02nd Feb 2008

Vintners Negotiate with Drunks

I blame Sideways.

Getting Juiced at Wine Tastings is an interesting article about the difficulties of running a winery with a tasting room and negotiating with people who attempt to mimic the behavior in Sideways, including drinking from the dump bucket.

Throwing up in the shrubbery, shouting, singing, flinging off garments — these are not signs of exuberance over the arrival of the Beaujolais Nouveau. 

Really?

I like wine tasting, but it is really hard to find a winery in California that does not have tons of limos and vans outside and a boisterous crowd inside intent on getting really drunk. While my experience has been dampened, I hoped at least the wineries were making money. Apparently this is not the case. Crowds bring drunks, but not necessarily bucks. On the other hand, as the article points out, try finding a reasonably priced Pinot Noir anywhere in the United States.

A few years ago, after visiting Sunstone, which is an organic winery, Jim and I happened to stop down the road at Kalyra, which is one of the wineries from Sideways. Inside we found a scene that was reminiscent of….say Cocktail or Coyote Ugly with the bar six-deep with people and their tasting glasses. We left. The article confirms our experience. Lots of drunks, not a ton of sales.

But what a tough issue to negotiate as a vintner. You need people to know about your wine. You need people to taste your wine. But the publicity from a movie, which seems like a good thing, brings people who seem intent on getting drunk.

This entry was posted by Ms. Theologian on Saturday, February 2nd, 2008 at 9:36 am and is filed under notes You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

3 Responses to “Vintners Negotiate with Drunks”

  1. February 2nd, 2008 at 11:56 am h sofia Says:

    I’ve heard the vineyards in Oregon are much more sane, especially in the “off” season (winter). I’ve yet to go. Michael and I are both such alcohol lightweights that we’d definitely need a driver, even for those tiny, tasting-sized serving glasses.

  2. February 2nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm Ms. Theologian Says:

    When we visited Kalyra, I think it was in the spring, so the beginning of the season.

    I do like the idea of people avoiding driving drunk by hiring a car. That seems like a good idea.

  3. February 2nd, 2008 at 6:42 pm Comrade Kevin Says:

    Its times like this I wish I wasn’t limited by dietary restrictions/medication and could even have one glass of wine.

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