Domaine Wine Storage - DC Thread

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JoeD · #2201 Post by **JoeD** » January 20th, 2016, 11:58 am

Weekend-long team slumber party at Domaine? Berg - bring the egg!

Alicia C. · #2202 Post by **Alicia C.** » January 20th, 2016, 12:20 pm

JoeD wrote:Weekend-long team slumber party at Domaine? Berg - bring the egg!

how epic would that be!

Berg Atkinson · January 20th, 2016, 12:25 pm

JoeD wrote:Weekend-long team slumber party at Domaine? Berg - bring the egg!

^ says the guy with a BGE as his avatar

I'll pitch in to rent the lounge for 48 hours straight

January 20th, 2016, 12:51 pm

Berg Atkinson wrote:I'll pitch in pay to rent the lounge for 48 hours straight

Sadly I know you aren't joking. You'd need some purp to fuel you through all those hours.

#2205 Post by **scott c** » January 21st, 2016, 7:14 am

J. Singleton wrote:
scott c wrote:But this just bolsters my argument that DC should turn Shaw Middle School into a wine storage facility.
I still have to laugh that the first time I went by there was in a cab at night I thought it was a police substation or jail.

It really is a terrible facility. But for some reason people are always drinking really good wine in there on Instagram!

Michael Lewis · January 21st, 2016, 1:14 pm

I received an e-mail from Domaine saying they would be closed on Saturday, so no unfortunately no #SnOvernoy for us on Saturday.

JoeD · #2207 Post by **JoeD** » January 26th, 2016, 6:15 pm

anyone around this weekend?

Alicia C. · #2208 Post by **Alicia C.** » January 27th, 2016, 7:27 am

I'll be by to drop something off and happy to stick around if there's a quorum!

Berg Atkinson · January 27th, 2016, 7:53 am

Yep, I'll be around Saturday, and planning to do inventory on Friday if anyone wants to stop by then too.

JoeD · #2210 Post by **JoeD** » January 28th, 2016, 5:07 am

I was hoping Dr Jura would come and relive SNovernoy with us!

Michael Lewis · January 28th, 2016, 6:18 pm

You know I rarely commit to anything in a public forum until it is actually happening.

#2212 Post by **NoahR** » January 30th, 2016, 8:24 am

Hoping to stop by. Baby dependent as always.

#2213 Post by **scott c** » February 3rd, 2016, 3:33 pm

Anyone going on Saturday? I need to stop by and pick up some wines for upcoming events, but I promise to not "pull a C1@ffee" and just up and leave. I will actually open something fun.

Also, we've been toying with the idea of putting a box out in the tasting room for Heart's Delight auction donations like a canned food drive, so I would encourage anyone there to pull an extra bottle for charity. Obviously, anyone who has already generously offered to donate to my Pinot lot or something else need not feel pressured to donate more. But we heard through the grapevine that no one (literally no one) responded to the email Domaine sent out asking for donations, so we thought we might try it this way.

David White · February 3rd, 2016, 7:16 pm

I'll be setting up a second donation box on February 13, which will be our deadline for the auction. Please help!!!!

Berg Atkinson · February 3rd, 2016, 7:36 pm

Don't think I'll make it this Saturday, but I can probably find a bottle of Pinot to donate

Michael Lewis · February 3rd, 2016, 7:44 pm

I have to stop by this Saturday, Claffee. Should we all wear skinny jeans?

#2217 Post by **scott c** » February 4th, 2016, 9:41 am

Michael Lewis wrote:I have to stop by this Saturday, Claffee. Should we all wear skinny jeans?

Is there any other kind?

February 4th, 2016, 12:09 pm

Who is Dr. Jura trying to fool with the lighter hair and beard?

Michael Lewis · February 4th, 2016, 12:27 pm

I don't see any Ganevat or Overnoy in that picture. Can't possibly be me.

Rock.A.Stueve · February 4th, 2016, 3:07 pm

Cross over post from Wine.Woot

The evening of March 19th, there will be a WW Black Tie tasting. Essentially, we are gathering to dress up, and drink the good stuff.

Check out Wine.Woot for details.

#2221 Post by **R_Gilbane** » February 5th, 2016, 4:22 pm

I've been told by my wife that I need to get wine out of storage for a super bowl party. So I will be there tomorrow. Strictly following orders.

Berg Atkinson · February 10th, 2016, 7:31 pm

Saturday roll call...

In.

#2223 Post by **NoahR** » February 11th, 2016, 4:29 am

Out of town this week. Also, I am afraid of my lockers and what they have become...

