Friday, May 05, 2006

Exhibit C

Exhibits A and B of annoying things really weren't alone.

Spring barrel tasting weekend arrives today in sunny Walla Walla, and 54 wineries are listed in this week's Marquee (the Union-Bulletin's entertainment tab). Two of those listings are for the same winery, but for different locations.

Of the 54 wineries, 34 have listings that go beyond the bare bones of hours and addresses. Of those 34, here's the crucial - and why I'm annoyed - numbers:

3 charge no fee

but

1 "may" charge a fee (I won't tell you which winery, but its name is synonymous with those of a mountain nymph and a famous snowmobile manufacturer)
2 apparently charge non-refundable fees (including one that offers an "etched logo glass")
2 charge a fee for some of their wine, but not for others
7 charge a fee refundable with purchase (including one that appears to require you to be a club member AND buy wine)
19 give no indication of fee (though 1 has a sinister "new memberships welcome at time of event to participate" note)

OK, so you don't want people to just show up and drink you dry on your dime. I get that. But vintners also send this message when they charge a fee: Our wine isn't good enough to sell itself, so try it at your own risk.

That, I find annoying.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

As for Exhibit A, someone who drives a turbo diesel and has diesel-powered perfume comes to mind.
As for Exhibit B, go to Pak n' Ship. Yeah, the name is stupid and the envelopes aren't as nifty, but there's never any lines and the fee is the same.
As for Exhibit C, wine snobs can rip each other off ad infinitum. The hidden fee of tasting is getting treated like a jerk if they think you're not a snob. I wouldn't know a good vintage of Crap Hill from bad vintage of Fungus Acres.

Anonymous said...

Also, Cynosura Polaris is a sweet name for a winery.

Anonymous said...

...but was any of it tasty? more importantly...