Sharing Tastings in Napa?

[Marc_Hauser]

Larry you are making too much sense! Agree the customer service and education of the wines should come first over worrying about a couple splitting a tasting fee to be safer guests.

I’d be willing to bet the vast majority of those looking to split a tasting are doing so to reduce the cost, not for safety.

Probably true and with the ridiculous cost can we blame them? Going to Walla Walla next week and all the tasting fees are waved with a purchase.

I’d be willing to bet people look to save money and split tasting fees everywhere.

[Marc_Hauser]

Merrill, I totally get that you/I are looking at this from two different perspectives (winery/customer)…but are you actually saying that after paying for a tasting, one should be obligated to purchase bottles of said wine, even if they don’t like it???

That’s literally the opposite of what she said.

No, it’s not literally the opposite. She did say to purchase bottles, even if they don’t like it. The only overlooked detail was that the tasting is free. Well, “free.” Ha.

Again, you’re misquoting her. She said she expects it, but you’re saying she requires it. Those are very different. She runs a small business and is giving away her time and product for free, with a hope and, yes, expectation, that the guest spend money as a result. But she’s not saying that a purchase is necessary in order to leave the property.

[Rich_Brown]

That’s literally the opposite of what she said.

No, it’s not literally the opposite. She did say to purchase bottles, even if they don’t like it. The only overlooked detail was that the tasting is free. Well, “free.” Ha.

The opposite, as I said.
To spell it out for some of y’all, she said that she does NOT charge for tasting. The response was asking if someone who has already paid for a tasting should feel obligated to buy wine.
Utter incongruity.
ABA3E420-9A96-4FDF-B690-1E0F5E2389DA.jpeg

Thanks Merrill…errrr Nate. Maybe Merrill was only referencing her own personal tastings, but i took it as a generality. So possibly my mistake…but definitley not the opposite of what I asked.

So the rule of thumb should be if you don’t ‘pay’ for a tasting…you should buy the wine, even if you don’t like it. Is that the consensus?

[Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w]

No, it’s not literally the opposite. She did say to purchase bottles, even if they don’t like it. The only overlooked detail was that the tasting is free. Well, “free.” Ha.

The opposite, as I said.
To spell it out for some of y’all, she said that she does NOT charge for tasting. The response was asking if someone who has already paid for a tasting should feel obligated to buy wine.
Utter incongruity.
ABA3E420-9A96-4FDF-B690-1E0F5E2389DA.jpeg

Thanks Merrill…errrr Nate. Maybe Merrill was only referencing her own personal tastings, but i took it as a generality. So possibly my mistake…but definitley not the opposite of what I asked.

So the rule of thumb should be if you don’t ‘pay’ for a tasting…you should buy the wine, even if you don’t like it. Is that the consensus?

Only if you’re Rich.

[PeterJ]

We share tastings so that we can visit more wineries safely. I can’t drink as much alcohol as I used to be able to, and a driver is not worth the expense as the total consumption isn’t excessive. We usually buy enough wine to offset the cost, as most wineries do that. Again, we’ve avoided Napa for quite a while as the costs have risen and so many other great experiences are available in CA.

IMHO Merrill’s way of doing tastings isn’t what the vast majority of people do, especially since she doesn’t even mention that she does them (even by appointment) on her site. From what I’ve learned you have to be referred or find a way to contact her and pretty much be almost invited. Cudos that this model works for her.

My point is that her situation is unique and not really where this topic began. At least not where most tasters would have thought to be the context. That said, we always ask, never assume, that splitting is okay, no matter where we are. Well, maybe not back when some friends insisted on going to V. Sattui.

[Marc_Hauser]

No, it’s not literally the opposite. She did say to purchase bottles, even if they don’t like it. The only overlooked detail was that the tasting is free. Well, “free.” Ha.

