know is why on earth anyone should feel obligated to buy one bottle at every winery? I don't buy wine that I don't enjoy, and therefore occasionally run across a winery from which I do not leave with a purchase. That would be silly. However, if you find a winery you enjoy, then yes, support with purchases. Which I do, more frequently each year as I am able to afford it.

Hey retro,

I actually agree with your comments. If you visit a winery and you simply don't like their wines or their style, you needn't purchase a bottle - or even a coaster from the gift shop if you don't want to!

The point of this conversation, and the concern of most writers here, isn't people like you who visit with the intent of sampling the wines and, if you find something that you like, purchasing it. The concerns being expressed have to do with people who visit the wineries with no intention of buying anything at all and are there simply to drink free wine, eat free food, crowd out (even if unintentional) legitimate patrons (such as yourself), and generally abuse both the hospitality and the (often) very small bottom lines of the businesses and artisans that we all strive to promote and, possibly selfishly, protect!

Admittedly, I have visited two wineries where I didn't make a purchase. At one, I simply thought their wines sucked.... there was nothing there that I would ever want to drink, they weren't well made, and the prices were ridiculous. The second winery (a fairly well known Walla Walla winery) had been overrun just before we arrived by a tour bus. (This happened on the Walla Walla Spring Release Weekend in early May.) The tasting room was crowded by some very nice seniors who seemed to think that a free lunch was included in their wine tour ticket price. Tables full of expensive cheeses, assorted breads and crackers, fruits, decadent chocolates, and exotic fruits were devoured before our eyes - and this was at 11:30 in the morning! I hope they had a lot more food in back... The winery had really spent some time and money on making a great showing on that weekend, and I applaud them for that, but that bus load of very nice (and I am not being sarcastic - there were some neat older folks there) people ate everything in sight. It was like half price night at Granny's Buffet in there... Then, there was the line at the tasting bar... we didn't totally appreciate their wines, but couldn't get a word in to the pourers or (a person who I believe was) the assistant winemaker. They were also sold out of the one wine I was going to buy before I even got there (based on some good press). We left, frustrated, and spent the rest of the day outrunning the aforementioned tour bus, who happened to be traveling the same road we were.

Aside from those two wineries, I personally have always found something at every winery I have visited (and that number is easily over 200+) that I either immediately liked, thought would be a good cellar candidate, or was inexpensive enough that it could serve as a decent daily drinker. I don't feel any obligation to buy at everyplace I go (unless our appointment was "by appointment"), but I do know that I want to support the wineries and winemakers and thank them for their hard work, for taking the risk, and for opening their doors so that I can broaden my palate and knowledge of the wonderful world of wine.

Since the wineries make so little on grocery store, wine shop, and restaurant sales, it is people like us who can make the difference between some wineries staying open or closing their doors. On behalf of everyone here, like yourself, whose intent is to purchase, thank you!

Cheers,
Tim

Perhaps I'm different than most, but I always buy a bottle of wine before leaving a tasting room (if I'm there as a wine taster, not a journalist).

I always look for at least one wine I would not mind drinking later. Sometimes, I end up with bottles that I don't want to drink.

I have a collection of wines I call "Pity Purchases" that came from wineries that just didn't make a decent wine. I don't feel bad about making the purchase because all or almost all were inexpensive. Plus, I wanted to support the winery for having a tasting room.

Again, I might be different than most. I'm not saying my way is right, but that is the way I am.

I think I buy wine that I like or someone else might/would like. I really don't buy the wine if I don't like them. I understand where you are coming from. You might also be in an awkward position being a wine critic/judge. I am sure if you go into a winery and don't buy any, that might be considered judgmental. (To some, not me. You're still a person.)
When I worked at a tasting room, there were several people who would come in and wouldn't buy. It kind of bugged me at first, but I got used to it. It happened enough that I had to come to terms with it. Some people like to taste and go buy the wine elsewhere, such as online or the grocery/liquor store. Maybe they have seen the wine listed on a restaurant wine list and were curious. I talked with a lot of travelers, wine brokers and restaurateurs wanted to taste and didn't need to or couldn't because of the situation. (People love to talk when they have wine.)

