Wine Press FINAL 10-14-10

November 3, 2013

 

             Wine by mail?...Global wine shortage?...Some recent awards and upcoming wine country tours, as well as WineAmerica's annual fall meeting in Ohio where I'm headed right now--so this will be brief!

  

             Cheers!          

             Jim Trezise

"If it fits, it ships, and you sip"

 

                That's my hope based on U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer's initiative to end Prohibition-era restrictions on shipping wine, beer, and spirits through the United States Postal Service (USPS).

                 The Post Office for years has had an innovative system of "If it fits, it ships", with a flat rate regardless of weight or distance, and this would also apply to wine (which is a very heavy product).  That also means that wineries could better budget for their wine club and other shipments, and save consumers money by offering lower rates.  In addition, USPS would gain about $225 million in new revenues at a time when they are desperately needed.

                  Until now, only private companies like FedEx and UPS are able to ship wine (beer and spirits are not currently permitted), and adding USPS would mean more competition that would lower prices, which is good for everyone.  Federal and State laws and regulations are already in effect, so would simply be applied to USPS as well.

                  Direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales are vitally important to the vast majority of New York wineries, which are small family-run businesses that do not have national or even regional distribution.  With direct sales, either at the tasting room or via common carrier, the winery keeps 100% of the transaction, versus having to sell the same bottle of wine at half price to wholesalers (which are very important for the larger wineries).

                  As always, we can expect strong opposition from some quarters, including wholesalers, but hopefully this will happen in time for next year's holiday season.  The measure could probably pass in the Senate, but be held up by the House majority like just about everything else these days.

                   Chuck Schumer is an awesome Senator and advocate for our industry as well as all of New York State.  He has taken the lead on several matters beneficial to our industry, and was responsible for New York wines being featured at the Presidential Inaugural Luncheon in January. 

                  

                 

                     

 Free Run...

           

            Global Wine Shortage?  Yeah, right! There was a widely circulated story this week that there is a global wine shortage based on Morgan Stanley Research, so needless to say I got lots of calls and emails from various media representatives.

             At first, it sounded great in view of the huge grape crop that we (and California, and Washington) just finished harvesting, but it really isn't credible given production and consumption trends in various countries. It's true that supply and demand have been in balance for a few years, which is great, but to say there is a global wine shortage is pure fantasy.

              The best place every year to really learn what's going on is at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento at the end of January.

 

              Quick, Tanks!  A common saying in the grape industry is that "a small crop gets smaller and a large crop gets larger" as you actually move into the harvest.  And certainly this year was no exception, with an abundance of very good quality fruit.

               Bottom line: A vintage year for tank manufacturers like Vance Metal in Geneva as winemakers frantically ordered tanks so they could have a home for all the juice that would be coming in.  Vance is a great company which not so long ago didn't even make wine tanks, but is booming because of them and selling them throughout the country--another great example of the incredible value-added economic impact of the wine industry.

 

                Johannes Reinhardt, speaking of winemakers, is one of New York's very best and was appropriately recognized by Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine as one of the "20 Most Admired People in the American Wine Industry".

                Johannes is the winemaker at the award-winning Anthony Road Winery as well as his own new Kemmeter Winery right across the street.  Besides being a truly great winemaker, he is a revered person and great collaborator, one of the three "Tierce" brothers (with Peter Bell of Fox Run and Dave Whiting of Red Newt), whose 2010 Tierce was served at the Inaugural Luncheon in January.

                Congratulations to a truly great guy and dear friend.

 

                Recent recognition includes 90 points in the Wine Spectator for Keuka Lake Vineyards 2012 Eastside Dry Riesling.

 

                 Share the Harvest Bounty next weekend is a great event sponsored by the Niagara Wine Trail in conjunction with local food banks and charitable organizations.  From November 8-11, participating wineries will be accepting non-perishable food items and/or monetary donations in exchange for wine tastings to benefit the food bank or non-profit organization of their choice.  It's lots of fun for many good causes.  www.niagarawinetrail.org.

 

                  Taste North Fork on Long Island also takes place on Veterans' Day weekend, with free shuttle service taking visitors to a whole bunch of wineries  and other attractions throughout the weekend.  www.liwines.com.

 

                   WineAmerica is holding its annual fall meeting in Geneva, Ohio starting today, so I have to go now.  WineAmerica is the ONLY national organization of American wineries, and it is vital to protect and advance our interests in Washington, DC.  As I've said many time, every winery should be a member.

        
  
"Wine is an economic engine."
--Jim Trezise
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