WINE - the Gift of Dionysus, Bacchus and other gods

[MCA™]

From reading a couple of different articles, it seems to take effect in May.¹ But it's also limited to wineries that make under 250,000 gallons or about 85,000 cases. Conveniently, "all New Jersey wineries fall well under the capacity cap limit, but that cap excludes more than 90 percent of the wine made in the United States."² Finally, wineries have to pay $938 a year for a license a to ship to NJ, "which is among the highest such fees in the country."³

Update: I forgot to add: this law only affects US wineries; you still can't get delivery from wine stores (so no French, Italian, German, Spanish Australian, South African, Chilean or Argentinian wines will be coming to your door).

[RB]

"New Jersey’s wines are now considered among some of the best in the nation(sic)..." Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said in a statement.   

Yeah I had a chuckle at that as well, but apparently some of our wines do fare very well in all types of competitions, nationally and abroad. I don't know about the legitimacy of these competitions, but we're winning them!

http://www.albavineyard.com/award.html

Also, does anyone know when the new bill goes into effect?

[Rabelais]

"New Jersey’s wines are now considered among some of the best in the nation(sic)..." Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said in a statement.   

[MCA™]

Does this mean I can finally get my favorite Napa cult cabs delivered directly to my house?


Christie signs bill allowing N.J. wineries to sell vintages directly to consumers
Published: Tuesday, January 17, 2012, 11:18 AM
Updated: Tuesday, January 17, 2012, 12:25 PM
Statehouse Bureau Staff

TRENTON — Wineries from New Jersey to California can now sell their vintages directly to consumers and retailers under a bill pushed by Democrats in the Legislature and signed today by Gov. Chris Christie.

"New Jersey’s wines are now considered among some of the best in the nation, but rules and regulations had suffocated the industry for far too long," Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said in a statement. "That will all now change."

The winery bill was the most embattled of the 214th Legislature's final session last week, with Sweeney working late into the night behind closed doors to round up the votes needed for the measure to pass.

[Rabelais]

What are we doing?

[CeeDub]

We done it!!  Hoo-RAY!!

We're #1!! We're #1!!

Gonna try to push the envelope Thursday night. MCA, Rab, Skwirrl, Woodsy, BD, we been at it for a while, who else, we're going toTuscany, any/all HMU

Tuscany (The video's owner prevents external embedding)

[MCA™]

It's official - if you like oaky, jammy California cabs, you are as bad as Hitler!

Downfall of a Cult Californian Winery

[bdlaw]

Definitely a classic. 

Did you return dat bottle?

Inquiring minds would love to know what it was, and from where.

[Darna]

http://www.eatdrinkordie.com/videos/38df3cc273/the-slide-technique-the-wine-expert-from-gary-vaynerchuk-the-wine-expert

Had to share jersey city   - go wild.............

You thought that was bad ass?

Check this out!  And you do not need to understand French to be amazed.

[CeeDub]

+1.

From the Wine Library's site: emphasis mine

Please note, any problems with the receipt of your package must be called in to us within 30 days of the delivery date! If you suspect the bottle is bad, please just put the cork back in the wine leaving the contents of the wine in the bottle. We can't take back any empty bottles! If you find any errors regarding type of wine and vintage, please call our order department (888-980-WINE) or send an e-mail to help@winelibrary.com right away. Wine Library.com will arrange to have the package picked up and returned to us right away for inspection. Once the package is returned to us, we will inspect the contents and then send out a replacement package to you. For this reason, it is vital that you let us know of any error immediatly to ensure the fastest delivery of your new shipment. If you wish to return your wine for any other reason you may do so. Please re-pack the wine and send it to "The Wine Library, Attn: Returns, 586 Morris Ave, Springfield, NJ 07081". Please include a copy of the original sales receipt with the package. Please note: All returns are subject to a 10% restocking fee.

[skwirrlking]

give it a shot. a good shop that wants repeat business should give you a new bottle.

[Darna]

Question:

When one buys a not-inexpensive-bottle-of-wine from a reputable retailer, and finds out that it's corked, can one return said bottle for a refund?  Or is the policy "Caveat Emptor," ergo, buyer is screwed?

[bdlaw]

Thank you Brian Stack!!

Unfortunately, the mega-wholesalers and distributors are trying to kill this, and not just in New Jersey.  The below forwarded by a fellow WinoJC member (you know who you are).  Original email is from Dan Posner, retailer from up in White Plains.   Have some favorite micro-producer in Washington state that you just love but can only get through the winery or through online auctions?  Better be prepared to get on a plane if you want more...

The proposed legislation is shitty for grape farmers, wineries, retailers and, ultimately, the consumer. The only beneficiaries are the huge wholesalers and distributors (you know, the people who brought you such classics as Yellowtail).

Edit to add: For those of you who don't give two cents about wine, I'm pretty sure you can also substitute in "micro-brewery in Pennsylvania" and "Bud Light" up top as the legislation is about 'alcohol', not 'wine' and a lot of this is allegedly being driven by large brewers who've been losing market share to wine over the last decade or so.  See also "decent batch made liquor" and "Ten High Scotch."

Sorry for the hastily written email, but this is very important...the way
you are buying wine currently is at risk, and you are not even aware!

Congress, backed by the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) are
looking to pass laws that will not allow you to purchase wines from
retailers outside of your home state. You do not even realize what is going
on in your own backyard, but it is very bad.

Organizations like Specialty Wine Retailers Association (SWRA) and Free the
Grapes need your help. I urge you to forward this email on to all of your
wine loving friends.

I urge all of you to write to your senators, congressmen and women, attorney
generals, etc etc and let them know that you are concerned that you are
being stripped of your "wine buying rights."