Hence my rambling...

During our last trip to Walla Walla, we bought 42 bottles of wine plus two magnums from Forgeron. We also spent 3 nights in a local hotel and ate out every meal. The bill (and I am not boasting) was over $2000 for the weekend, including $1500 worth of wine for the cellar. That is not an extreme amount compared to many others we traveled with and met along the way. And it is those dollars that truly support the wineries and local economy. I wonder how much the Wasp invasion REALLY costs the area?

Tim

Cheers!
Tim

my question for you andy is since when does wine tasting require that you purchase? When you test drive a car or have a sample at the grocery store you are not required to purchase the car or the item of food you are trying. Isnt that part of marketing and advertising dollars?

Are you upset that we don't buy a million bottles of wine or that we kill your buzz? I am not trying to attack you I am just curious. A little rational objective information will help.

Also earlier you (or maybe it was someone else) said that wineries do not ask us to leave when we show up because they are too shocked. I don't know which wineries you have spoken to in order to confirm this but we usually call all of the wineries we want to visit in advance to let them know we are coming and ask if it is ok.

Jen

Hey zohntastic,

I am pretty passionate about this topic, so I will weigh in, too.

You are absolutely correct in that there is no requirement to make a purchase when visiting a tasting room. The winery does expect some "marketing" expense in the complimentary one ounce pours, palate cleansers, snacks and gourmet foods at the large event weekends, extra staffing, etc. However, comparing this to free samples of hot dogs or cheese at Costco or test driving a car is a ridiculous exercise!

Most visitors (bachelorette parties and "Wasp" infestations apparently excluded) visit the winery with the intention of sampling several different wines and purchasing one or more bottles that they most prefer. I, and every fellow wine enthusiast that I know, always buy at least one bottle at every tasting room we visit to both support these small business owners and fellow wine fanatics and to show our appreciation for the extremely hard work and huge financial risk and investment they have made. When groups show up simply to drink free wine and to have a mobile party, they take advantage of the hospitality of the wineries and, judging by the comments this topic is stimulating, scare off legitimate customers. Thus, you have having a double negative impact on the wineries.

Humor me for a minute and do the math. I am using VERY conservative numbers here... Your fellow writers have stated that there will be 75 highly paid professional mommies and daddies participating in this years ride. Out of the 75, let's say that only 50 of them are actually tasting. My experience has been that most wineries are pouring at least 4 different wines (and often 5 to 8). Assuming one ounce tastes of each 4 wines and 50 tasters, that is 8 bottles of wine your group consumes at each winery (200 pours at one ounce = 200 ounces, divided by 25 ounces per bottle = 8 bottles). At an average price of $25 per bottle, that is a minimum of $200 worth of wine, not to mention food (at event weekends, where most wineries have catering services) which could easily cost another $2 per person. So, using what I feel are very conservative numbers, your group's visit (or infestation?) cost the winery somewhere in the neighborhood of $300 or easily more - for each and every winery you visit. Even with a $5 tasting fee, the winery is still losing money on your fun, especially if you get to keep the glass! Granted, some of your group will purchase a bottle here and there, but considering you are on scooters, and the fact that your following car/vehicle has limited space, the fact remains that you are costing the wineries a lot of money even if your group does purchase a bottle here and there. And this doesn't even take into account other visitors and potential customers who drive right on by a winery, not stopping to taste and purchase, when they see a parking lot full of Vespas and 75 or more people crowding out the other "real" customers and patrons. It also doesn't take into account all of the people who simply stay away from these weekends because of groups such as yours.

Yes, you do have every right to do what you do, and if your group has cleaned up its act a bit, I am sure everyone appreciates it. But, the fact remains that groups such as yours are not positive contributors to the event weekends or to the wineries and small business people who are often in the wine business simply as a labor of love. Most of the wineries have a very small profit margin, and when people like the other criticizers who are writing here stay away from the event weekends because of groups such as yours, that margin gets even smaller.

