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[Poll]

Tasting fees


<15 bucks
  16% (9)
Up to $20
  21% (12)
Up to $25
  25% (14)
$25-$50
  14% (8)
$50+
  21% (12)


Total Votes : 55
(last vote on : 9/16/2018 5:38:06 PM)
(Poll will run till: -- )
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Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 12:43:02 PM   
S1

 

Posts: 14825
Joined: 11/12/2011
From: Wandering between Coastal SC and South FL
Status: offline 		As HRH and I wander through Napa and Sonoma valleys, I started to wonder about attitudes toward tasting fees. I realize that there are many variables such as fees waived for purchase, fees waived for club/list members, whether or not a vineyard tour and winery tour are included. So feel free to vote as many times as you like and then explain. What is your tasting fee tolerance level?

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Post #: 1
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 12:49:04 PM   
BRR

 

Posts: 1839
Joined: 9/1/2009
From: Seattle, WA
Status: offline 		I voted for, "Up to $25." I have no problem paying for tastings, and even prefer to so I don't feel "obligated" to buy wine if I don't like it. That being said, if they don't credit the tasting fee toward wine purchases, even if it's for a minimum number of bottles, I'm out the door. This isn't a bar, and I don't treat it as such, so don't nickle-and-dime me if I buy a bunch of your wine.

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Post #: 2
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 1:30:51 PM   
oskiwawa

 

Posts: 2258
Joined: 2/16/2008
From: Austin TX
Status: offline 		We seldom do more than 2 tastings in a day and never more than three. For us an afternoon tasting with high end wines and some library selections is well worth the $50+ range in many cases. We usually mix a couple of these into a four day visit.

(in reply to BRR)
Post #: 3
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 1:31:08 PM   
CranBurgundy

 

Posts: 8272
Joined: 1/5/2016
From: Philly / South Joizey
Status: offline 		There's a charge to take a few sips of wine that the producer hopes you'll buy? I thought that was filed under "marketing samples". Now, if the tasting comes with food pairings, then I'll pay a few bucks.

.... and I agree with BRR - the fee should be applied towards any purchase made while you're still in the tasting room..

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Post #: 4
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 1:32:34 PM   
jmcmchi

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: BRR
I have no problem paying for tastings, and even prefer to so I don't feel "obligated" to buy wine if I don't like it. That being said, if they don't credit the tasting fee toward wine purchases, even if it's for a minimum number of bottles, I'm out the door. This isn't a bar, and I don't treat it as such, so don't nickle-and-dime me if I buy a bunch of your wine.


Agreed, at a reasonable (up to $15) level I don't understand the details of the business model, but $50 + seems to be aimed at making the tasting a profit centre in its own right - just like a bar

But I still appreciate the general Australian practice of no fee (it makes it easier at those places which are pushing fees generally, and particularly for their premium offerings (like Penfolds charging $x00 for a Grange tasting with a $200 credit for buying))

(in reply to BRR)
Post #: 5
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 1:36:48 PM   
DoubleD1969

 

Posts: 3594
Joined: 8/19/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: online 		I feel like you get what you pay for with the quality of the wine and tasting fees in Napa. I understand most wineries now are no longer owned by families from the 60s and 70s and that they need to somehow pay for the consultant winemakers. I do like the ones who will waive their fees if you purchase a bottle or two of their wines.

(in reply to BRR)
Post #: 6
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 1:37:48 PM   
GalvezGuy

 

Posts: 5864
Joined: 5/10/2007
From: Galveston, TX
Status: offline 		I don't mind a fee as long as I can apply it toward purchase.

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Post #: 7
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 2:10:30 PM   
vinopkm

 

Posts: 2638
Joined: 6/14/2008
From: Orange County, CA
Status: offline 		+1

However, Napa tasting fees are pretty ridiculous at times... Paso is following suit, at least IMHO.... However, Sonoma, especially in the Dry Creek and Healdsburg area is still amazing, free or at max $10.

quote:

ORIGINAL: GalvezGuy

I don't mind a fee as long as I can apply it toward purchase.


(in reply to GalvezGuy)
Post #: 8
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 2:13:09 PM   
BobMilton

 

Posts: 2876
Joined: 1/29/2010
From: Newbury Park, CA
Status: offline 		When I object to the fee is when they equal or exceed the cost of s typical bottle from that producer. Most of Paso and Santa Barbara are reasonable. Napa is getting insane ($65 for a two wine tasting at Alpha Omega? Really?) Haven't been to Sonoma in a while, but they used to be reasonable.

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Post #: 9
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 2:56:05 PM   
PinotPhile

 

Posts: 3728
Joined: 3/16/2014
From: Southern CA
Status: offline 		What's the response if you expect tasting fee to be waived with 1-2 bottle purchase or, at the least, applied to any purchases? I'm talking a standard tasting without tour, etc.

