Mystery Shopper Visits Grapes The Wine Company

It's been a while since I've done a mystery shopper style review of a wine shop, but a recent trip to Long Island gave me an opportunity to visit Grapes The Wine Company in White Plains, NY on the way back to Boston. Wine retail tourism - I guess that's what you do when your interest in wine shopping borders on an obsession?

I never know what to expect when visiting a retailer like this. After a couple years on their email list I kind of formulated an image in my head that the store would somehow align with the tone of the emails owner Daniel Posner sends out. I've never met him in person -- he was out of town the weekend I visited -- but I think I first became familiar with Daniel for being banned from the eRobertParker forums (something about questioning their authority on Australian wines was it?).

His emails offer high end wines at deep discount, usually after opening thoughts about a regional sports event. Emphasis is achieved through the use of bold, italics, and red letters. Some of the best deals are bluntly labeled CLOSEOUTS!! or DUMP!. Love him or hate him, you've got to give him credit for being direct.

I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of on-the-shelf offerings at Grapes. What I found was a thoughtful selection of wines chosen from the important categories you'd likely want to stock a cellar with. Domestic Cabernet and Pinot Noir, Italy, and France were each well represented, displayed in single-facings with reserve inventory behind each bottle.

There were a good number of wines I associate with mailing lists (like the 2009 Bedrock Heirloom Dolinsek Ranch for example) that I've never seen on retailer shelves in Massachusetts. And a smart assortment of imports as well.

I picked up a couple Pinot Noirs - the 2009 Chasseur Sonoma County for $32.99 and a 2008 Joseph Swan Cuvee Trois for $34.99. Not the most amazing pricing in the world but I can't find these wines in Massachusetts and if I had built up a mixed half or full case I could have had 10% or 15% off.

While I was shopping I was asked a couple times whether I needed help finding anything. I declined - not because I don't think the help would have been valuable but because I don't need any more reasons to buy wine. To me a store like this succeeds by keeping its customers out of trouble. There's no "fat" to the assortment. Every wine they stock has been vetted and it's hard to go wrong - an impressive accomplishment with about 2,000 unique wines for sale.

I had a look inside their temperature controlled area where they have some truly serious, bank account breaking wines. The picture of Daniel on their website has him standing in this room and I somehow thought the place would be smaller based on that picture. As if this were the entire store or something. This was just a small portion of the store however - I understand they have upstairs and basement areas used for climate controlled storage.

About 20% of the store is dedicated to daily drinkers and deals. I spotted what appeared to be a few remnants from recent email offers. The store was tidy with hardly any indication of the direct shipment business they conduct. If I happened upon the store by chance I don't think I would have had any clue they do a lot of direct shipment business.

Recommendations

Even if they can't ship to your state I recommend jumping on their daily newsletter. They're entertaining and offer good insight into why direct retailer shipment is something wine enthusiasts everywhere should be behind. Daniel has done as much as any retailer I've seen to support the direct shipment of wine and for that he should be commended. If you're passing through the New York area I think you'd enjoy stopping in for a visit. Check out their inventory online to get a feel for their assortment.

Further Reading:

An interview with Daniel Posner from Terroirist: A Daily Wine Blog

Check 'em out:

Grapes The Wine Company

731 North Broadway

White Plains, NY 10603

http://www.grapesthewineco.com

@grapestwc

Question of the Day: Have you been to Grapes The Wine Company? If so, what did you think? Either way, what's another wine store that's worthy of a little wine retail tourism?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/T7mKXtC_HoY/mystery-shopper-visits-grapes-wine.html

Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Pinot Noir Syrah or Shiraz Zinfandel

Weekend reading from the blogs and beyond

Source: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/reviews/blog/2011/06/weekend_reading_from_the_blogs.html

Pine Ridge Phelps Pastiche Ritchie Creek Rochioli Rosenblum

Do-Follow Ends

Over the past couple of months I’ve enjoyed the birth of my son and the advancement of my business, Uncorked Ventures. Since we started an official company blog I haven’t written here and frankly, I haven’t really decided on what to do with this blog. When I logged in today, I found another 857 comments [...]

Source: http://winewithmark.info/archives/639

Buehler David Bruce Buena Vista Cain Cuvee Castoro

ZOMG CUPCAKES: Is the country's cupcake craze on...

Source: http://la.eater.com/archives/2011/06/27/zomg_cupcakes.php

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Robert Mondavi Day

Today marks what would have been Robert Mondavi’s 98th birthday, a day before Father’s Day, which is symbolic in its own right not only for the paternal leadership Mondavi provided to the wine industry, but also the lessons he imparted upon his children, the heirs to his legacy, faithfully carried on.

On a recent visit to Indianapolis, at an Italian restaurant that belies its location, tucked between a Junior Achievement and a Wal-Mart in a part of town in need of gentrification, I had lunch with Bob’s son Tim and his sister and partner in Continuum Estate, Marcia Mondavi Borger.

We would dine that day in early April at Capri Ristorante—the progeny of an Indianapolis institution, Amalfi, both opened by Arturo Dirosa who strives to bring the ‘Old Country’ to Indianapolis.  Amalfi was Robert Mondavi’s favorite Indianapolis restaurant.  He was simpatico with Arturo’s authentic Italian way.

