Wonder what percentage of tasters make a purchase though? I would imagine a lot. I typically buy a bottle or more anywhere I taste.

But they're not making much, if any, on a bottle at a tasting. Factor in overhead, personnel, etc. Now people who enjoy a tasting and buy a case and/or buy a case yearly going forward, that's a different story.

HTownAg98 said:

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I've often wondered how much money does a winery make from the tasting room? My gut tells me it's a loss leader.

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Interesting question and would be curious about the numbers both short term and long term. They are clearly a driver of wine clubs. I'm not sure I know anyone that signed up for a wine club outside of a winery tasting. While probably only a small percentage of tasting guests, getting someone who buys a case or so year after year is a big deal.

The follow up question is how many people that sign up for a wine club are still a member after a year?

This was a nice Priorat to have this evening. 50% Grenache, 40% carignan, 10% cab. For the price, I wish I had more of this. I think I paid $28 at Total Wine.

Thanks for posting, I love Spanish wine and always love trying a Priorat!

New to wine - is it typical for a wine club to cost the same or more than in-store purchase?

We looked at the EnRoute club for their Pinot (online). Their estimated price was more than just going to total wine and buying 12 bottles in a year.

Adam Ag 98 said:

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New to wine - is it typical for a wine club to cost the same or more than in-store purchase?

We looked at the EnRoute club for their Pinot (online). Their estimated price was more than just going to total wine and buying 12 bottles in a year.

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In our experience, wine club members get a discount, both on the wine club wines and on other purchases. Many clubs also offer reduced shipping and wine club only selections.

For J Lohr, our big winery club, the wines are definitely different ones than what they sell in stores. And there are different levels within the club, with an even different variety of premium wines.

The smaller wineries we belong to have the same wines as the stores, but at reduced pricing.

htxag09 said:

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But they're not making much, if any, on a bottle at a tasting. Factor in overhead, personnel, etc. Now people who enjoy a tasting and buy a case and/or buy a case yearly going forward, that's a different story.

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that's incorrect. they make a lot selling from their tasting rooms.

Adam Ag 98 said:

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New to wine - is it typical for a wine club to cost the same or more than in-store purchase?

We looked at the EnRoute club for their Pinot (online). Their estimated price was more than just going to total wine and buying 12 bottles in a year.

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yes, although as said above you might get a discount. the main advantage is getting to buy the more limited releases that never go to a place like Total wine.

Frankly, if you can buy it at Total Wine then I wouldn't join the club.

True. The clubs I'm in are small boutique producers that don't distribute to Texas.

bularry said:

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Adam Ag 98 said:

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New to wine - is it typical for a wine club to cost the same or more than in-store purchase?

We looked at the EnRoute club for their Pinot (online). Their estimated price was more than just going to total wine and buying 12 bottles in a year.

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yes, although as said above you might get a discount. the main advantage is getting to buy the more limited releases that never go to a place like Total wine.

Frankly, if you can buy it at Total Wine then I wouldn't join the club.

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I think this is it. They have a 2nd fall distribution that you have to sign up for and it is their limited varieties.

Adam Ag 98 said:

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New to wine - is it typical for a wine club to cost the same or more than in-store purchase?

We looked at the EnRoute club for their Pinot (online). Their estimated price was more than just going to total wine and buying 12 bottles in a year.

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Halter Ranch in Paso sells for $15 more per bottle in their tasting room than online sellers or Total Wine sell for.

That's a messed up business model

If paying full freight, it's not uncommon for a wine to be slightly higher at the winery than at big stores like Spec's. I had a buddy who brought back some Hall a few years ago from the winery and then discovered it was $2 cheaper at Spec's.

In my experience, that has been true for just about any wine that is distributed widely. I have not found any that I can get cheaper direct from the winery, and then have to pay shipping to boot. I am sure exceptions exist, but I have not found one yet.

Speaking of buying direct, I just picked up a sixer of 2018 Myriad syrah. Love that stuff!

$2 difference I understand, but $15 is a good amount.

BigAg95 said:

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In my experience, that has been true for just about any wine that is distributed widely. I have not found any that I can get cheaper direct from the winery, and then have to pay shipping to boot. I am sure exceptions exist, but I have not found one yet.

