(i) Paying $120 locally for a wine generally available for $59 in the rest of the country (2004 Il Poggione Riserva Brunello) and completely missing out on some of the world’s best wines that are not available in Texas (e.g. Emidio Pepe, Selosse)?
(ii) Ordering online and having the wine shipped to an “alternate address” in another state for later pickup?
(iii) Abstaining from wine.
Does anyone have any useful experiences with “third-party storage facilities” in a nearby state (La) willing to receive wine and then either allow the purchaser to pick it up in person or even “reship it” (from the consumer’s storage facility to himself)?
It’s hard to believe that there is no “underground railroad” for the movement of wine into the homes of those purchases who happen to live in hostile territories.
You’re correct that a U.S. winery can ship direct to TX, so when dealing with domestic wines its not so much of a problem. (Local availability and pricing also aren’t as much of an issue for domestic wines.) But when it comes to imported wines like the aforementioned Brunello, the price is always 50%+ higher here. And niche wines like the “orange” wines of Gravner, Zidarich, or Vodopivec are not available at all. So if I want to drink Gravner (and I do), the only way to do it is to break the law (and buy online) or physically travel into another state to buy this wine (which, according to the TABC website, it is only legal to do once every 90 days).
Got it. I forget how spoiled we are out here in Cali. It boggles my mind hearing about certain state’s liquor laws. Probably easier to get guns in TX than wine!
Got it. I forget how spoiled we are out here in Cali. It boggles my mind hearing about certain state’s liquor laws. Probably easier to get guns in TX than wine![/quote]
That’s for sure! I have been buying more CA wines direct from the winery and trying to find the occasional Bordeaux or Burgundy in Dallas when I can at a reasonable price. I have some friends in OK and have about decided to ship wine there occasionally and pick it up when I can. It’s a shame our state has gone this direction but I can understand since I run into teenagers on a daily basis looking for Harlan and 09’ Bordeaux futures. Kids these days have such a sophisticated palate!
I’ve done the same. I feel like I’m missing out on a lot of good deals, though. I wont even look to see what is being offered out there these days because it will just tick me off.
There’s a group of us here locally that are planning on renting a locker together in Shreveport that’ll take receipt of retail shipments and place them in the locker for us for later pickup. We plan on one of us going down once a month to pickup purchases for everybody on a rotating basis.
I forget how spoiled we are out here in Cali. It boggles my mind hearing about certain state’s liquor laws. Probably easier to get guns in TX than wine!
I think that’s next for Pennsylvania – vending machines for guns. I’m hoping that keep the breathalyzer part like they do for wine-buying.
Cargasacchi mentioned last night that he was experimenting with sparkling wine enemas in magnum. Unfortunately, too many dead subjects, so they have switched to .375mls.
Except for a few months in the summer I presume. It’s 100 in Austin today. Another way if you and your friends buy a lot from one retailer is to put it on a pallet and ship it in. I think this could be done. I have a locker on the west coast and someday may load it into a uhaul and drive it in.
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