It’s perhaps appropriate that even when they’re not trying, the younger Mondavi’s honor legacy and relationships.

I expected to join a large group of people, maybe a dozen I figured, some distributor hanger-on’ers, a retailer or two and a couple of writerly types.  Color me surprised (and a little bit nervous) when I found out I was their only guest.

I’m not much of a star-gazer.  Michael Jordan, Frank Sinatra, Lou Holtz and, well, the Mondavi’s are the only people, aside from my own parents, that I put on a pedestal worthy of exemplary admiration. 

As Tim held court with Marcia acting as the conversational re-direct when Tim strayed too far afield, as he’s wont to do, we had a delightful lunch that typified why Robert Mondavi, and by extension his family, are my wine touchstone.

Utterly free of any pretense, affable, focused on wine that exhibits where it’s grown, reaching for the pinnacle in quality, a part of the table, family-focused, and exhibiting a sensibility that is concerned with helping your neighbor and doing the right thing, there’s a lot to like about the Mondavi tradition as its carried on by Tim, Marcia and their brother, Michael, a fact that I’ll explore in greater depth in a future column.

While carrying on the family legacy is important, as they’re all involved in new projects, never far from thought though, I imagine, is the sheer impact that their father had on the industry they inherited.  By donating over 40 boxes of the elder Mondavi’s papers to UC Davis this week, in a small way, they ensure that Robert Mondavi’s thoughts and ideas, as captured in his ephemera, is accessible in the widest manner possible for the wine industry’s future.  I’ve appended a couple of examples below – some personal notes on business and a speech to the Wine Institute circa 1981.

To Robert Mondavi, let us raise a glass of wine in honor of him on this day, what is quickly becoming a national wine holiday.

Salute!

Source: http://goodgrape.com/index.php/site/robert_mondavi_day/

Alex. Vall. Vyds Andrew Murray Arrowood Beckmen Benziger

How to Effectively Engage International Participants in Tech and Wine Events?

What happens when you step out of your own “filter bubble” and participate in open discussions? We all need our assumptions and outlooks challenged on a regular basis to encourage ideas to develop and for the events to meet the actual needs of our audience, not just what we think they are. Gabriella decided to [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheWineConversation/~3/iKIve2RJhNA/

Gamay Nebbiolo Barbera Tempranillo Dolcetto

Wine Word of the Week: Flight

This week?s Wine Word of the Week is flight. Official definition from Jancis Robinson?s The Oxford Companion to Wine: Flight is the name for a series of different but related servings of wine, served in a bar or restaurant by the glass or as part of a tasting. Layman?s terms from Kori: Flight is a [...]

Wine Word of the Week: Flight was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WinePeeps/~3/6XxKyFtHUrQ/

Rose Alex. Vall. Vyds Andrew Murray Arrowood Beckmen

Ten @ 10: Food so good they have to dance

Source: http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/2011/03/dancing-people-lovin-food-commercials.html

Groth Keenan Cab Keenan Chard Kenwood Laetitia

Honest Cooking: A Digital Food & Wine Magazine

On Monday of this week a new online food and wine magazine, Honest Cooking,�launched. An�audacious�experiment in group blogging led by�Kalle Bergman, the site features the writing of over 50 food and wine writers from around the globe. And I am pleased to be a small part of the staff, writing a few posts each week [...]

Honest Cooking: A Digital Food & Wine Magazine originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/89ZRARMmnnE/

Gamay Nebbiolo Barbera Tempranillo Dolcetto

Google PR Update

I think Google’s Page Rank is one of the most misunderstood aspects of SEO and internet marketing. That being said, it is still one of the independent tools available for those of us looking to track our progress and the progress of our competitors since SERPS are difficult to track across hundreds of keywords. Our [...]

Source: http://winewithmark.info/archives/646

Arrowood Beckmen Benziger Beringer, KV Buehler

An accidental 1996-1998 Tablas Creek vertical in Chester, Vermont

Source: http://tablascreek.typepad.com/tablas/2011/06/an-accidental-1996-1998-tablas-creek-vertical-in-chester-vermont.html

Staglin Stag\\\'s Leap Stags\\\' Leap Santa Barbara Shafer

L.A. Times restaurant critic S. Irene Virbila says you can trick your friends with this wine find

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Red Wine White Wine Champagne Sparkling White Wine Rose

DEALFEED: Wilshire

Source: http://la.eater.com/archives/2011/06/24/wilshire.php

Pinot Grigio Sémillon Gewürztraminer Muscat Viognier

?Which are the best Napa Valley Wineries to Visit?

We frequently get emails from visitors to our Website, WineCountryGetaways, asking for advice. The most common email goes something like this: ?We will be in San Francisco in September and want to spend two days in the Napa Valley. Can you please tell us which are the best wineries to visit??
Continue reading →

Source: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/napablog/%e2%80%9cwhich-are-the-best-napa-valley-wineries-to-visit%e2%80%9d/

Ch. St. Jean Ch. Souverain Dehlinger Eno Far Niente

The Remarkable Rise of Paso Robles

Source: http://tablascreek.typepad.com/tablas/2011/05/the-remarkable-rise-of-paso-robles.html

Dehlinger Eno Far Niente Field Stone Firestone

Source: http://thecaveman.blogspot.com/2009/03/bloody-wine-gaillac-2004-renaissance.html

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Source: http://thecaveman.blogspot.com/2009/03/two-greek-vin-de-pays-de-tegea-2005.html

Staglin Stag\\\'s Leap Stags\\\' Leap Santa Barbara Shafer

Dining@Large is closed

Source: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/reviews/blog/2011/06/dininglarge_is_closed.html

Dehlinger Eno Far Niente Field Stone Firestone

Robert Mondavi Day

Today marks what would have been Robert Mondavi’s 98th birthday, a day before Father’s Day, which is symbolic in its own right not only for the paternal leadership Mondavi provided to the wine industry, but also the lessons he imparted upon his children, the heirs to his legacy, faithfully carried on.