Asking as I pre-select all tasting room visits and we really don't visit unless we know we'll purchase.

And we surely don't need to keep the glass.

None of the above?

< Message edited by PinotPhile -- 6/28/2018 2:59:19 PM >

(in reply to S1)
Post #: 10
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 2:59:30 PM   
oskiwawa

 

Posts: 2258
Joined: 2/16/2008
From: Austin TX
Status: offline 		I think Bob has a good point. I will amend my vote and go for multiple categories

- show up into a generic tasting room and they poor 2-4 tastes from a $20-$30 wine - free to $10 and it should be refundable with a purchase

- You have a small meeting with a knowledgeable person and they pour higher end $40-$75$ wines - I have no issues with $20 type tasting fees. Should also be refundable

- It is an event tasting. Wines are high end $75+ and include library selections. The tasting is private or semi-private and last 90 minutes or more - I have no issues with $50+

< Message edited by oskiwawa -- 6/28/2018 5:08:11 PM >

(in reply to BobMilton)
Post #: 11
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 3:44:01 PM   
musedir

 

Posts: 23486
Joined: 2/25/2010
From: At 2534ft in Asheville near Royal Pines
Status: offline 		Guess I’m cheap... I said up to $20 for the tasting. Maybe I was thinking about $30-50 wines. I can’t remember what a full range tasting at Rasa costs but its awfully darn good. So many of the WA wineries I enjoy are free since I’m a member (although currently in a hiatus).

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Post #: 12
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 5:34:34 PM   
mtpisgah

 

Posts: 3570
Joined: 6/7/2012
From: South Carolina
Status: offline 		For me it depends on the experience and the wines we taste. We went to a winery in OR and did a walk in tasting which is mainly what they offered. For $5 each we were served four or five wines and given no explanation other than what variety they were. The tasting was worth what we paid, and that is it.

We we have been to a tasting where the fee was $75 each and featured eight or nine wines paired with cheese and charcuterie with a great discussion. It was worth what we paid for it, and more. They comped the fee since we bought a case of pricey juice.

We have been to tastings at wineries where we have been customers for years and the tastings are free, and we always buy more wine.

We went to Lewelling and had a private tasting with cheese and crackers, toured the site, a great presentation and were sent home with the bottle that they had opened for us. No fee. It was worth at least $50 each. And we are still on the waiting list.

A good experience is worth a fee, maybe a big fee. High end wines are worth a bigger fee. A tasting with an owner, winemaker, high level employee is worth something. A tasting that is more like bar service, is only worth a few bucks. Comped fee if we buy three or four bottles is good.

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Post #: 13
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 5:55:06 PM   
recotte

 

Posts: 6866
Joined: 1/19/2011
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: mtpisgah

A good experience is worth a fee, maybe a big fee. High end wines are worth a bigger fee. A tasting with an owner, winemaker, high level employee is worth something. A tasting that is more like bar service, is only worth a few bucks. Comped fee if we buy three or four bottles is good.


More or less my thoughts on the subject.

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Post #: 14
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 6:00:16 PM   
Chip Merlot

 

Posts: 529
Joined: 10/13/2013
From: NJ
Status: offline
quote:

A good experience is worth a fee, maybe a big fee. High end wines are worth a bigger fee. A tasting with an owner, winemaker, high level employee is worth something. A tasting that is more like bar service, is only worth a few bucks. Comped fee if we buy three or four bottles is good.


+1 ... I clicked on all the choices because I've paid them all. Having said that, some free tastings were my favorite--not because they were free, but just because they were great. Paid $75 at Schramsberg because I was told it was a must and because two other places we went were free, so I figured it all evened out, and it was interesting but not worth $75 (full disclosure, I'm not big on bubbles).

(in reply to mtpisgah)
Post #: 15
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 6:08:03 PM   
S1

 

Posts: 14825
Joined: 11/12/2011
From: Wandering between Coastal SC and South FL
Status: offline 		So far this week we have spent 15 bucks on tasting fees
(Combination of being on lists, purchasing at the tasting, and comped fees because of connections)

@mtpisgah, Haley tasted us on four wines, fed us snacks and apologetically sent us home with a bottle because she had forgotten to chill it. That’s a good way to get me to buy more. BTW, I am HIGH on Hayfork right now. Go long.
Copain poured 15 wines, including library selections (and gave us heavy snacks)
Alex Mc decanted our wine 8 hrs before an 11:00 a.m. tasting and then spent a couple of hours with us.
Karen and John T poured us everything they make.
Continuum gave us a full tour of the property and winery, and a tasting of 2 expensive wines (with food).

