How many different bottlings from one winery is too much?

[Joe_Hauck]

@Peter Petersen

Looks like my max is 16 different bottlings from one winery, and they make more than 20 different ones. I couldn’t imagine doing without a single one of those and most are SVD.

Peter, you are every wineries ideal customer.

[Tom_Lee]

@Chris Seiber

I like producers like Dehlinger that make a few high-quality wines, you can order them in larger quantity without spending thousands of dollars and fretting about all the SVDs you didn’t buy, you get allocated plenty of what you want, and there is less brain damage. It’s like dining at a restaurant that has a one-page menu but everything on it is excellent.

+1.

Tom

[Russell_Faulkner]

I buy most wines made by Willi Schaefer every year, they stack up quickly, a six pack or more of each.

[John_Morris]

Obviously the Burgundy negociants have very long lists. But the Germans steal the prize. With multiple vineyards, white and red varietals, plus a range of dry and sweet wines, even modest family operations typically have dozens of wines on offer. A list from Rudolf Furst in 2006 had ~35 wines and a dozen brandies. Richter’s list in 2004 had 27, not counting 375 mls. Dr. Heger was offering about 90 wines (including back vintages) in 2006, plus a dozen brandies and a dozen vinegars!

Piemontese producers juggle a lot, too. A list from Burlotto last summer included 7 Baroli plus 11 other wines, from Dolcetto and Barbera to Freisa and Pelaverga.

[Pat_Burton]

An interesting topic. With some exceptions, I don’t worry too much about this - I just pick a couple I’m happy with and stick with them. I will even throw in a random bottle or two to try some of the other offerings in case I want to switch my regular purchases. However, I am occasionally frustrated by excessive numbers of offerings, particularly when I am new to the list. I sometimes am in a position where I can’t even afford to buy a single bottle of each. I also don’t like to buy single bottles, and prefer to buy at least three of something to follow it a bit over time. Thus, how am I to get a good idea of the entire portfolio? Obviously, I cannot (unless I visit the tasting room). Thus, I either have to buy based on others’ TNs, or pass because I never end up making a decision.