On a recent visit to Indianapolis, at an Italian restaurant that belies its location, tucked between a Junior Achievement and a Wal-Mart in a part of town in need of gentrification, I had lunch with Bob’s son Tim and his sister and partner in Continuum Estate, Marcia Mondavi Borger.

We would dine that day in early April at Capri Ristorante—the progeny of an Indianapolis institution, Amalfi, both opened by Arturo Dirosa who strives to bring the ‘Old Country’ to Indianapolis.  Amalfi was Robert Mondavi’s favorite Indianapolis restaurant.  He was simpatico with Arturo’s authentic Italian way.

It’s perhaps appropriate that even when they’re not trying, the younger Mondavi’s honor legacy and relationships.

I expected to join a large group of people, maybe a dozen I figured, some distributor hanger-on’ers, a retailer or two and a couple of writerly types.  Color me surprised (and a little bit nervous) when I found out I was their only guest.

I’m not much of a star-gazer.  Michael Jordan, Frank Sinatra, Lou Holtz and, well, the Mondavi’s are the only people, aside from my own parents, that I put on a pedestal worthy of exemplary admiration. 

As Tim held court with Marcia acting as the conversational re-direct when Tim strayed too far afield, as he’s wont to do, we had a delightful lunch that typified why Robert Mondavi, and by extension his family, are my wine touchstone.

Utterly free of any pretense, affable, focused on wine that exhibits where it’s grown, reaching for the pinnacle in quality, a part of the table, family-focused, and exhibiting a sensibility that is concerned with helping your neighbor and doing the right thing, there’s a lot to like about the Mondavi tradition as its carried on by Tim, Marcia and their brother, Michael, a fact that I’ll explore in greater depth in a future column.

While carrying on the family legacy is important, as they’re all involved in new projects, never far from thought though, I imagine, is the sheer impact that their father had on the industry they inherited.  By donating over 40 boxes of the elder Mondavi’s papers to UC Davis this week, in a small way, they ensure that Robert Mondavi’s thoughts and ideas, as captured in his ephemera, is accessible in the widest manner possible for the wine industry’s future.  I’ve appended a couple of examples below – some personal notes on business and a speech to the Wine Institute circa 1981.

To Robert Mondavi, let us raise a glass of wine in honor of him on this day, what is quickly becoming a national wine holiday.

Salute!

Source: http://goodgrape.com/index.php/site/robert_mondavi_day/

Ch. Souverain Dehlinger Eno Far Niente Field Stone

Massachusetts Lawmakers to Hear Testimony on Wine Direct Shipping, Tuesday, May 10th

Everyone once in a while I get an E-mail I've been waiting a long time for and knock out a blog post immediately. Just now I received this press release from Free the Grapes about an important hearing this coming Tuesday in Massachusetts.

MA HB 1029 would finally, mercifully, allow direct shipment of wine from out of state wineries to Massachusetts residents.

Here's a quick Q&A with Free the Grapes:

WWP: What would you suggest MA wine consumers do to right now to help MA HB 1029 pass and allow direct shipment from out-of-state wineries to MA consumers?

Free the Grapes: We encourage Massachusetts wine lovers to express their support of wine direct shipping in their state by sending letters to the committee?s leadership through our website. Next week we will update the distribution list beyond the committee to include all MA legislators, in order for us to broaden the message. http://capwiz.com/freegrapes/issues/alert/?alertid=34295506

WWP: If the bill passes, how long until direct shipments become a reality?

Free the Grapes: It?s too early to tell. Like in other states, the licensing parameters and common carrier approvals precede issuing winery licenses. To use Maryland as an example, the bill will be signed by the Governor next week on 5/10, but the comptroller?s office is prepping documents and regulations to meet the law?s effective date of 7/1/11. This is common.

WWP: Would the bill allow direct shipments from out of state retailers to MA consumers?

Free the Grapes: No. The bill allows for wine shipments from licensed wineries directly to Massachusetts consumers.

From the press release:

May 6, 2011, Napa, CA ?  On Tuesday, May 10 the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure will hold a public hearing to discuss House Bill 1029. Passage of this bill would mark an end to the state?s archaic ban on wine shipments from licensed wineries directly to Massachusetts consumers, according to Free the Grapes!, the national coalition of consumers, wineries and retailers. www.freethegrapes.org

Hearing Details:

What: House Bill 1029
Who: Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
When: Tuesday, May 10, 2011; 1:00 PM Eastern Time
Location: Massachusetts State House, Room A-1, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108
Bill Information: http://www.malegislature.gov/bills/187/house/h01029

HB 1029 conforms to the ruling Family Winemakers of California v. Jenkins, which was upheld by the 1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in January 2010. The lawsuit successfully challenged a 2006 Massachusetts statute banning winery-to-consumer shipments from wineries and wine companies producing more than 30,000 gallons per year, and who retain a wholesaler. The 30,000 gallon capacity cap was ruled to be discriminatory and the legislature was tasked with developing a remedy.

