May 29, 2015
As is so very often the case, the New York Times has provided its readers with something fascinating and a story of wine that demands we wine lovers question how we understand wine. In this case, The Times has provided a portrait of a very distinct vision of what California wine either ought to or can be. The focus of the recent “The Wrath of Grapes” begins with a focus on Rajat Parr, a sommelier and winery owner and one…
May 19, 2015
Drizly, the quick booze delivery service, has had quite a week. Not only did it secure $13 million from investors to make sure it could deliver more Bud, Coors and Boxed Wine to connoisseurs in between 20 and 40 minutes, but it also got a money endorsement of the least tech-savvy group in the American beverage industry: The Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of America. What I didn’t know about Drizly, however, but learned today in their press release on their…
Apr 23, 2015
There must be word or phrase for that rare occurrence when a business or organization’s financial interests are always located at the summit of the moral high ground. If there is no word or phrase for this phenomenon, there ought to be — how else to talk about and understand the role of the wine wholesaler. This rare confluence of morals and financial interest were on display at the recently completed Annual Convention of the Wine & Spirit Wholesalers Association…
Apr 1, 2015
I’ve always thought that if one’s biblical perspective informed them that homosexuality was immoral, the best course of action would be to not engage in homosexual acts. Likewise, if one feels reliably sure that the Bible instructs that God is opposed to sex out-of-wedlock, then the best course of action is to refrain from sex until married. But I’m old-fashioned. It appears that some are so sure that their responsibility to their religious beliefs requires them not merely to abstain…
Apr 1, 2015
A couple of weeks ago I sat on a panel in Saint Helena that explored the Millennial wine buyer. The primary question was how do you reach this growing demographic? My response to the primarily Napa Valley and Sonoma County winery representatives in the room was this: Beware: Millennials are not buying expensive wines. And if you are selling $50+ bottles of wine and selling out every year and if your buyers are made up primarily of Baby Boomers and…