When deciding on future events for your club, I sure hope that you take this to heart. As high class people, I am sure your intent isn't to hurt the wineries by taking advantage of their hospitality and chase away paying customers, right?

Tim (another buyer and wine lover who won't be there for the crush festivities)

Jen, you have chosen to use a test drive of a car, or tasting a sample at the grocery store, to justify your "we have no obligation to the winery" attitude.

Well guess what? If all of you showed up at the same time to test drive a car, or mobbed a tasting table at a grocery store, you would have the same impact on those businesses as you do at a winery. It is the impact on the business that is at issue. I can handle one boor at a winery tasting counter, but a mob of them makes me go somewhere else. You guys, if you are going to do the mass attack thing, need to make up for the wine purchases that I and others do not make because of your excess. Or just acknowledge that you would rather take advantage of the winery's inability to exclude you.

Hey guys. Sorry about not getting back to you. I don't really have time to respond in depth as I am busy putting together this weekend event, but I will say this:

Whoever gave me actual figures about cost thank you. I will consider this. I will also compare this with the winery I worked for and others our members have worked for in the past. I will also be conducting a survey to see just how much wine we purchase throughout the year (NOT just this weekend because for most of us the only time we go tasting is this weekend and most of our wine is purchased in local grocery stores or online) and compare this with the cost we accrue over this weekend to the wineries we visit. More to come on this....

Whoever made the statement about my comparisons of wine tasting to test driving a car, thank you. I realize that is not the best comparison.

Again I don't have numbers yet, but I must say that we do consume a lot of wine throughout the year. Maybe not as much as you all, but we are paying customers, and I'm not talking about bottles of generic, tastes like piss (excuse my language) wine from a mass factory. I'm talking about good, locally made wines. Based on responses I have received from members so far, we each purchase, on average, about $700-$1000 in local wine. There are about 25 of us in total.

Although my friend "perduesno1fan" stated that we are highly paid professional mommies and daddies, I must say that is not entirely true. Sure some of us are, but most (like myself) are working class citizens that scrape together $500 to buy a vespa in pieces and slowly acquire parts to be able to put it back together.

Andy, we will not participate in your "challenge" because a) As stated earlier, we can't force people from out of town to purchase, and b) while some of us can afford to, others cannot which is why we spread our purchases out throughout the year (I myself did not purchase my first case of wine until just recently, and that was only because I was working as the office manager for Tagaris and received a discount. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able) Also, if you would be so kind to tell me the wineries you spoke to about us and who you spoke to I would love to check your references.

Although some of you may think we are not dedicated to the local wine industry, you are wrong. I have worked in the wine industry, my family has worked in the wine industry for several years, and several other members have worked for wineries in town in the past. We did not do this for the money (I think everyone that knows the wine industry, especially small, local wineries, knows that you don't exactly go into it for the money), we did it because we love wine.

Going by "first hand experience" based on one day a year is just not rational and a comment from a tasting room attendant based on their one encounter with us is not rational either. What these employees don't know is that we are buying their wine all year online and at grocery stores.

I made a mistake earlier. We are not going to Gordon Brothers on Sunday. We are going to Preston.

My goal in all of this is not to prove a point. It is to determine why you don't like us, and to back up that reason with FACT, not opinion.

If some of you would like to say high in Prosser on Saturday and find out who we ACTUALLY are, feel free. I think you will find we are nice people, just like you, who want to enjoy our weekend. We may look different. We may have a slightly different idea of enjoying our weekend, but we all come for the same reason.

More FACT to come...