Introduced in February by Representative David M. Torrisi, HB 1029 is similar to the model direct shipping bill that is the foundation for statutes in the majority of U.S. states, providing legal, regulated direct shipping to consumers. Among other provisions, HB 1029 requires wineries to purchase a state-issued shipping license, to mark boxes as requiring an adult signature at delivery, and limits the quantity of wine shipped to individuals to 24 cases per year. The basis for HB 1029, the model direct shipping bill, was cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and supported by the Federal Trade Commission.

Thirty-seven states and Washington D.C. ? but not Massachusetts ? allow licensed wineries to ship directly to consumers ? those states account for 83% of US wine consumption. Massachusetts is the seventh largest wine consumption state in the U.S. however it is one of 17 states that continue to ban winery-to-consumer direct shipments. Maryland Governor O?Malley is scheduled to sign House and Senate Bills later this month to allow winery direct shipping, which will make Maryland the 38th state to allow winery direct shipping.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/s7hQwJrULRk/massachusetts-lawmakers-to-hear.html

Champagne Sparkling White Wine Rose Alex. Vall. Vyds Andrew Murray

Source: http://thecaveman.blogspot.com/2009/02/old-franc-chinon-1996-clos-de-lolive.html

Pinot Grigio Sémillon Gewürztraminer Muscat Viognier

Wine Branding Disruption

In an effort to broaden our communication channels, Robert and I are back with a first podcast for some time, this time for the new Wine Conversation. In this episode we talk about an exciting project we have lined up for the Access Zone at the London International Wine Fair. Called “Disrupt”, the idea is [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheWineConversation/~3/QoXvZRDrFF4/

Markham Meeker Mondavi Pine Ridge Phelps Pastiche

Losing the plot

It seems so obvious from the outside. Winemakers and wineries in a region should cooperate to promote the region and give consumers a clear idea of what that region offers to encourage them to give their wines a try. Yet in practice, when you delve into any region or country, what you see are arguments, [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheWineConversation/~3/ZDyUxTJ8kSw/

Pine Ridge Phelps Pastiche Ritchie Creek Rochioli Rosenblum

Ar.Pe.Pe. ? mountain Nebbiolo

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/GuSC/~3/CLxS7ATTVJM/

Sinskey Smith Madrone Tablas Creek Talley Whitehall Lane

Moving day is Thursday

Source: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/reviews/blog/2011/06/moving_day_is_thursday.html

Grenache Sangiovese Gamay Nebbiolo Barbera

Alabama Wine Pushes Back Against Inertia

SYNONYM OF THE DAY In�er�tia [in-ur-shuh] 1. inertness, especially with regard to effort, motion, action, and like; inactivity; sluggishness. Three [three] - Tier [teer] - Sys�tem [sis-tuh m] 1. inertness, especially with regard to effort, motion, action, and like; inactivity;...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FermentationTheDailyWineBlog/~3/VGJnlsDU8TU/alabama-wine-pushes-back-against-inertia.html

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Fairmont Banff Springs hotel - A luxurious package

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vagablond/ysSN/~3/HM8KRlub-cE/

Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc Riesling Chenin Blanc Pinot Grigio

Smith-Madrone Riesling 2009

I have to admit that I don’t drink a lot of white wine in the dead of a Minnesota winter. But when I saw a sample of the almost mythical Smith-Madrone�Riesling, I had to see what was in the bottle. The last time I tasted Smith-Madrone�Riesling was a tank sample with winemaker Charles Smith. I [...]

Smith-Madrone Riesling 2009 originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/9k3JQmMUTn4/

Beringer, KV Buehler David Bruce Buena Vista Cain Cuvee

Tasting Room Time in the Napa Valley

It?s that time of year again. Bud Break is all around and the vines begin a new growing year in the wine country. That dreary, cold, and raining period is over and tourists now can flock to the tasting rooms again. Wineries are ready to receive and pamper all tourists. Continue reading →

Source: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/napablog/tasting-room-time-in-the-napa-valley/

Alex. Vall. Vyds Andrew Murray Arrowood Beckmen Benziger

Access Granted

Last week’s Access Zone activities at the 2011 London International Wine Fair (LIWF) were not only great fun and a way to spread the word about social media in wine, but they seemed to strike a chord with the wine trade present. Gabriella, Ryan and I were very pleased with the buzz around the fair [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheWineConversation/~3/P8wvaTitzOg/

Ritchie Creek Rochioli Rosenblum St. Clement Staglin

Soos Creek Wine Cellars: Blending Specialist with Boeing Roots

Owner/winemaker David Larsen founded Soos Creek Wine Cellars in 1989. One of a number of Washington winemakers who are ?graduates? of the Boeing Wine Club, Larsen worked at Boeing for 29 years before leaving in 2004 to pursue his passion for wine full-time. Located in Kent, Washington, Soos Creek produces only red wine from Bordeaux [...]

