Comments on: A bad taste in the mouth… http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/02/19/a-bad-taste-in-the-mouth/ A Wine Blog Dedicated To Terrior Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:13:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: TSchampaert http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/02/19/a-bad-taste-in-the-mouth/#comment-914 Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:10:47 +0000 http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/02/19/a-bad-taste-in-the-mouth/#comment-914 Hm, maybe not really everyday for eveybody here, but sill good you 'spilled the beans' about this practice. Yet, I know there is big difference between what should be expected from a fair for the 'distributing few' and the 'public', but there are always some people in this 'public' that really like to extend their horizons and all that, just as there are serious professionals who want to taste seriously. For me it's not the difference between the professional public and the 'vulgar' public that makes one ort another to be avoided, but just the whole idea of a 'fair' or 'grand tasting' that's just wrong. It does not work and not only because of the categories (funny part, very recognizable) of tasters, but also because of the approach of most distributors. When I go to a fair, I always try to stroll around both days (for the in-crowd and for the public). Well, I must say that the first time, I was appalled by he behaviour, the contempt towards the 'non-professional wine buyer' of most distributors on day two (of course only some of them recognize you the second time). Just, the way they approach the 'vulgar' public ... it's far from being decent. It makes every politely poured glass taste bitter for me. Even the deceit on the tasting table: overpriced bad wines, oxidized wines (and don't our have the courage to make a polite remark on that: two months ago smby standing at the same table as I was did so ... hm, the show performed by the owner was horrifying), ... . You just don't do that, ok? Hm, maybe not really everyday for eveybody here, but sill good you ’spilled the beans’ about this practice. Yet, I know there is big difference between what should be expected from a fair for the ‘distributing few’ and the ‘public’, but there are always some people in this ‘public’ that really like to extend their horizons and all that, just as there are serious professionals who want to taste seriously.
For me it’s not the difference between the professional public and the ‘vulgar’ public that makes one ort another to be avoided, but just the whole idea of a ‘fair’ or ‘grand tasting’ that’s just wrong. It does not work and not only because of the categories (funny part, very recognizable) of tasters, but also because of the approach of most distributors. When I go to a fair, I always try to stroll around both days (for the in-crowd and for the public). Well, I must say that the first time, I was appalled by he behaviour, the contempt towards the ‘non-professional wine buyer’ of most distributors on day two (of course only some of them recognize you the second time). Just, the way they approach the ‘vulgar’ public … it’s far from being decent. It makes every politely poured glass taste bitter for me.
Even the deceit on the tasting table: overpriced bad wines, oxidized wines (and don’t our have the courage to make a polite remark on that: two months ago smby standing at the same table as I was did so … hm, the show performed by the owner was horrifying), … . You just don’t do that, ok?

]]> by: Paul http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/02/19/a-bad-taste-in-the-mouth/#comment-912 Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:51:33 +0000 http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/02/19/a-bad-taste-in-the-mouth/#comment-912 Being in the wine business I too find these events dreadful. If you are forced to attend them often enough you will find there are some "professional tasters" whose job it is to consume as much free wine and cheese as they possibly can. The one redeeming thing about these events is that one can select a region or a varietal forulate a mental catalogue of the slight difference that are associated with that varietal or region. Other than that I would rather not thank you Being in the wine business I too find these events dreadful. If you are forced to attend them often enough you will find there are some “professional tasters” whose job it is to consume as much free wine and cheese as they possibly can. The one redeeming thing about these events is that one can select a region or a varietal forulate a mental catalogue of the slight difference that are associated with that varietal or region. Other than that I would rather not thank you

]]> by: Tom C http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/02/19/a-bad-taste-in-the-mouth/#comment-911 Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:28:40 +0000 http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/02/19/a-bad-taste-in-the-mouth/#comment-911 R. Beaudin- I have also attended some very good tastings, but all of these have been severely limited in terms of scope (the kinds of wines being shown)as well as the ultimate number of people let through the door...and though people complain about Vinitaly in Verona, that fair is SO big that it pretty well diffuses the throngs, though the last day (when they open the fair to the public) should be avoided like the plague! TOM CIOCCO R. Beaudin-

I have also attended some very good tastings, but all of these have been severely limited in terms of scope (the kinds of wines being shown)as well as the ultimate number of people let through the door…and though people complain about Vinitaly in Verona, that fair is SO big that it pretty well diffuses the throngs, though the last day (when they open the fair to the public) should be avoided like the plague!

TOM CIOCCO

]]> by: R. Beaudin http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/02/19/a-bad-taste-in-the-mouth/#comment-907 Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:58:36 +0000 http://terroir.winelibrary.com/2007/02/19/a-bad-taste-in-the-mouth/#comment-907 Timely ... just attended the Wine Expo in Boston. Bought Grand Cru tickets to avoid the mob .. but it is unavoidable. Spit?? Almost impossible .. you can't get near the bucket most of the time .. and when you do.. hard to get close enough to do things "correctly" without splashing everyone near you. And lastly, yes .. although some wines were well received and worth tasting, others obviously were there based on how much the distributor needed to build demand for them .. not for their value or quality. So .. not in the wine business .. but feel your pain. That being said... do love to find those events where you really can taste interesting wines and talk to their creators. Although I don't buy a lot of wines at the wineries (after all .. no longer very easy to carry back), I do very much enjoy meeting the winemakers and finding those small quality producers who take pride in their craft .. and an interest in their customers. One example ... Byington in the Santa Cruz mountains just past David Bruce. Great site, great wine, and very hospitable people. Timely … just attended the Wine Expo in Boston. Bought Grand Cru tickets to avoid the mob .. but it is unavoidable. Spit?? Almost impossible .. you can’t get near the bucket most of the time .. and when you do.. hard to get close enough to do things “correctly” without splashing everyone near you. And lastly, yes .. although some wines were well received and worth tasting, others obviously were there based on how much the distributor needed to build demand for them .. not for their value or quality. So .. not in the wine business .. but feel your pain. That being said… do love to find those events where you really can taste interesting wines and talk to their creators. Although I don’t buy a lot of wines at the wineries (after all .. no longer very easy to carry back), I do very much enjoy meeting the winemakers and finding those small quality producers who take pride in their craft .. and an interest in their customers. One example … Byington in the Santa Cruz mountains just past David Bruce. Great site, great wine, and very hospitable people.

]]>