Craig Wolf has talked in the past about how the WSWA supports the will of
the people. Certainly it is not you or I whom he refers to, but rather rich
importers and distributors looking to take wine laws back to near
prohibitionist levels.

Please see the following links. I will provide more information as it
becomes available. My mailist list is small, so I urge you to forward this
to other wine retailers that you do business with, as well as friends. It is
time to tell lawmakers and organizations like the WSWA that they are not
speaking for the will of the people, and never have!

http://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle

http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show?id=42526

From the Spectator article:

"The whole idea [behind the bill] is to make it prohibitively difficult for wineries and consumers to challenge discriminatory and irrational laws that have little or nothing to do with the protection of the public," said Kirkland & Ellis attorney Tracy Genesen, who has been the lead attorney on many direct-shipping lawsuits that have resulted in state alcohol laws being overturned.

[skwirrlking]

thanks for the reminder. opened a 2005 Sine Qua Non Atlantis Fe 203 2A Grenache last year.

might go with a 1995 Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon this year.

[bdlaw]

Next Saturday, February 27, is Open That Bottle Night 2010

Open That Bottle Night was created by Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher (wine columnists in the Wall Street Journal) back in 2000. 

(From the website): Every year since 2000, on a special Saturday night in February, friends, couples and groups around the world get together to enjoy particular bottles of wine, champagne and spirits. The bottle that you enjoy, traditionally, is one that you have been saving for some special event that, so far, has never quite happened. Open That Bottle Night (OTBN) is the event you have been waiting for...the time when you are entitled to uncork that cherished bottle and enjoy the contents. It doesn't matter if the wine is expensive or low cost, white or red, or even if it is still good. What matters are the memories.

So... what will YOU open this year?

[skwirrlking]

City Winery is having a charity bottle auction to benefit Haiti relief

they gots some good bottles for auction.

[Soshin]

City Winery is having a charity bottle auction to benefit Haiti relief

[CeeDub]

Thank you Brian Stack!!

[RB]

mmm, cab franc

N.J. wines win gold medals at national competition

Three New Jersey wines won gold medals at the recent San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, a report on Philly.com said.

A 2008 cabernet franc from Sharrott Winery in Winslow Township, and a 2008 gewürztraminer and chambourcin from Alba Vineyard near Milford claimed gold medals, according to the report. The professional wine judges in California tasted the wines blindly from thousands of entries, the report said.

[CeeDub]

Wow.  Consider me kicked to the curb.  You must be the local wine bully. 

I realized over the holidays I spend WAY too much money on wine - for gifts and for myself - because I am intimidated walking into a place of business where I know so little about the products.  So I go for names I recognize (not Gallo) and usually drop too much coin.  Trying to educate myself a little and I came across that video that just tickled me.  Apparently I didn't tickle you. 

Oh - I flunked french in high school and spanish in college, so some of your response was lost on me.  Anyway, thanks for making me feel like one of the gang at WiredJC.    Bye bye wired winos.

DUde (ette?),

I hope you enjoyed your holiday in the tropics, 'cuz I don't know anybody that sensitive 'cept the severely sunburned.

My comments were about GARY - not you.  Enjoy his viddys - there's lotsa stuff there.  But he is just too much for me.

iGoogle has a reely simple translator that even recognizes my pigdin francais.  And Dr Phil will assure you that only you are responsible for how you feel (unless of course we break out the branding irons and sear a WJC on your biecep at the next BBQ). This is still the internet, after all, serious business, so put on some aloe vera, thicken up your skin, and come out for a drink sometime.

Oh, BTW, Welcome to Wired, where it's impossible to spend too much on wine - only more than you have.

On topic: Bob rocks. 

[glx]

Bringing it back on course.

Costco (out here at least) has a 2006 Mondavi Cabernet for $16.99.  You might say "Mondavi?  That commercial schlock?", to which I'd say:  It's rated 91 points and is absolutely delicious.

I've seen the same cab at other stores for prices in the same neighborhood.  If you're into full bodied cabs I highly suggest you pick up a bottle - it's a great daily drinker.

[harborside2]

Wow.  Consider me kicked to the curb.  You must be the local wine bully. 

I realized over the holidays I spend WAY too much money on wine - for gifts and for myself - because I am intimidated walking into a place of business where I know so little about the products.  So I go for names I recognize (not Gallo) and usually drop too much coin.  Trying to educate myself a little and I came across that video that just tickled me.  Apparently I didn't tickle you. 

Oh - I flunked french in high school and spanish in college, so some of your response was lost on me.  Anyway, thanks for making me feel like one of the gang at WiredJC.    Bye bye wired winos.

[CeeDub]

Speaking (out of line) for the other wired-winos, not a big fan of Gary.  That said, I been doing that for ever with my own bottleswhen able, but NEVER for formal service.  With older wines from the cellar, n'est pas possible avec vieux bouteilles.  The abilty to present a cleanly trimmed capsule is an essential skill in wine service, along with using the Ah So and decanting.  But for speed opening at parties - yeah, grab twist and pull.

I guess this is sorta like the Fonzie technique of snap-releasing a bra.  Some packages deseerve to be opened slowly, with care respect and enjoyment of the moment.

[harborside2]

http://www.eatdrinkordie.com/videos/38df3cc273/the-slide-technique-the-wine-expert-from-gary-vaynerchuk-the-wine-expert

Had to share jersey city   - go wild.............

[bdlaw]

Things not so well in Parker-ville... ?

Wine critic Parker ordered to trial in France

a week after the Wall Street Journal reported on (admittedly, a slightly dated story):

Wine Advocate Writers Spark Ethics Debate
While Newsletter's Founder Champions Independence, Two Reviewers Accepted Trips