I will continue to support these places directly rather than trying to save a few bucks per bottle by searching for internet going out of business sales.


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Post #: 16
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 7:42:33 PM   
ChrisinCowiche

 

Posts: 7845
Joined: 12/16/2009
From: Cowiche, WA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: recotte


quote:

ORIGINAL: mtpisgah

A good experience is worth a fee, maybe a big fee. High end wines are worth a bigger fee. A tasting with an owner, winemaker, high level employee is worth something. A tasting that is more like bar service, is only worth a few bucks. Comped fee if we buy three or four bottles is good.


More or less my thoughts on the subject.

My fees in Asheville and next trip to Oxnard just went up! 😁

My poll answer was up to $25. I like the freedom the fee provides to walk away. Since my “high end” purchase comfort level rarely exceeds $75 I’m not tasting wines above range either that warrants bigger fees for me. Only time we made an exception was at Trefethen in Napa. Maybe $100 and it an impersonal albeit private tasting that felt like cattle drive for wines the were good but not great. My most recent Napa trip had a $75 comped since was with a Napa winemaker, otherwise I would 180 and left when told the fee.

Washington passed a law banning free tastings maybe 5 years ago but some places mocked that with $1 fee, but $5-10 is mostly standard.

I’m actually ambivalent about waving fee with purchase because I seemed to have ended up with a lot of pity bottles that way that I’d later have to purge.

< Message edited by ChrisinSunnyside -- 6/28/2018 7:47:15 PM >

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Post #: 17
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 10:44:46 PM   
forceberry

 

Posts: 903
Joined: 8/4/2017
From: Finland
Status: offline 		It sure is a different culture there across the pond.

In most parts of Europe I'd give a weird look if someone asked for 5€ for a tasting in a winery and probably I'd just pass the whole thing if asked for more, since it's free in most parts here. Visiting Santorini, it was quite a shock to me that some wineries not only charged for the tastings, but a tasting set could be up to 20€ in some places. In other places it was completely free.

Of course I understand that there's a difference whether you are a small winery in the middle of nowhere in a non-touristic region vs. if you are a big and popular region in a touristic region with lots of daily visitors and a dedicated tasting room that's constantly staffed. In the latter case I find it perfectly understandable to charge for the tasting. However, seeing how I often visit something like 4-5 wineries a day for several days, I consider $15 already a ridiculous price - especially if it's only samples of something like 3 or 4 wines. $50 sounds like absurd to me and I don't understand why anybody would be willing to pay such a price for a winery tasting, unless it included a full winery tour, 6-course dinner and a foot massage.

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Post #: 18
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 11:14:40 PM   
pclin

 

Posts: 1911
Joined: 5/29/2012
From: Exile in my own country
Status: offline 		Always prefer to pay a fee so I don’t feel bad about not buying anything to bring home.

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Post #: 19
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 11:25:08 PM   
Tanatastic

 

Posts: 645
Joined: 7/7/2011
From: UK
Status: offline 		Tasting fees?!?! I already spend enough on wine without making it more expensive.

Outside the huge producers, its not something I've ever come across in Europe. I'd feel it was like being charged for a test drive of a new car. Or like those ridiculous clothes producers who charge you for their catalogues.

And I spit most of the stuff out when I'm driving anyway!

< Message edited by Tanatastic -- 6/28/2018 11:27:20 PM >

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Post #: 20
RE: Tasting fees - 6/28/2018 11:25:29 PM   
KPB

 

Posts: 4649
Joined: 11/25/2012
From: Ithaca, New York
Status: offline 		Agree with pclin and clicked $25-50. I’ve paid $75 but felt that it was just way too high...

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Post #: 21
RE: Tasting fees - 6/29/2018 2:25:51 AM   
DoubleD1969

 

Posts: 3594
Joined: 8/19/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: online
quote:

ORIGINAL: Tanatastic
Tasting fees?!?! I already spend enough on wine without making it more expensive.

Outside the huge producers, its not something I've ever come across in Europe. I'd feel it was like being charged for a test drive of a new car. Or like those ridiculous clothes producers who charge you for their catalogues.

And I spit most of the stuff out when I'm driving anyway!

Tasting fees are more of a North America thing. In some cases, it is used to deter binge tastings. In Napa, supply and demand has driven fees to crazy levels.

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Post #: 22
RE: Tasting fees - 6/29/2018 2:37:25 AM   
pclin

 

Posts: 1911
Joined: 5/29/2012
From: Exile in my own country
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: DoubleD1969

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tanatastic
Tasting fees?!?! I already spend enough on wine without making it more expensive.

Outside the huge producers, its not something I've ever come across in Europe. I'd feel it was like being charged for a test drive of a new car. Or like those ridiculous clothes producers who charge you for their catalogues.