Soos Creek Wine Cellars: Blending Specialist with Boeing Roots was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WinePeeps/~3/v4T0yA6JCXE/

Rosenblum St. Clement Staglin Stag\\\'s Leap Stags\\\' Leap

How to Effectively Engage International Participants in Tech and Wine Events?

What happens when you step out of your own “filter bubble” and participate in open discussions? We all need our assumptions and outlooks challenged on a regular basis to encourage ideas to develop and for the events to meet the actual needs of our audience, not just what we think they are. Gabriella decided to [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheWineConversation/~3/iKIve2RJhNA/

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Farmers' market is NOT a Grand Prix casualty

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Oh, Canada:  With Glowing Hearts We See Thee Rise

Other emerging regions are getting the publicity, but Niagara is delivering the goods. 

Our neighbors to the north, about an hour and ½ from Toronto (as the crow flies around Lake Ontario) and just 45 minutes from Buffalo, NY are seriously delivering world-class wine.

Prior to a recent visit to the Niagara wine region in southern Ontario, my Niagara frame of reference was a clichéd familiarity with ice wine and an incessant mental replay of a quote from the 80s movie, “Breakfast Club.”

BENDER
(to Brian)
When have you ever gotten laid?

BRIAN
I’ve laid, lotsa times!
                 
BENDER
Name one!
                 
BRIAN
She lives in Canada, met her at
Niagara Falls.  You wouldn’t know her.

My virginal perspective has changed now and my frame of reference for Niagara wines are those that are, “Of the Place” – pure, vital and expressive with ice wine a distant third in quality behind Pinot Noir and Riesling.

In fact, instead of being hampered by unpredictable cold weather and hanging their hat on ice wine, Niagara vintners use the climate to their advantage teasing out a palpable tension in the wines with a terroir-based honesty that is omnipresent.  When you taste wild strawberries, tar and rose petals in Pinot Noir from a number of different vintners in the same appellation, you know you’re on to land-based virtue.  If that’s not enough, just look and smell—the color of the wines are not extracted and plumped up; the aromatics are pure like a newborn nestled in your bosom.

Yet, what strikes me the most after having spent recent time in Michigan, the Finger Lakes, and now Niagara isn’t palate-based, it’s political. 

“Terroirista’s” with their focus on Biodynamic and natural wines are way off base in trying to fight an ideological battle with the West Coast whilst cozying up with diffident Frenchmen.  Instead, they should embrace the brio of what’s under their nose.  Some of the most honest and interesting wines in the world aren’t coming from the spun and micro-ox’ed left coast, nor are they imported from the avant-gard garagiste’s in France – they’re coming from humble, hat-in-hand vintners in improbable places like Niagara and other cool climates.

Make no mistake, Niagara wine isn’t inexpensive, not with the Canadian government getting their fair share, but a number of wineries are worth seeking out, especially if you’re the type of wine enthusiast who appreciates cool climate wines and has a sense of discovery.

Fortunately, a web site creatively called, “Canadian Wine Shop” based in New York state can help you get a fix.

Some wineries to look for:

Coyote’s Run
Flat Rock
Peninsula Ridge
Tawse
Thirty Bench
Vineland Estates

Source: http://goodgrape.com/index.php/site/oh_canada_with_glowing_hearts_we_see_thee_rise/

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Visit us on the Access Zone

For the next three days we will be bringing you the Wine Conversation live from the London Wine Trade Fair and the Access Zone on stand F70 If you are coming to the event, do come and visit us for a good chat, coffee (courtesy of Thierry’s), free wifi and lots of content and networking [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheWineConversation/~3/scvS65tZFY0/

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Stunts : El Pollo Loco To Make World's Biggest Man-Made Fire

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A toast to wine freedom

In this 50th anniversary year of Amnesty International*, I propose a letter-writing campaign that might liberate wine stories from their digital prisons. ?Yet if these feelings of disgust all over the world could be united into common action, something effective could be done.? Peter Benenson Please feel free to employ this whenever you come across [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheWineConversation/~3/MtLYXpJE_Jk/

Riesling Chenin Blanc Pinot Grigio Sémillon Gewürztraminer

Week in Reviews : Son of a Gun Reels In 1.5 Stars; Gold on Eighth Street Soondae

Source: http://la.eater.com/archives/2011/06/23/son_of_a_gun_reels_in_15_stars_gold_on_eighth_street_soondae.php

Champagne Sparkling White Wine Rose Alex. Vall. Vyds Andrew Murray

Four Seasons at Miami ? a dazzling haven

Four Seasons has come up with a stunning hotel in the beautiful city of Miami. With 39 gorgeous suites and 182 large guestrooms, this hotel offers breathtaking views of the city?s exotic skyline and the Biscayne Bay. The glass and granite tower is 70 stories large and reflects magnificence and splendor. The crowning jewel of [...]

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Shafer Shafer Firebreak Sinskey Smith Madrone Tablas Creek

JC Penny has been a Bad Boy

Every so often you see a story which makes you scratch your head. For me, working on SEO for my own site, this was certainly one of those cases. JC Penny Slapped by Google So let me get this straight, one of the largest retailers in the United States is saying that they were in [...]