Berg Atkinson · February 11th, 2016, 4:45 am

NoahR wrote:Out of town this week. Also, I am afraid of my lockers and what they have become...

Leave your keys, we'll beat them into submission.

Alicia C. · #2225 Post by **Alicia C.** » February 11th, 2016, 7:35 am

I'm 95 percent sure that I'm out this weekend (have too much to do before leaving town Sunday) and the traveling keeps me away the following weekend.... but I'm definitely in for the weekend of the 27th with a special guest! will send e-mail about that soon.

#2226 Post by **R_Gilbane** » February 11th, 2016, 9:47 am

Don't keep secrets Alicia!

JoeD · #2227 Post by **JoeD** » February 11th, 2016, 10:32 am

i might stop bye this wkd. And for the special guest, I have an idea on whom.

Berg Atkinson · February 11th, 2016, 10:49 am

JoeD wrote:i might stop bye this wkd. And for the special guest, I have an idea on whom.

SPOILER FOR EVERYONE: ITS NOT JEB

Alicia C. · February 11th, 2016, 10:50 am

R_Gilbane wrote:Don't keep secrets Alicia!

but you already know!!!!

JoeD · #2230 Post by **JoeD** » February 11th, 2016, 12:15 pm

#JEBFEST^2

#2231 Post by **Jtucker** » February 27th, 2016, 9:43 am

Have not figured out how to post a picture, but if I could, it would show the empty shelves where the stems used to be at domaine. So the time was taken to remove every stem from the place since "no drinking can go on" but no email was sent out about it. Time to remove stems. Yes. 5 minutes it would take to send an email to the clients? NO. Or the one minute it would take to post on this forum. Irate customers. YES.

Alicia C. · #2232 Post by **Alicia C.** » February 27th, 2016, 9:49 am

We ate re routing to Etto (14th and Q) this afternoon. Please join us there!!!!

Alicia C. · #2233 Post by **Alicia C.** » February 27th, 2016, 9:50 am

Oops We ARE rerouting!

Berg Atkinson · February 27th, 2016, 10:50 am

Not letting the customers know you're having licensing issues, and no one can open a bottle of wine in the 'tasting' room, is simply piss poor customer service. Even more so when the employees are well aware the amount of people that come on Saturdays, who coincidentally, by our attendance, provide free advertising services and positive word of mouth for Domaine.

DrewPaquin · February 27th, 2016, 6:42 pm

We appreciate your understanding of a last minute situation we were appraised of late on Friday. We will, as always, advocate for our clients and make sure everything is back to normal quickly.

NickD · #2236 Post by **NickD** » March 4th, 2016, 10:25 am

Hey - as the weekend approaches has anyone heard any further updates about where things stand with the tasting room? I reached out to Amelia to express frustration about the lack of communication, and she apologized and said she would pass my feedback along, but now a few days have gone by and I haven't really heard anything further....

Any one have any idea what's up? Is the tasting room open this weekend?

Amelia H · #2237 Post by **Amelia H** » March 4th, 2016, 10:53 am

Hi Nick, We will be open 12-3 on Saturday as usual but as of right now, drinking on site is still suspended.
I believe upper management is working on an email that will go out later today.
Again, we appreciate your understanding as we work to get this resolved.

Rock.A.Stueve · March 15th, 2016, 5:49 am

This has been a real downer, not being able to drop in on a Saturday and taste something. There was a pretty good community there at Domaine, and we've even sent business to Domaine for other services they provide.

Hope this resolves soon.

David S. Corrick · March 30th, 2016, 7:28 am

Witness the death of an offline planner thread.

AndrewH · #2240 Post by **AndrewH** » March 31st, 2016, 6:42 am

David S. Corrick wrote:Witness the death of an offline planner thread.

Todd couldn't do it . . .

. . . but who did? Does this stem from some determination by the DC alcohol and tobacco folks?

AndrewH · #2241 Post by **AndrewH** » March 31st, 2016, 1:08 pm

Well, answered my own question, at least on the face of things.

DC ABRA says the law doesn't allow an alcohol/wine storage facility to allow consumption on premises.

#2242 Post by **JPWilley** » April 1st, 2016, 6:14 am

AndrewH wrote:Well, answered my own question, at least on the face of things.

DC ABRA says the law doesn't allow an alcohol/wine storage facility to allow consumption on premises.

Well, that sucks.