The opposite, as I said.
To spell it out for some of y’all, she said that she does NOT charge for tasting. The response was asking if someone who has already paid for a tasting should feel obligated to buy wine.
Utter incongruity.
ABA3E420-9A96-4FDF-B690-1E0F5E2389DA.jpeg

Thanks Merrill…errrr Nate. Maybe Merrill was only referencing her own personal tastings, but i took it as a generality. So possibly my mistake…but definitley not the opposite of what I asked.

So the rule of thumb should be if you don’t ‘pay’ for a tasting…you should buy the wine, even if you don’t like it. Is that the consensus?

No. Why do you keep assuming this is much more sinister than it is?

It’s a courtesy. If you like the wine, it’s a proper thing to do. If you don’t, then don’t.

[Jen_M_a_s_o_n]

Personally, I think it is tacky to split tastings. If you are worried about driving, organize a car. There are some great services which relative to the cost of a Napa trip are quite reasonable… if you must drive then spit. Most tasting fees can be applied towards wine purchases. If you can’t afford the wine, you shouldn’t be tasting there.

[Bill_Tex_Landreth]

This. If you have made a reservation for 2, you should take 2 tastings. Period. I have said this over and over, what is a hobby for many of you is a business for the winery. A business like any other business. It can’t absorb the expense of opening bottle after bottle for zero dollars. They (we) have to make money one (or 2!) way or another - wine sales or “wine experiences.”

Not everyone can afford the top end tastings, which come complete with a meal or even caviar. If you can’t afford it, don’t book it.

I fully get the “it’s a business” position. I expect I’ll ask if splitting is OK whenever I make a reservation somewhere in the future rather than put the staff in the uncomfortable position of an awkward situation. But now some wineries use online reservation systems. If they don’t state a policy regarding this, are you suggesting making a reservation for one even if there are two of you? Workable in a standing bar situation, but maybe not in a seated private atmosphere.

What’s a simple, workable plan? Just don’t go if you want to split but can’t figure it out ahead? I’m assuming here that the business element is really the same at a $100 Napa sit down and at a $10 tasting in the Sierra Foothills.

Yes, just don’t go. I am one of the last to not charge for sit down tastings (no food or blending experiences or the like). I do count on well-referred tasters who generally spend $500/couple and upwards for wine. Don’t really like the wine that much? Purchase it anyway. Plenty of people like it, and you can gift it.

You are f u c k i n g kidding, right?

Nah, you aren’t and that is why you are selling grapes now on the market.

[Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w]

C’mon Tex, wtf?

[Bill_Tex_Landreth]

C’mon Tex, wtf?

WTF, indeed.

[Rich_Brown]

The opposite, as I said.
To spell it out for some of y’all, she said that she does NOT charge for tasting. The response was asking if someone who has already paid for a tasting should feel obligated to buy wine.
Utter incongruity.
ABA3E420-9A96-4FDF-B690-1E0F5E2389DA.jpeg

Thanks Merrill…errrr Nate. Maybe Merrill was only referencing her own personal tastings, but i took it as a generality. So possibly my mistake…but definitley not the opposite of what I asked.

So the rule of thumb should be if you don’t ‘pay’ for a tasting…you should buy the wine, even if you don’t like it. Is that the consensus?

Only if you’re Rich.

Assume you mean rich as in wealthy, correct?

[Marc_Hauser]

Wow, that got weird.

[Rich_Brown]

The opposite, as I said.
To spell it out for some of y’all, she said that she does NOT charge for tasting. The response was asking if someone who has already paid for a tasting should feel obligated to buy wine.
Utter incongruity.
ABA3E420-9A96-4FDF-B690-1E0F5E2389DA.jpeg

Thanks Merrill…errrr Nate. Maybe Merrill was only referencing her own personal tastings, but i took it as a generality. So possibly my mistake…but definitley not the opposite of what I asked.

So the rule of thumb should be if you don’t ‘pay’ for a tasting…you should buy the wine, even if you don’t like it. Is that the consensus?

No. Why do you keep assuming this is much more sinister than it is?

It’s a courtesy. If you like the wine, it’s a proper thing to do. If you don’t, then don’t.