Source: http://winewithmark.info/archives/636

Santa Barbara Shafer Shafer Firebreak Sinskey Smith Madrone

The Morning News

The morning routine at the Wark-Berez house is fairly regimented: Tom, Cats, Dog, Read. My morning coffee is the first priority, for without it little else carries much import...or gets done. The cats then get their food. The dog is...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FermentationTheDailyWineBlog/~3/1iph9dqUbS8/the-morning-news.html

Benziger Beringer, KV Buehler David Bruce Buena Vista

Explore the blissful privacy

Stay at the Residence situated at a secluded corner of the George Hotel, Christchurch, New Zealand and savor each of the private moment that you get. An enclosed walkway will take you to these charming suites which are fitted with everything that are needed to make it a self-sufficient suite. Blissfully quiet and lushly appointed, [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vagablond/ysSN/~3/66fZGWW0TmA/

Talley Whitehall Lane Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc Riesling

Field Notes from a Wine Life ? The Globally Domestic Wine Situation

Odds and ends from a life lived through the prism of the wine glass …

Crossover Hybrids

When wine coolers were introduced in the 80s they broadened the appeal of the good grape at the same time that wine was undergoing a revolution of interest amongst Yuppie Baby Boomers, creating a more egalitarian perception for the nascent west coast wine business that was burdened at the time with inherited, stuffy, legacy east coast Euro-centric leanings.

Flash forward 25 years and wine in California has self-actualized and we’re living in a global wine village, fully in the throes of another sustained interest and growth cycle.  Yet, this time, instead of wine coolers, we’re seeing new and different attempts at broadening the appeal of wine.

I call these new wine beverages, “Hybrid crossovers” – like the half car, half SUV, half gas, half electric cars that are rapidly gaining popularity in the U.S.

For the purists that can barely stand the thought of the new wine brands hitting the market with residual sugar, I’m firing a friendly observationally-based warning shot across the bow – when ChocoVine (a sort of cream liqueur meets wine sipper), is projected to sell 1M cases this year, now is a good time to buckle up for the changes that are coming.

Besides ChocoVine and its emerging competitors, we’re seeing Pomula Wine Spritz (available exclusively at the trend forward Cost Plus World Market chain of stores), Courvoisier with wine, Ritzling, a carbonated Riesling from New Zealand served with a lime (Like a Corona) and other permutations.

My guess for the next wine hybrid crossover to get packaged and find a wine audience?  The Kalimotxo—the Spanish name for a half cola, half red wine concoction that is consumed around the world with different monikers.

If the thought of Baker’s Dozen Chardonnay gets your dander up, if the name, “Wine Cooler” is a pejorative in your vocabulary, hang on because you haven’t seen anything yet.

The Longtail: Not so Long?

A recent press release from Wine.com offered an innocuous statement from CEO Rich Bergsund who was quoted as saying, “We look forward to growing further by offering an increasingly compelling blend of selection, service, value and information that’s impossible to get in a store.”

The “selection” part didn’t get my attention – that’s throwaway wording.  More interesting was the, “… Service, value and information that’s impossible to get in a store.”

Three of Bergsund’s four stated criteria have little to do with sourcing small wines and everything to do with using ecommerce to improve upon the in-store wine shopping experience.  This is key because over the last five years the wine business has largely viewed online wine sales through the lens of the “Longtail,” a pop-economic philosophy that says that the Internet can be a boon for niche products like wine because it enables small quantities of niche products (read:  boutique wines that aren’t in distribution) to be sold in a manner that could never be duplicated by inventory at physical retail.

The Longtail is/was to be a growth haven for small producers. 

However, what I’m gleaning from Wine.com, the #1 online wine retailer for seven years running, and what their annual top selling wines list bears out, is not an attempt (nor the results) of selling small boutique wines àla the Longtail to a thirsty audience who can’t find these small wines at their local shop, it’s selling readily available wines to an audience who may very well be intimidated by the wine aisle at retail or unsatisfied with notoriously poor wine retail merchandising.

This notion is reinforced when viewing Wine.com’s top-selling wines.  Their #1 selling wine of 2010 was the d’Arenberg Stump Jump Shiraz from Australia.  Chateau St. Michelle Chardonnay was at #5.  A Louis Martini Cabernet at #6.  These are all big brands in national distribution and readily available.

And, while I’m not intending to besmirch anybody, I’ve long held the belief that Conundrum and Silver Oak are luxury brands for people that are heavy in the pocketbook, but light on wine knowledge, the exact same consumer who could or would be intimidated in the wine aisle despite their purchasing power.  Sure enough, Conundrum is #16 and Silver Oak is #35 on the Wine.com top 100 sellers list.

And, if you look at Wine.com’s channel-based positioning and top-sellers contrasted against recently released VinQuest direct-to-consumer (DTC) wine sales research (all direct channels, not just online), it’s interesting to note that VinQuest indicates that the second fastest growing category in DTC sales, neck and neck with online wine sales, is event sales – at 37%.  These are in-person sales, consumer direct.

Hmm.

The data suggests that when direct-to-consumer wine sales are spread out across all wineries, DTC is still a micro-channel of business for most, if not all U.S. wineries, no panacea for the small vintner and nearly equaled in ‘10 growth by offline direct sales.

Looking at a separate piece of data, Silicon Valley Bank research indicates that less than 4% of the domestic wine business is using a customer relationship management (CRM) software tool.