Mark O. · #2243 Post by **Mark O.** » April 1st, 2016, 6:38 am

Aside from the tasting room matter, it was discomforting to see the language in the ABRA complaint about the renewal status of the Storage Facility Permit (1st para under Findings of Fact). I was glad to see that the status was remedied.

AndrewH · #2244 Post by **AndrewH** » April 1st, 2016, 8:17 am

Mark O. wrote:Aside from the tasting room matter, it was discomforting to see the language in the ABRA complaint about the renewal status of the Storage Facility Permit (1st para under Findings of Fact). I was glad to see that the status was remedied.

It sounds like really sloppy business - not renewing the basic permit needed for operation and operating a tasting room that appears to be clearly prohibited. From the quoted language, there doesn't seem to be any wiggle room, like "shall not serve" might. It says "alcohol can't be consumed on premises". One can quarrel with the rule or the law, but it's pretty clear. Did Domaine not have lawyers even look at these restrictions?

(If it matters to anyone, I don't store anything at Domaine)

#2245 Post by **J. Migone** » April 4th, 2016, 10:32 am

Sucks, that was a great spot, with a lot of genuinely nice knowledgeable people. On a side note, is anyone going to the California barrel tasting at the Mandarin Oriental in May? Or have been in the past? Worth it.

Marcu$ Stanley · April 5th, 2016, 9:43 pm

This is a real shame. It was a blast to go by there on Saturday, and contrary to the complaint I don't think any of the activity I saw there caused 'irreparable harm to the public'. I was under the impression when I saw the announcement from Domaine that they would try to get a license, but it appears from the complaint that Andrew posted that it may be impossible for a storage facility to do that in DC (?). Couldn't quite tell from the quote there though.

Very careless on the part of Domaine.

etomasi · #2247 Post by **etomasi** » April 5th, 2016, 9:53 pm

Well, I've worked with a couple bar owners over the years. They may have been able to get a license before, but now that they have been determined to being in operation in violation of the law (in the opinion of ABRA), they are screwed. I'm not sure they could get a license even if they threw themselves on ABRA's mercy. A similar thing happened (much more egregious actually) happened when a restaurant had several pre-opening parties where alcohol was served with no license. The owners had to eventually sell it because they couldnt get a liquor license, and the new owners were able to get a license because it wasnt tainted by the previous acts.

This is compounded by the area its in. Its notoriously hard to get a license in upper NW.

Marc Lazar · #2248 Post by **Marc Lazar** » April 6th, 2016, 11:57 am

Lots of armchair quarterbacks here, thats for sure. Id say that rumors of our demise are highly exaggerated, but such is the nature of the internet.

We have plenty of good reasons not to discuss this matter too much, but I can say that we have and will continue to work diligently to provide the best experiences, service and spaces to our customers.

As to the comments above, for starters, we have a license, as a storage facility. It was renewed without drama whatsoever. ABRA freely admits that they did not send out renewal reminders last year, to us or many others, and thus the lapse in our license. Its current, we have a jillion reminders for future years and a lapse won't happen again. Even our attorney, who handles most licensees in the city was caught by surprise on the renewal.

This talk of "throwing ourselves at abra's mercy" is really over the top. We are not looking to get a bricks and mortar license, and it would not be possible anyway due to the 400 foot rule in DC. There are several licensees very near our building. There are several internet licenses within our space, but those are a whole different animal. There are also several importers and wholesalers. Before our entrance in the market, no one had ever housed different types of licenses in the same building. We are in uncharted territory and some hiccups are to be expected. Those of you with cool heads and circumspection, plus a good bit of knowledge of liquor law know that most of the codes are totally out of sync with modern society. Shipping options are clumsy, the internet is not even considered. Co-location, virtual companies, and boutique importers are an afterthought, etc. DC is actually quite progressive and administration has been quicker than most to embrace modernity. But process is process.

April 10th, 2016, 11:42 am

AndrewH wrote:DC ABRA says the law doesn't allow an alcohol/wine storage facility to allow consumption on premises.

If the law states this so plainly, then it seems like there really isn't much recourse and the tasting room will be a thing of the past. Perhaps the lawyers here know far more than I do, but unless the law is changed, is there a way for exemption?

A shame to see the tasting room shut as that was the reason for going up on Saturdays. What's worse is my storage place in Dallas has a great tasting room but no one ever uses it unless there's a formal tasting. No community whatsoever.

J. Schenck · #2250 Post by **J. Schenck** » May 24th, 2016, 3:13 pm

hello. I am new to DC. and I get the feeling I missed something.