Jen

I think that the thing to bear in mind is that to the winery, the tasting room is like a separate business. Sure, the tasting rooms are good marketing devices -- someone who has had a good experience at a tasting room is more likely to pick up a bottle of that winery's wine at a super market -- but the winery pockets relatively little on a bottle sold off-site compared with tasting room sales, given that the grocery store bottle has to provide income to the distributor and the grocer. The tasting rooms, aside from the marketing aspect, need to turn a profit, as a quasi-stand-alone business, and so if a room doesn't charge a fee (which I prefer that they do, actually) and the wine and service have been acceptable, own should feel obligated to make a purchase. Of course, there are extenuating circumstances -- for example, I sometimes bicycle to Red Mountain, but I have been to these rooms enough that I don't feel bad not loading up a bike trailer with wine (when out of town, one can ask for a wine shipment, obviously).

As far as bachelorette parties, I do have some tasting room service experience, and my Junes are relatively free. I can be contacted at andyplymale@gmail.com

Cheers, no jeers

There is no requirement, which is why your group takes advantage of the wineries. Many folks who regularly visit wineries buy a bottle or two at nearly every winery, especially if they like the wine. That's why I challenge your group to do the same. Be good wine citizens.

I spoke to a couple of winery owners in the past hour. Neither looks forward to "the scooter group" showing up, though one tossed a compliment your way: "The bachelorette parties are way worse!"

Actually, they said you've cleaned up your act since I wrote about you two years ago. It's good you call ahead now. That's something you apparently weren't doing before.

So I again challenge you: Each of your members buy a bottle of wine at every winery you visit. It's good for business. It's good karma. It's good wine.

People buying one bottle at every establishment they visit is not unique or an unusual practice. And not an overly expensive way to spend an afternoon. Because really, how many wineries can an average consumer REALLY taste effectively at in a day (since I can only assume how much spitting is really done in tasting rooms)?

We have been wine tasting for 12 years in various regions (all over California, Oregon and Washington). We started when I was a lowly graduate student (i.e., didn't make much money at all) We went, we tasted and we bought within our price range - learning quickly which tasting rooms were NOT within our price range! (Like walking into Opus One and being asked if we had reservations - no - but finding out they could acccomodate us and that a one ounce pour was $25. We left since we couldn't even afford a taste for each of us.)

We have always maintained that as long as there are no tasting fees we will always buy a bottle of wine. (I even bought a bottle at a winery in Illinois on a business trip. And it remains sealed to this point for a reason.) If there are tasting fees - which I am not opposed to - then we make the judgment to buy or not based solely upon the wine. For us, it's being a good patron of an establishment.

I have to come out of lurking on this topic. This whole discussion is too close to home. This has been our first year with a tasting room open to the public, and I have to applaud your support of small wineries.
We brought out a tasting fee specifically for tour groups this year, individuals visiting our winery were welcome to taste for free. Next year we will probably charge a modest tasting fee, refundable with purchase.

I have to say one thing though... we had 3 bachelorette parties visit, and they each bought more than most of the tour groups we had! (and all in all they were well behaved and were having a very good time) We've had bicycle groups come, with a minivan for the cases they purchased, etc. So we try not to judge the book by the cover, as there are wonderful exceptions to every rule.
Our best customers tend to be exactly as you suggested, the couples and small groups who visit, buy a bottle, or two, or maybe a case - and show real interest in what we are doing.
Mark

Hey Mark,

That is very good to hear! Sounds like you are getting some high class bachelorette parties. If they are well behaved and are supporting your business, I am sure you are very happy to see them. I have tailed a few around on particular wine roads, and my experience was different. Maybe the word is getting out that the red carpet will be rolled out for those who are serious about exploring the wonderful world of wine and don't take the wineries for granted, regardless of how they arrive. Very cool.

For my own curiousity, what winery do you own? I am wondering if I have been there and supported you.

Cheers!
Tim

Hi Tim,

If you're up north (Vancouver Island) be sure to drop in!
We own Rocky Creek Winery (recently moved from Ladysmith to Cowichan Bay)

Mark

OK Mark... you are in Canada on Vancouver Island? Cool! I have been fishing up there before, but I haven't been to the winery. I didn't realize you were in Canada when I wrote earlier, but that explains a lot.... Canadian bachelorette's and their entourages are much more polite than here in the US!

Cheers!
Tim