Agree - this is even more frustrating. I get it - they don’t want to warehouse wine - but it’s inefficient for shipping purposes. I really wish these wineries would offer an option, especially for repeat customers, to hold all purchases until the last offer for the year. I’ve told a couple I’m passing on an offer because I don’t want to buy 3 bottles and pay a high shipping charge when I’ll be buying 8-9 more throughout the year.
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Quite a few wineries use a fulfillment contractor to cover all the laws regarding different states. The fulfillment contractor holds all the licenses and a Winery doesn’t have to worry about any of that but of course that’s prevents them from holding any ones single shipment because the fulfillment contractor already has the wine in their possession.
Myriad, Kistler, Aubert, Rivers Marie and Maybach. All wines that I would normally buy, but now passing on.
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As a winemaker, I’m trying to avoid this thread 
I totally get it - there comes a time when you need to look at what you have and wonder if you need more - and that’s true with so many things in life. The reality is that many of you have enough wine not only for you to enjoy, but probably the next 3-4 generations as well.
FOMO certainly seems to still exist here on WB - but no where near the extent that it did - and very very infrequently. And I think that’s a good thing.
All of that said, my hope as a winemaker making reasonably priced ‘outside the box’ wines is that there’ll still be interest in picking up a couple of bottles or a case to have around and not ‘fret over’ when you open them . . .And the idea of wineries holding orders is pretty universal - all you need to do is ask and most of us, especially us small guys, will have no problem in doing so.
Cheers all!
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I’ve turned 50, and I think I have for the next 25 years worth of wine in the cellar. So, yeah, I stopped buying too. I know the notion of generational cellars, but I don’t see my kids being really into that. Of course, I can always start again, just not now…
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From the wineries perspective, it may encourage customers to round out to a 6 or 12 case when they normally wouldn’t have.
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It took about 10 years longer than I thought it would, but it’s a relief for me – not chasing. Now, just have to deal with the problems I created 
(and enjoy them along the way)
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Sometimes one or two bottles is all you are allocated of specific wines at K-E especially when you are new on the list. The way around that is to commit to buying three packs of the single vineyard wines in advance.
The way around their expensive shipping is to make a trip out and pick up your Wines and enjoy a wine list member tasting that is without many peers.
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Healthy relationship with alcohol Pat? So you’re trying to break the cycle.
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So you’ve tasted K-E at Wheeler Farms? Quite excited for appointment with Nigel in February.
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Yes, and it was spectacular. He’s a great guy with a wry sense of humor. The tasting was extremely generous with what we drank. You’re gonna love it if it’s anything close to what we experienced.
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I have loaded up on alot of 21s 23s and even a decent amount of 22s. Plus some 19,20 and 22 Bords. I am full and need to stop! There are definitely some lists I will drop. My strategy has been changing also - backfill with auctions where the wine is cheaper and has the advantage of bottle age!
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While I am in the “retired now and cellar is full” (with no kids), I still buy from a few producers we love and wish to continue to support for as long as possible. And with it being “an Oregon thing” (I can attest that it is), our small orders from time to time will build up and then we take a 2 night trip to McMinnville each winter and set up tasting/pick up appointments. Fortunately, we love close enough to drive there in a bit over 4 hrs…. but it is a great little getaway and one could do it any time of the year (save probably harvest or on BD) So maybe create your own “consortium” in whichever region you favor (assuming your wineries will hold for you like @Marcus_Goodfellow and @Jim_Anderson –the 2 Willamette wineries I still continue to buy from) and then you can mix and match to your heart’s content! And if you have to fly to your fav region(s), you can probably score a great wine travel case this BD !
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Marcus,
When I have gone to Burgundy, the producers I visit don’t individually ship wines to me. Rather, they (and retailers there) use a company called Côte d’Or Imports. https://www.cotedorimports.com/ Côte d’Or Imports consolidates the wines I buy and then ships them all to me. While they have an office in NSGs, they are based in Oregon. You guys in Oregon should talk to them about shipping wines for all of you guys and allow people to consolidate purchases from various wineries and ship them out collectively.
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Great thread and something I’ve been dealing with over the last few years.
As I get on in years, I’ve dropped all club memberships. I just can’t justify 2021 Napa at $200+ a bottle that needs 8-10 years. This is why I’ve gone to buying reds at auction while NV Champagne and rosés have remained as 90% of my new wine purchases.
At this point my only soft spot for new releases has become high end Brunello and even then it’s only 6 at a time. Compared to the cases of everything from Brunello’s 2010 vintage I went long on, I’m in a different place now.
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I wonder if Scarecrow is having problems selling out. I skipped my last allocation. That usually puts you at the end of the mailing list for a few years, but I just got an offer for the 2023.
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Interesting, their email yesterday did specifically state that passing would put someone at the bottom of the list. 2023 may be my last purchase, although I hate to break the vertical I have going.
I looked back and I passed on the 2021 vintage which was offered in March of 2024. I have not received another offer since..
I might have skipped the last two allocations and bought them from someone else
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Many of us do hold to consolidate the wines for customers and ship only when they reach a case.
It’s practical on all levels, even if it does require some extra storage and tracking.
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