Winemaker / Importer Beware!!

[Joe_Hauck]

I feel pretty good about never buying any Kutch wines right now, Maybe Bill L. was on to something.

[Peter_Kleban]

@Richard Leland

An interesting discussion, to be sure, but there’s an important point that everyone seems to be missing … Nola is much better looking than either Leslie or Jamie. That’s got to count for something, right?

Oh yeah, clearly that’s far and away the most important thing here. No question.

[L_i_n_d_a_Lindsay]

[edited post shown a few below]

[Chris_Blum]

@Mary Baker

Omigod, I leave for a week and the sandbox is full of mierdo de gato.
Leslie has always been a self-entitled mean girl whose reviews pretty much gag anyone in the industry.
Nola, in every industry, samples are a game. Learn Texas Hold’em and you’ll learn a lot about marketing.
Kutch, you are, and always have been, pretty much a tool. And you need to spellcheck. So sue me.

(Drops mic and walks off stage)

[Linda_Baehr]

@Chris Blum

@Mary Baker

Omigod, I leave for a week and the sandbox is full of mierdo de gato.
Leslie has always been a self-entitled mean girl whose reviews pretty much gag anyone in the industry.
Nola, in every industry, samples are a game. Learn Texas Hold’em and you’ll learn a lot about marketing.
Kutch, you are, and always have been, pretty much a tool. And you need to spellcheck. So sue me.

(Drops mic and walks off stage)

Yeah.

[Stewart_Johnson]

Being ignored is a drag, but it’s part of the business. I do feel like a wine buyer who requests a sample bottle (rather than just a pour) owes the winery a response. Here, with a reviewer, silence can be preferable to publishing a negative review, and I think we might entertain the notion that she was adopting the “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” approach. I have no idea whether Sbrocco is the second coming of Mary Poppins, but what we have to go on here strikes me as thin evidence with which to bury someone.

[L_i_n_d_a_Lindsay]

Yehaw !!! Go girls, both Nola and Mary. I was very kind in an earlier post, but seeing that Jamie is choosing not to do the right thing-apologize for calling Nola a Liar then calling her crazy, time for the gentle gloves to come off. As I said, I’ve never had a Kutch wine, and given Jamie’s uncalled for nastiness, never will or recommend to others. I also said, have no idea who or what Leslie is and just don’t care, she obviously has no impact on my business. Speaking of wine business. Jamie I asked when you got your license and went from a hobby to a “real” winery. Still waiting for that answer. As I see your business model you are a tiny producer that relies on DTC sales. Along with that business model comes an invitation for your customers to want to know you personally. In that case, you should be ashamed of what your customers are seeing about who the man behind the curtain really is.
I’ve been in this industry for a long time, share and work with fellow winemakers and honestly disgusted by your behavior. In my world I feel a responsibility to help my peers, sharing experience and advice when asked or offered.
You backed your “vitriol” with your winery. Mighty big risk as I see it.
You owe Nola an apology for your nasty accusations, it’s that simple. Are you man enough to do the right thing ? Honestly it’s not that hard
Mary called you a tool. I’ve many better and stronger words that fit you better. If this is who you really are, you’re not a very nice person

[Mark.Ricca]

@Mary Baker

Omigod, I leave for a week and the sandbox is full of mierdo de gato.
Leslie has always been a self-entitled mean girl whose reviews pretty much gag anyone in the industry.
Nola, in every industry, samples are a game. Learn Texas Hold’em and you’ll learn a lot about marketing.
Kutch, you are, and always have been, pretty much a tool. And you need to spellcheck. So sue me.

[mike_pobega]

Just when my new found love of Cali Pinot is kicking in, my list of don’t-buys grows by one.

[Andrew_Kaufman]

This thread should be merged with the Maison Illan thread.

[Mary_Baker]

@Andrew Kaufman

This thread should be merged with the Maison Illan thread.

Respectfully disagree. The two threads address different audiences and are on different topics.

[Nola_Palomar]

Something has been on my mind that hasn’t been mentioned and should be and that is that out of all the professional critics, semi-professional critics, bloggers that I have submitted to or have sat and tasted with me and I’ve almost always gotten a thank you, a yes, I got the wines or some sort of feedback. In no particular order, Josh Raynolds (IWC), Gregory dal Piaz (Snooth), Jay Miller (formerly w TWA-after*), Richard Jennings, Kevin Keith (UnderTheGrapeTree.com), David Rosengarten (The Rosengarten Report), Chris Kassel (The Intoxicology Report), Wine Spectator, Jose Penin (Guia Penin), Ryan Opaz (Catavino), Loren Sonkin (IntoWine), Mark Fisher (Uncorked) Jamie Goode, Colin Harkness (Cost-news / Corktalk), and probably many more that I can’t recall at this moment.

