Just got back from a trip to the Oregon coast. Along the way my wife and I stopped at a number of wineries (McMinnville) to sample and purchase the local products. The tasting fees ranged from $5.00 to $15.00!! I was appalled at the high dollar tasting fees charged and the arrogance of not applying the fee to a purchase!
I am planning to visit Oregon again, however I'd like to know if the Washington wineries in the Yakima Valley follow the same practice?
In my experience in California, the practice of "Napa Valley: tasting fees; everywhere else: no charge" is historical at best. At this point, I expect everywhere to charge a fee in the tasting room; if they don't it's a bonus.
Actually, I don't mind if they charge me; it's a nominal amount, they need to defray their expenses, and it keeps down the marauding hordes of "let's hit all the wineries in the area and get blitzed" people. But if they don't apply the fee to a purchase, I do think it's arrogant.
Curt
When I was in Oregon-Dundee area all the places I went to applied the tasting fees to the purchase of wine or if Club joined.
Unfortunately, many wineries in Oregon don't apply the fees to a purchase. In their defense:
1) These wineries are mostly very small compared to many California wineries (especially Napa!). So running a tasting room probably costs them more relative to their size. 2) The wineries don't get the same PR benefit as (say) Phelps does. Even the ones in McMinnville don't have nearly as many people nearby (Portland being smaller than the extended Bay area). And since the wineries are small and distribution is spotty, you are much less likely to _see_ a bottle of Erath in your local store three months later and think "that was a nice visit, I'll buy this" than you would be with Phelps.But I agree, they _should_ credit it to a wine purchase.
Ben, The Willamette Valley is now a "destination" for wine lovers, so wineries now get far more business than they need. Tasting fees are the result, and if you speak with most wineries they'll explain that, without them, they get hordes of people with no interest in buying wine crowding out those few who do. Why thy don't credit it to a purchase is a good question.
Mark Lipton
I was in the historical category of the marauding hordes of "let's hit all thewineries in the area and get blitzed" in the Napa Valley in the very earliest 70's. They were happy to have us. You were welcomed to the bar, given more wine than you could possibly drink.
Now that they've got notoriety, they don't need the hordes; they even charge them! Ah, yes, success! Dee Dee
I prefer to go to the wineries that charge a fee.
It keeps all you cheap-assed freeloaders out of the place.
A decent bottle of reserve p>Just got back from a trip to the Oregon coast. Along the way my wife and I
I am surprised you did not get credited toward purchase. Did you ask ? I have been charged a tasting fee a few times and when I go to buy they might not offer it but if I ask if they credit towards purchase they always seem to agree and credit my tastings.
Other places, don't make me pay till after the tasting to see if I am going to buy and when I do get that bottle or two, I notice I only pay for the wine I bought, not for what I tasted.
Then again I live in Oregon and visit a wineries often so maybe I have a "I have seen him before" thing working for me.
J~
Ben wrote:
DrinksForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.