Not at all trying to make it out to be sinister (*removes dark cloak . It was mentioned that peeps are expected to buy wine at a free tasting, even if the don’t care for it. So I’m asking if that’s the general consensus for most here.

[Jim_F]

Why would I buy wine that I don’t like?

[Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w]

Thanks Merrill…errrr Nate. Maybe Merrill was only referencing her own personal tastings, but i took it as a generality. So possibly my mistake…but definitley not the opposite of what I asked.

So the rule of thumb should be if you don’t ‘pay’ for a tasting…you should buy the wine, even if you don’t like it. Is that the consensus?

No. Why do you keep assuming this is much more sinister than it is?

It’s a courtesy. If you like the wine, it’s a proper thing to do. If you don’t, then don’t.

Not at all trying to make it out to be sinister (*removes dark cloak . It was mentioned that peeps are expected to buy wine at a free tasting, even if the don’t care for it. So I’m asking if that’s the general consensus for most here.

Just don’t go to any “free” three day weekends at a time share if you don’t like sales pressure.

[Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w]

Why would I buy wine that I don’t like?

[Rich_Brown]

No. Why do you keep assuming this is much more sinister than it is?

It’s a courtesy. If you like the wine, it’s a proper thing to do. If you don’t, then don’t.

Not at all trying to make it out to be sinister (*removes dark cloak . It was mentioned that peeps are expected to buy wine at a free tasting, even if the don’t care for it. So I’m asking if that’s the general consensus for most here.

Just don’t go to any “free” three day weekends at a time share if you don’t like sales pressure.

shiver

Id much rather pay for shitty wine after a tasting than sit through a 3-day Timeshare weekend, ha!

[Nate_Simon]

Thanks Merrill…errrr Nate. Maybe Merrill was only referencing her own personal tastings, but i took it as a generality. So possibly my mistake…but definitley not the opposite of what I asked.

So the rule of thumb should be if you don’t ‘pay’ for a tasting…you should buy the wine, even if you don’t like it. Is that the consensus?

No. Why do you keep assuming this is much more sinister than it is?

It’s a courtesy. If you like the wine, it’s a proper thing to do. If you don’t, then don’t.

Not at all trying to make it out to be sinister (*removes dark cloak . It was mentioned that peeps are expected to buy wine at a free tasting, even if the don’t care for it. So I’m asking if that’s the general consensus for most here.

This is definitely in the category of “thread drift,” and has been discussed amply in other threads. Nonetheless…
If a winery offers tasting without a fee, I do not necessarily feel obligated to buy.
However, if the service and experience are very good, I do feel that it’s reasonable to show recognition by purchasing.
If you feel like you’ve been shuttled through like cattle, don’t feel obligated. But if the winery owner, winemaker, or emissary has thoughtfully given their time and effort in a good-faith gesture of hospitality, show love. It’s that simple.

[JBrochu]

If you are tasting with somebody that you regularly purchase from, lets say you purchase multiple bottles of just about everything they release just about every release, should you still feel obligated to also make an additional purchase when visiting/tasting?

[Merrill_Lindquist]

I fully get the “it’s a business” position. I expect I’ll ask if splitting is OK whenever I make a reservation somewhere in the future rather than put the staff in the uncomfortable position of an awkward situation. But now some wineries use online reservation systems. If they don’t state a policy regarding this, are you suggesting making a reservation for one even if there are two of you? Workable in a standing bar situation, but maybe not in a seated private atmosphere.

What’s a simple, workable plan? Just don’t go if you want to split but can’t figure it out ahead? I’m assuming here that the business element is really the same at a $100 Napa sit down and at a $10 tasting in the Sierra Foothills.

Yes, just don’t go. I am one of the last to not charge for sit down tastings (no food or blending experiences or the like). I do count on well-referred tasters who generally spend $500/couple and upwards for wine. Don’t really like the wine that much? Purchase it anyway. Plenty of people like it, and you can gift it.

You are f u c k i n g kidding, right?

Nah, you aren’t and that is why you are selling grapes now on the market.

You are a jerk. A class A jerk. Go f yourself.