And I spit most of the stuff out when I'm driving anyway!

Tasting fees are more of a North America thing. In some cases, it is used to deter binge tastings. In Napa, supply and demand has driven fees to crazy levels.



You do need to pay for tastings in Germany and Australia too.

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Post #: 23
RE: Tasting fees - 6/29/2018 3:26:22 AM   
musedir

 

Posts: 23486
Joined: 2/25/2010
From: At 2534ft in Asheville near Royal Pines
Status: offline 		A good experience is worth a fee, maybe a big fee. High end wines are worth a bigger fee. A tasting with an owner, winemaker, high level employee is worth something. A tasting that is more like bar service, is only worth a few bucks.

Paul, now that I think about this more, you are correct. A tasting just poured and saying this is our Chardonnay is really useless for people who want to know more. But to have a half-hour or more with the owner or winemaker (or both) and drink quality high end wines is an experience that you remember for a long time. And especially if you buy something and suddenly they say, your tasting fee is comped..



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Post #: 24
RE: Tasting fees - 6/29/2018 3:27:13 AM   
forceberry

 

Posts: 903
Joined: 8/4/2017
From: Finland
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: pclin

You do need to pay for tastings in Germany and Australia too.


Can't remember having to pay for any tastings during winery visits in Germany.

Of course it might have to do with me often visiting smaller unknown wineries and usually with a bunch of like-minded wine geeks, so it's pretty much given that they'll sell some bottles anyway. But still, no, haven't paid for tastings in Germany.

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Post #: 25
RE: Tasting fees - 6/29/2018 3:28:41 AM   
forceberry

 

Posts: 903
Joined: 8/4/2017
From: Finland
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Tanatastic

Tasting fees?!?! I already spend enough on wine without making it more expensive.

Outside the huge producers, its not something I've ever come across in Europe. I'd feel it was like being charged for a test drive of a new car. Or like those ridiculous clothes producers who charge you for their catalogues.

And I spit most of the stuff out when I'm driving anyway!


This pretty much sums it up.

The binge drinking part is aweird explanation. How can you binge wine when somebody is pouring you small samples?

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Post #: 26
RE: Tasting fees - 6/29/2018 4:41:11 AM   
CranBurgundy

 

Posts: 8272
Joined: 1/5/2016
From: Philly / South Joizey
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quote:

ORIGINAL: forceberry

The binge drinking part is aweird explanation. How can you binge wine when somebody is pouring you small samples?


Maybe "binge" was a little strong. I believe he's talking about going from winery to winery, drinking as much as you can for free. I've read stories of rowdy crowds out on tasting tours.

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Post #: 27
RE: Tasting fees - 6/29/2018 5:37:08 AM   
ChrisinCowiche

 

Posts: 7845
Joined: 12/16/2009
From: Cowiche, WA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: CranBurgundy


quote:

ORIGINAL: forceberry

The binge drinking part is aweird explanation. How can you binge wine when somebody is pouring you small samples?


Maybe "binge" was a little strong. I believe he's talking about going from winery to winery, drinking as much as you can for free. I've read stories of rowdy crowds out on tasting tours.

I think binge is an entirely accurate description. Many times tasting room are clustered in close walking distance, 5-6 one ounce pours times 10+ tasting rooms within a couple of hours adds up to binge drinking. Limos or vans often shuttle people room to room just as quickly. Servers are trained to refuse service, but rarely enforce that.

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Post #: 28
RE: Tasting fees - 6/29/2018 5:44:48 AM   
River Rat

 

Posts: 1331
Joined: 4/29/2010
From: Forestville, CA
Status: offline 		I taste with the intention to buy so I prefer the fee be waived with purchase. Therefor the amount of the fee is moot. Then again I don’t go tasting often.

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Post #: 29
RE: Tasting fees - 6/29/2018 6:27:39 AM   
S1

 

Posts: 14825
Joined: 11/12/2011
From: Wandering between Coastal SC and South FL
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: forceberry

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tanatastic

Tasting fees?!?! I already spend enough on wine without making it more expensive.

Outside the huge producers, its not something I've ever come across in Europe. I'd feel it was like being charged for a test drive of a new car. Or like those ridiculous clothes producers who charge you for their catalogues.

And I spit most of the stuff out when I'm driving anyway!


This pretty much sums it up.

The binge drinking part is aweird explanation. How can you binge wine when somebody is pouring you small samples?

While we at Copain yesterday, a limo arrived and a group of people stumbled into their fourth tasting of the day.

I've never paid a fee in Europe but tasting rooms have become money makers for many wines in the US. One simply needs to drive through Napa valley traffic on a weekend to realize that wineries would go broke offering unlimited free samples.

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