• Finding great retailers: W.R. Tish, whose disdain for wine scores is even greater than the Wine Curmudgeon’s, has written a near brilliant essay on the relationship between retailers, scores, and the Wine Magazines. “Perhaps most important of all, however, reliance on ratings has led retailers to surrender their own sense of authority,” he writes. And adds that we should reward those great independent retailers who still do business the way it should be done -- by assembling an interesting, eclectic mix of inventory and selling it with respect. It’s an essay that’s well worth reading.
• Napa auction slump: This year’s Auction Napa Valley, an important charity fund-raiser, saw its take fall by more than half, thanks to the recession. It raised 4.3 million, according to a preliminary count by organizers, compared to last year’s record $10.3 million. Said one participant: “If we weren’t in a recession, I would bid five times as much as I would otherwise. And it would be less of an economic decision and more of an emotional one.”
• Rosie the regional wine goddess: Sales have not been as brisk as expected for the wonderful Rosie posters, created by Joanna Purdy for Fox Run Vineyards in New York. This is too bad; it’s a wonderful effort (we’re using it with DrinkLocalWine.com) – and the posters only cost $6.
Appreciate the plug, Curmy. It does not cease to amaze me how little attention good retailers get in mainstream wine media.
Meanwhile, on tidbit to add to the Napa Valley item. A napa pal mentioned to me that one underreported fact about this year is that three of the top lots were actually bought by fellow NVV members. Taking care of thier own, no doubt, and another sign of how far down things were this year....
Posted by: Tish | June 23, 2009 at 10:28 AM