The problem now facing small wineries is betting on the right trend using anecdotal information:  Is online consumer wine sales growth going to come from an online ecommerce provider that facilitates an easy shopping experience, at the expense of conventional wisdom that says that online wine sales are small, hard-to-find brands?  Or, does the proverbial rising tide raise all ships?

Life sure isn’t easy for the small winery, but if I were making decisions for a 10,000 case brand I would double-down on a CRM software tool, and start building my one-to-one marketing capabilities, from both a digital and an event perspective because it sure looks like consumers are sowing the seeds of a trend that is independence-oriented, self-service online wine shopping while seeking a personal winery touch at events. 

In the next “Field Notes” edition – FedEx makes it easy for consumers to pick-up their wine, the “Wine Wars” and more …

Wine & Cola photo credit: Jorge Negreros
Longtail photo credit:  Chris Anderson

Source: http://goodgrape.com/index.php/site/field_notes_from_a_wine_life_the_globally_domestic_wine_situation/

Mondavi Pine Ridge Phelps Pastiche Ritchie Creek Rochioli

Plywood Report : Next Door by Josie, Plan Check, Rose Merci, Il Mare

Source: http://la.eater.com/archives/2011/06/20/next_door_by_josie_plan_check_rose_merci_il_mare.php

Albariño Pinot Blanc Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Pinot Noir

Now That?s What You Mean By Luxury!

Tanjung Presidential Seaview Suite constitutes of one of the best suites of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Whether you are looking towards spending some time with your loved ones or hosting a happening party, this suite is just perfect for you.
The suite takes up an area of 2572 square feet and features a spacious master bedroom, a [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vagablond/ysSN/~3/pwwYKU-GEQE/

Sinskey Smith Madrone Tablas Creek Talley Whitehall Lane

Farmers' Market is ON for Labor Day

Source: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/reviews/blog/2011/06/farmers_market_is_on_for_labor.html

Sémillon Gewürztraminer Muscat Viognier Roussanne

Introducing California's first Petit Manseng

Source: http://tablascreek.typepad.com/tablas/2011/06/introducing-californias-first-petit-manseng.html

Loring Lyeth Markham Meeker Mondavi

Glen Ellen, Petite Sirah 2007

Wines in the “fighting varietal” section of the wine store don’t get a lot of wine blog love. Nor do they get reviewed very much in the mainstream wine press leaving the inquiring consumer to consult Google for information. And I get a lot of incoming search traffic every time I review such a wine. [...]

Glen Ellen, Petite Sirah 2007 originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/bmDbiM7S5nI/

Dehlinger Eno Far Niente Field Stone Firestone

Hotel DeBrett ? uncommon and unmatched!

Hotel DeBrett is known for its unique designs, eclectic furnishings and a generous use of New Zealand?s photography and art. A cordial environment, fantastic personal services and out-of-the-box fashion have made this hotel what it is today ? a home away from home for a number of travelers.
This hotel boasts some beautiful loft [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vagablond/ysSN/~3/r7TlARoBp1w/

Loring Lyeth Markham Meeker Mondavi

HOW TO: cut a wine bottle and save $249

I got a catalogue in the mail the other day from something called Napa Style. I don’t know if it’s 100% from Napa or just sort of a Fred Franzia Napa style. But they had the item shown above listed as “big bottle wine hurricanes.” Yes, empty bottles, albeit big bottles, priced $99 – $249! [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/GuSC/~3/QkIH8ZhUxOw/

Merlot Pinot Noir Syrah or Shiraz Zinfandel Grenache

Helping NJ Work Through Its Issue With Wine

I'm a fairly busy guy. However, I'm never too busy to help out the good folks at the different state legislatures. So, allow me to take some time out from this fairly busy schedule of mine to put the New...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FermentationTheDailyWineBlog/~3/f0U58mqeThQ/helping-nj-work-through-its-issue-with-wine.html

Lagier Meredith La Jota Loring Lyeth Markham

A Little Competition Never Hurts!

That’s right – it’s time. The Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition begins tomorrow. Nearly 100 international judges, more than 3,000 international wines. Who will take the gold? Keep coming back to find out more information about the 3-day event and watch for judges to be blogging and twittering in between judging!

Source: http://blogs.fairplex.com/blog/wine/?p=60

Groth Keenan Cab Keenan Chard Kenwood Laetitia

Some Recent Michigan Wines with the Friday Night Regulars

Last week, I decided that it was high time to try some Michigan wines with the Friday night tasting group at the retail outlet in which I am gainfully employed. The bulk of the selections were from the 2 Lads Winery on the Old Mission Peninsula. Cornel Olivier and Chris Baldyga have established an impressive [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gangofpour/uncZ/~3/oOv-0NjO27A/recent-michigan-wines-with-the-friday-night-regulars

St. Clement Staglin Stag\\\'s Leap Stags\\\' Leap Santa Barbara

Is it ?Game on? in the Wine World?

Lord help the wine traditionalists if it is true: Technology entrepreneur Seth Preibatsch suggests that the next decade of digital innovation will be about the, “Game Layer.”

The “Game Layer,” is a dynamic that was introduced to the wine world last week when, within a day of each other, VinTank, a Napa-based digital consultancy, and Snooth Media each announced their own spin on the new, new thing in digital – game-like elements as a part of the wine + online experience; a sort of Farmville meets educational “Atta boy.”