Speaking of buying direct, I just picked up a sixer of 2018 Myriad syrah. Love that stuff!

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Just got the email on the Myriad Syrah. Never bought any of their Syrah and had planned on passing since I just bought some Herman Story. Now you have me re-thinking. Damn you!

Chipotlemonger said:

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$2 difference I understand, but $15 is a good amount.

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Yes, and if your wine club membership equals 12 bottles of wine/year that you could just drive to Total Wine and purchase, then the membership is a waste, especially at $15 extra a pop. Sorry, too many good wines out there for me to overpay that much to be awarded the opportunity to buy some other wine as previously mentioned.

Anyone had the LastBottle Sleeper Cab Sauv before? It's available today and they pump it up pretty majorly in their email but it's their own creation so I'm not surprised.

I picked up a bottle of their 2014 Sleeper cab, but it was corked. I got one of their other labels (lutum maybe?) that was suppose to be high-end pinot and it was pretty blah and not worth the price they charged, much less 2-3x that as they'd hyped it up to be.

You can find the base Halter Ranch cab at stores. But they make a bunch of better wines that aren't distributed here.

I really liked their Syrah and only noticed because I went to look for one after they sent us home from the tasting room with a CDP by mistake.

I do have a hard time reconciling this with this, however.

To be clear, I really liked their wines and would have no issue with ordering more some point in the future.

The reconciliation is they made 7,600 cases of the 2017. That's roughly 135 pallets of wine. When Total Wine says "fill a reefer truck," they're going to get a good deal.

I like the wines too, but there's some economies of scale when someone is willing to buy 1/5 of a single wine you produced.

Apocalypse wine #2: 2010 Maybach at Bouchon on Sunday night. There were 3 tables seated at 6:30pm. So strange!!! But the wine was absolutely freaking delicious.

We belong to three wine clubs. They are all places that we have been multiple times and enjoy the wines. All three have a decent variety of what they do and it fills a spot in our cellar. Round Pond for the bigger Napa style cabs, Siduri as a Pinot specialist from the length of the West Coast, and Truett-Hurst for more fun, people pleasers. This works out to an 80/20 red to white balance, which matches our consumption. We get wines that are in such low production that they are otherwise unavailable. Most don't have an SKU code on the label. It's fun to see the a complete offering, learn more than just the random bottle here and there, and develop a history with these labels.

Saving money is no where to be found on that list. Even if with a club discount a bottle MIGHT be cheaper than in the store, I typically give that back on shipping since I don't buy enough to qualify for a lot of those shipping offers. Plus, overall I'm buying more than I might otherwise. In short, don't join any wine club to save money.

BSD said:

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Apocalypse wine #2: 2010 Maybach at Bouchon on Sunday night. There were 3 tables seated at 6:30pm. So strange!!! But the wine was absolutely freaking delicious.

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Vegas?

My phone alerted me of a pic where I was randomly in Vegas the same time as my best friend growing up so we met for dinner at Bouchon 2 years ago today. Simpler times lol

Haha. That happened to me in SF once. We ended up at Sons & Daughters for a tasting menu.

Yes, Vegas. We were pretty happy to get out of there. Especially with my pre-existing condition.

So far I've spent only $300 on wine while stuck at home. Honeymoon in April got canceled so stocking up. Got a Cuvee Juliette (Pinot/Chardonnay sparkling blend) from Clos Solene and a magnum of 2017 Benom Origin to try to make up for honeymooning at home.

Anyone else making bored impulse purchases?

Possibly. It seems like every other email right now is COVID. The rest are from wineries offering big discounts.

I'll likely be spending some money on spring releases that came out this week.

big-ag said:

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So far I've spent only $300 on wine while stuck at home. Honeymoon in April got canceled so stocking up. Got a Cuve Juliette (Pinot/Chardonnay sparkling blend) from Clos Solne and a magnum of 2017 Benom Origin to try to make up for honeymooning at home.

Anyone else making bored impulse purchases?

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Yep, but I got some Cuvee' Pau from J Lohr so my wife is going to be happy.

I bought a case of 2016 Modus Vicarious - it's our favorite weekday drinker and a "Collection 2014" to add to our 2013. Added on 3 Rose of Pinot for my basic-white-girl-wife and her summer by the pool as soon as she pops out our son.