Then there are also my friends here that I have sent my wines to either at my or their request, or I may have sat with them and tasted; they have all acknowledged receipt and given me feedback, which it to us very, very important.

[Andrew_Kaufman]

@Mary Baker

@Andrew Kaufman

This thread should be merged with the Maison Illan thread.

Respectfully disagree. The two threads address different audiences and are on different topics.

You have a PM

[dougwilder]

If you are too busy being a professional to remember the small courtesies that can set you apart and make the interaction worthwhile for everyone, people will remember that down the road. It is meaningless what kind of exposure you have or how big a celebrity. Little things count - I make a point of bringing a recent print issue of my publication to give winemakers I meet with. I have even parted with an extra loaf of Thursday Asiago bread from Cheeseboard to leave with a winemaker.

[M.Kaplan]

The only thing this thread has in common with the Ray Walker thread is that both involve people ITB who participate here. In my opinion they add salt to the soup and I enjoy their participation, in whatever guise they choose. Other wine boards discourage as policy commercial posts or unfettered participation by those ITB. They are unwise and shortsighted in that approach. Nola, continue to let it rip!

[johngonzales]

I agree with Andrew that the threads are similar. They are similar in that most of the board does not really feel STRONGLY about the specific account first posted upon. They are similar, memorable, and disappointing in that a few rude people made uncalled for remarks about fellow board members. IMO one person’s to blame here, and multiple people there. The key difference between these threads is that in that thread most of the combatants took heed of what some of the bystanders said, mellowed their tone, and even made some amends. Even if a guy like Klapp can only do it by making more, but relatively tame, snippy comments. That’s a Klappian reconciliation. There was no kumbaya here.

The Geisel quote of “Say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind” has its limitations.

[Mary_Baker]

@Andrew Kaufman

@Mary Baker

@Andrew Kaufman

This thread should be merged with the Maison Illan thread.

Respectfully disagree. The two threads address different audiences and are on different topics.

You have a PM

Got it, thanks!

[Jon_Hesford]

The etiquette of sending of samples to critics or potential buyers is a whole can of worms. I started my winery with no experience of how that all works and had also failed to take the skin-thickening class at oenology school.

By and large, most people who receive samples - and I have never sent an unsolicited one - are courteous and polite, even if they don’t think you wine is the greatest think ever.

However, every now and again you come across arrogant people who either ignore you or make very flippant comments which suggest that they probably drank your wine at a party or had already made a decision towards it because of some other factor. If you ever question those kind of people you will always get the same kind of hurtful response.

It will probably involve the phrases “can’t handle rejection”, “I get so many samples every day that …” and “you should concentrate on improving your winemaking”.

Unfortunately, like winemakers and thick-skins, critics and buyers don’t all have courtesy and humility.

The answer? Well we could all post our unpleasant experiences here but I’m not sure of the value. I’m not sure we would see any consistency. Every critic must have producers who love them and those who dislike them.

Perhaps the bigger question is why we, both producers and consumers, have become so reliant on the goodwill and opinions of the critics.

[Mark.Ricca]

@Andrew Kaufman

This thread should be merged with the Maison Illan thread.

Bullshit.

Why?

[Andrew_Kaufman]

@Nola Palomar

Something has been on my mind that hasn’t been mentioned and should be and that is that out of all the professional critics, semi-professional critics, bloggers that I have submitted to or have sat and tasted with me and I’ve almost always gotten a thank you, a yes, I got the wines or some sort of feedback. In no particular order, Josh Raynolds (IWC), Gregory dal Piaz (Snooth), Jay Miller (formerly w TWA-after*), Richard Jennings, Kevin Keith (UnderTheGrapeTree.com), David Rosengarten (The Rosengarten Report), Chris Kassel (The Intoxicology Report), Wine Spectator, Jose Penin (Guia Penin), Ryan Opaz (Catavino), Loren Sonkin (IntoWine), Mark Fisher (Uncorked) Jamie Goode, Colin Harkness (Cost-news / Corktalk), and probably many more that I can’t recall at this moment.

Too bad you have no broken bread with any well known critics!

Impressive list of people and more power to you.