If the announcements didn’t register with you mentally, you’re in good company:  Neither press release (here and here) passed the “30 Second Rule”—the law of the PR jungle that says if it’s not understandable in 30 seconds it can’t be that important.  Yet, it’s hardly the fault of VinTank or Snooth—it’s just that people are still getting their heads around QR codes and aren’t ready for a potential game-changer (no pun intended) on the order of the, “Game Layer.” However, these developments bear watching even if we’re a good 18 months out from broader awareness.

To date, your experience with online games is probably stratified into three categories:

• Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo

• A glancing familiarity with World of Warcraft (and the pale, sunken-eyed souls who play it)

• The annoyance of Farmville or Mafia Wars on Facebook (Initiated by the kid you never talked to in high school who inexplicably friended you up and now spams your email inbox with Farmville crap)

What’s emerging beyond that (and social networking), driven by the growth of digital marketing and smart phones in the mobile space, is the incorporation of elements of gaming into our daily interactions and information consumption.

To understand this, it’s helpful to understand some of the terminology:

Game Layer: An opaque term that Preibatsch, the precocious 22-year old founder of a tech company called SCVNGR, uses to define the next wave of innovation this decade, a philosophy that he thinks is far more revolutionary (and he is far more apt to profit from) than the previous decade that was marked by the, “Social Layer” i.e. social networking.  The “Game Layer” suggests that all of our interactions (what we do and why we do it) can be influenced by game mechanics.

Game Mechanics / Game Dynamics:  The universal law(s) that is inherent in gameplay – from Old Maid to Monopoly to online.  This story lists 47 game dynamics that SCVNGR follows in its client efforts.

Game Theory (from Answers.com): A mathematical method of decision-making in which a competitive situation is analyzed to determine the optimal course of action for an interested party, often used in political, economic, and military planning. 

Both the VinTank program (called VinPass) and the Snooth program (called Wine Rack) are similar in nature and use a “Game Layer” on top of digital wine activity incorporating “Game Mechanics”—offering badges and other digital ephemera-based incentives for performing activities like writing tasting notes or demonstrating knowledge.

As an aside, now is a good time to note that the clichéd saying about Generation Y parental coddling and, “Everybody gets a trophy” is no longer the province of youth soccer leagues.  Ahem.

VinPass’ program is chiefly sponsored by the Wines of France and is multi-platform.  This means that users at various wine social networking sites like Winelog.net and wine mobile applications like Drync can “unlock” digital badges based on drinking and writing tasting notes related to French wines like Beaujolais, Champagne and wines from regions like the Loire Valley.  Additional, real world incentives can be achieved, as well – discounts on purchases of event tickets and such.

Wine Rack by Snooth appears to be a more fully realized program upon launch and offers digital “trophies” to users who read, take quizzes, taste and rate wines at Snooth.com.  Their program launches with title sponsorship from Terlato Wines International.  Similar to VinPass, users (in an undefined way) can earn tangible rewards like access to tastings and offers from retailers.

Overall, I have mixed feelings about these so-called, “Game mechanics” embedded into otherwise normal digital wine activities. 

Wine and digital engagement, in all of its variations, can act as a great democratizing counter-balance against the historical empiricism of the wine elite. However, progress wrought over the last five to six years has a great opportunity to step backwards if game-like elements take hold.  A game, inherently, is a zero-sum proposition:  there are winner and there are losers.  Wine has seen enough of that, no?  I wait with bated breath to hear the first braggart that has accumulated 30 digital trophies who then takes to his high horse …

In addition, there’s a seedy underbelly with these “Game mechanics” that isn’t quite simpatico with privacy issues.  When Snooth co-founder and CTO Mark Angelillo says the Wine Rack idea was borne out of the notion of, “Give(ing) users a better idea of how they were learning and growing with wine, how they were getting interested in the product and how they were progressing through playing with wine data” my first thought wasn’t, “This is a user benefit” it was, “This is a marketing benefit”—as in: Wouldn’t wine marketers love to buy this sort of information.

Another sore point is that the education a user obtains from reading and going through quizzes on these sites doesn’t have any tangible value.  Wouldn’t an inordinate amount of time spent earning a badge be so much more useful if it mapped to a baseline knowledge marker on an actual wine certification?  Why, yes, it would.

Despite these initial misgivings, it’s hard to slow down the digital zeitgeist and all indications point to the “Game Layer” and “Game Mechanics” becoming a much more significant and present part of our lives and digital engagement.

If you’re the sort that views life like a competitive chess match, you’re in luck.  If you’re an accidental tourist in life who avoids conflict and competition while seeking respite in the calming waters of the wine world, well, maybe there will be a “Trophy” for that in the Game of Wine.  

Additional Information
Ed. Note:  Preibatsch has the platform to get in front of the so-called “Game Layer” revolution, but McGonigal has the cred.

- TED speech by Seth Preibatsch
- TED speech by Jane McGonigal, Ph.D and author of, “Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World”
- Games People Play: Game Theory in Life, Business, and Beyond by The Great Courses

Source: http://goodgrape.com/index.php/site/is_it_game_on_in_the_wine_world/

Markham Meeker Mondavi Pine Ridge Phelps Pastiche