What if there were TRIAL 375's

WINE TALK
1

A new vintage comes out, and you’re not sure if you want to buy. What if a winery charged you for a 375 of a bottling, and shipped prior to the offering. You would be able to judge for yourself (not based on reviews). Then if you buy say 3 or more of that bottle in 750 format, they would apply that 375 charge to your order. That would be kinda cool.

2

I grant your wish.

pretty much.

https://www.tastingroom.com/

3

I was thinking more of a customer service offer from a winery we may already have bought from in the previous year.

4

You have a deal :slight_smile: Great idea.

5

It is a great idea, until you factor in the cost and additional logistics around bottling 375s. You can’t use the same bottling line or labels, and you have to buy an additional type of glass. Why not just buy a “normal” 750, and if you like it, buy more? I like the try before you buy idea (I actually rarely buy wine without first trying it), but it is also almost unfeasible for a winery to do what you propose.

6

Calera used to do that for their mailing list. Since their current release always had an extra year of bottle age before they released it, you could buy a 6 pack of 375s for the following vintage when you ordered the current vintage wines. I LOVED that idea so much, that when we started, we offered sample packs for the wines - and then people could re-order. The problem for us was that we don’t wait that extra year to release wine, so we’d have to figure out allocations to allow people to get the them, and then place orders. It became too difficult, so we quit doing it.

7

Hey Todd! What about encouraging participating wineries at Berzerker Day to furnish 375’s so we Berzerkers could buy a variety six pack, a twelve pack or more to sample the new wares? Could be a logistical hassle to put it together, but what fun!

8

As pointed out, a 375mL program requires special consideration. Because of the expense, wineries either do it ‘all in’ or not at all. The sizes will always be in a different ‘place’ so a 375mL that is delicious now may not show the same in a larger size for months. Most people I talk to (at the winery I work at) who want 375mL is because they drink wine by themselves on a regular basis. It is much more common for people to purchase a selection of single bottles in 750mL before they decide what to buy in quantity. Unless the wine is severely limited, they will usually have enough time to re-order.

As a critic, I want the bottle of wine I taste to be as close as possible to what a reader is likely to experience. I find the 50mL bottles useless for evaluation when my rinses are that big and my pours are generally about 100 - 125mL, and I may go though as many as three pours over a period of time.

9

Brian… it was your sample packs that got me started on pinot noir. It’s all YOUR fault!! [wow.gif] [wink.gif]

10

My bad [berserker.gif]

11

I love, love, love 375’s. I actively seek them out. I wish more wineries offered this package option.
That being said, the “try before you buy” might be tough for most wineries to pull off.

12

Like the idea, but for anything requiring age it’s often tough to judge on release, much in advance of release.

13

Also love 375s (and have bought that size from Brian multiple times), but can see where it would be a pain for the wineries.

14
15

I am sorry I agree with any post that says just go for the 750 ML … As a producer I can tell you there is almost no difference in cost … Less than .50 cents to $2.00 … That is all, so as a producer do I want you to have less wine , no … I know marketing and people like cool little miniature things like dogs, horses, cars, wine… Most of the miniature markets I know of in the end cost you more…


Small bottles are Not ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY … They are evil and have a very large carbon footprint in relation to what they deliver … So lets be green … Please use your 375 s effectively … If you open a 750 and want half , o big deal that is what the 375 ML is for gas it with you Coravin your good to go… Saved the other half and that ice wine bottle now comes in handy …

.this has been your public service announcement ,…live green or cry … !!!

16

I choose neither. Long live 375s!!!

17

Brian, I think the correct response is, “you’re welcome.” [cheers.gif]

18

All hale the 375! Long live the 375!
I would rather have a bigger carbon foot print with a recyclable glass 375, than throw unused wine down the drain or feel forced to drink it just because the bottle had been previously opened.

All hale the 375!

19

I do like the idea of offering those mini bottles to everyone on your mailing list to try the wines…I’d even pay for them if say Cayuse did a mini 187ml or 90ml bottle so I could taste everything they made. It would be VERY cool and I’d be happy to pay for that experience.

20

It would be great if more producers offered 375’s in general.

As for a Trial 375, I understand that it would not be a viable practice for everyone. I would think a small producer would find it difficult to offer this as it does present a production and logistics layer to their sales cycle.

But it would be really nice if a producer charged and shipped 1- 375 of the upcoming release for a trial before I purchased a full allocation. For me this would be considered the greatest form of customer service.

It would have to be a reasonably established producer that I have purchased several vintages from and is willing to go one extra step to give their customer an exceptional customer experience.

Maybe we can get a group of people from this board together and start a 375 bottling campaign. We can get a mobile bottling plant and travel winery to winery and offer this as a service to smaller boutique wineries. Kickstarter anyone?