Whine Club
Do you have a favorite place to procure your wine? A bottle shop around the corner, or a vendor half way around the world? Maybe you joined the mailing list from that quaint little vineyard amongst the pines and they ship you their latest vintage as though it's an auto-refill from the apothecary...
I can only imagine that freedom of choice as the laws in my neck of the woods governing the shipment of alcohol are left over from the bygone days of prohibition and I am left with the selections deemed worthy by a long chain of importers, distributors and retailers considering price points, quantity and ease.
OK I feel better. (well...)
As the whole concept of getting what I want when I want it is just out of reach, can you tell me what it's like, please? Help me wrap my sheltered brain around the experiences of selection, anticipation and joy that are involved with the simplest of global consumer options. Are you a member of a wine club? How does it work? What are the really cool parts about the experience? Is it a random box every six weeks? Seriously - I try not to look so I don't get all uncorked.
I would love to hear what you like, think, or know about your best and worst experiences with wine clubs... enjoy!
I can only imagine that freedom of choice as the laws in my neck of the woods governing the shipment of alcohol are left over from the bygone days of prohibition and I am left with the selections deemed worthy by a long chain of importers, distributors and retailers considering price points, quantity and ease.
OK I feel better. (well...)
As the whole concept of getting what I want when I want it is just out of reach, can you tell me what it's like, please? Help me wrap my sheltered brain around the experiences of selection, anticipation and joy that are involved with the simplest of global consumer options. Are you a member of a wine club? How does it work? What are the really cool parts about the experience? Is it a random box every six weeks? Seriously - I try not to look so I don't get all uncorked.
I would love to hear what you like, think, or know about your best and worst experiences with wine clubs... enjoy!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jeffry Gordon on -
It is an odd phenomenon here in Tennessee - laws left over from prohibition that exclude fair trade of spirits. This fact has actually been contested in Federal Court and some of the Wine And Grape laws are being challenged, which in turn threatens Tennessee Vineyards... it all gets so complex.
One other odd aside is that Jack Daniels - a classic World reknowned whiskey is made here in Tennessee and the property is located in a dry county! You can't even taste the whiskey on site! Of course, that would then create a dilemma of what to serve with the whiskey - cheese, or pretzels (!)
I've also come to appreciate the letigious nature of the US government in relation to the import and export of spirits to and from the states... goodness! How do vintners crack this market? The fee for the first bottle on the national level is astronomical, then the state by state registry... oh my goodness.... talk about a taste in your mouth and an aroma for the cents!
I am thankful for the wine travels we pursue in that it shows the people and places that bring life to the wines we love - and it shares light on those wines that have not yet found their way to wider marketbase... oh, how I wish for a glass of Lamour Dejour from Alee Bleue... oh yeah, I can't have that here!
For now, cheers and ciao!
jeffry
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Permalink Reply by OhioWineGuy on -
Sorry to hear of your predicament, but many southern tier states are in the Bible Belt with dry counties (though not all dry counties are in the south) and at the same time have distilleries like Tennessee and Kentucky do. It gets complex for direct shipments between states as well. Protectionism abounds and there are shipping restrictions based on production of the winery in gallons as well. It's all about tax revenue by each state. Some are enlightened, but most are not. Change is slow despite what Obama says.
As for me and where I buy here in Ohio, I get wine sent back from wineries that I visit in some cases or go two miles to the wineries locally and get great wines. The state of Ohio sells licenses for liquor operations and there are a few around me that carry some great imported wines or I can order through them if their distributor handles the variety & brand. It has been legal in Ohio for a while for grocery stores to sell beer and wine and a few even have state issued liquor licenses to sell the high alcohol beverages too. I can tell you it took a long time and many votes to make it happen.
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