Simply...The Wine Thread

[BNA/LION]

Originally Posted by jatco

While in Capetown, had to visit their oldest winery and vineyards of the country and tried a few of their finest....

An awesome day...

Awesome! Some great wines are being produced in South Africa. We had some Fantastic Wines on Safaris, but sadly, the best wines stay in the country and don't make it to the USA market.

[RichardBartlett]

Originally Posted by BNA/LION

Awesome! Some great wines are being produced in South Africa. We had some Fantastic Wines on Safaris, but sadly, the best wines stay in the country and don't make it to the USA market.

That's very true, we were in SA beginning of the year and some of the wines were stunning and exceptional value for money.

Should be back there April next year to enjoy them some more.

[jatco]

Originally Posted by BNA/LION

Awesome! Some great wines are being produced in South Africa. We had some Fantastic Wines on Safaris, but sadly, the best wines stay in the country and don't make it to the USA market.

..
True, or the Canadian Market. Even some US/California brands don't make it to the BC/Vancouver market
Really a bummer imo...!!

[996marty]

Had the pleasure when we lived in Melbourne of trying Pimpernel wines in the Yarra Valley who do some great full bodied red wines.

[winst]

Had a glass of an inexpensive but very palatable French Pinot Noir tonight that I like. Nice way to bring the weekend to a close.

[jatco]

Originally Posted by winst

Had a glass of an inexpensive but very palatable French Pinot Noir tonight that I like. Nice way to bring the weekend to a close.

A nice Pinot Noir is often my go to...

[Baco Noir]

Having a local Cabernet made with our neighbor’s grapes. I want to get some more and cellar them for a few years. It’s a nice medium bodied red with some tannins but to too much.

[Baco Noir]

…but not too much.

Autocorrect got me

[Rock]

Had close friends stay with us for a week.
Drank some great wines that included the few below.

The two 'Penfolds' Reds are exceptional wines and meant to have around 20 years in the bottle. "The King" is a Vintage Port 1996 - and was still drinking well although I will drink the other bottles soon as it has reached the point where the only way is down.

[Baco Noir]

TIPPING AT WINERIES question:

So recently, I overheard a winery tasting room staff complaining to the winery owner about a tip she got from a customer. The customers did a wine tasting ($15 each) and then bought a case of wine. From what I could hear, it sounded like they tipped on the tasting but not on the bottles and the server was pissed off.

So I asked another tasting room person I know out here in CO wine country and they also expected to get tipped on the bottles they sold. When I asked why, they said they work the back out the house too - bottling the wine, labeling bottles, waxing the corks, stocking the shelves, and then packing up the cases when people buy the wine, so they touch the bottles at least 6 times.

To me, the back of the house work is different than the "service" in the tasting room. FWIW, I am in my 60's and I'm wondering if this is a generational thing and I need to adjust my tipping mentality or if the tasting room people out here have the wrong expectations.

[jatco]

Originally Posted by Baco Noir

TIPPING AT WINERIES question:

So recently, I overheard a winery tasting room staff complaining to the winery owner about a tip she got from a customer. The customers did a wine tasting ($15 each) and then bought a case of wine. From what I could hear, it sounded like they tipped on the tasting but not on the bottles and the server was pissed off.

So I asked another tasting room person I know out here in CO wine country and they also expected to get tipped on the bottles they sold. When I asked why, they said they work the back out the house too - bottling the wine, labeling bottles, waxing the corks, stocking the shelves, and then packing up the cases when people buy the wine, so they touch the bottles at least 6 times.

To me, the back of the house work is different than the "service" in the tasting room. FWIW, I am in my 60's and I'm wondering if this is a generational thing and I need to adjust my tipping mentality or if the tasting room people out here have the wrong expectations.

Don't know what is 'correct' nowadays..but on our trip to Africa while in Capetown, we visited their oldest winery, Groot Constantia. Did a tasting, bought 2 bottles (which came with a crystal glass each) and tipped on the tasting only. I don't think the same person who served us was involved with the bottling, etc for all these wines. There were quite a few varieties so Im sure the packaging is handled by a more automated system, is my quess...! At a cider tasting here last year, we tipped on the tasting and food service and these people were involved in the bottling etc and there didnt seem to be distured about the tip they received. Guess it depends on the winery and staff..!?!

[Watchdoyouwant?]

Having gone to dozens and dozens of winery tastings across Napa and Sonoma. NEVER have I EVER tipped based on wine purchased at a tasting. Only for the tasting itself, and only then, a few bucks in the jar--basically the same as what I tip for the equivalent number of drinks if served at a bar by a bartender.

Maybe I'm out of sort, but as a frame of reference, I'm a usual ~30% tipper at restaurants.

[Baco Noir]

Originally Posted by Watchdoyouwant?

Having gone to dozens and dozens of winery tastings across Napa and Sonoma. NEVER have I EVER tipped based on wine purchased at a tasting. Only for the tasting itself, and only then, a few bucks in the jar--basically the same as what I tip for the equivalent number of drinks if served at a bar by a bartender.

Maybe I'm out of sort, but as a frame of reference, I'm a usual ~30% tipper at restaurants.

Napa, Sonoma, Russian River, Paso Robles, etc are where my wine experiences started and seems most are bigger wineries with separate staff for production vs the tasting room. Out here in CO, they are primarily smaller wineries where the staff does most of it from start to finish, including helping the field crews with picking. Not sure what they get paid out here, but I'm assuming it is not a reduced wage because of tips.

As we hit the wineries over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to see if some of the owners I know are willing to tell me what their starting wages are and what they think about tipping on wine purchases.

[jatco]

Originally Posted by Baco Noir

Napa, Sonoma, Russian River, Paso Robles, etc are where my wine experiences started and seems most are bigger wineries with separate staff for production vs the tasting room. Out here in CO, they are primarily smaller wineries where the staff does most of it from start to finish, including helping the field crews with picking. Not sure what they get paid out here, but I'm assuming it is not a reduced wage because of tips.

As we hit the wineries over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to see if some of the owners I know are willing to tell me what their starting wages are and what they think about tipping on wine purchases.

Should be interesting to know...?!?

[Baco Noir]

Originally Posted by jatco

Should be interesting to know...?!?

Definitely. I hope the owners are straight forward, but I'll see. I'm okay with adding the tip on the bottles if expected because we're being given the industry discount at 3 of the wineries we mainly go to around here, so that covers the tip at no real cost to us.

[jatco]

Originally Posted by Baco Noir

Definitely. I hope the owners are straight forward, but I'll see. I'm okay with adding the tip on the bottles if expected because we're being given the industry discount at 3 of the wineries we mainly go to around here, so that covers the tip at no real cost to us.

Sounds llike a Win Win to me...

[BNA/LION]

A few bottles we enjoyed last night...

[Baco Noir]

Originally Posted by BNA/LION

A few bottles we enjoyed last night...

We love Flora Springs. We use to get the Trilogy all the time but it’s been a while.

[winst]

Enjoying this one tonight, one of my favourites.





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[TNT009]

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[OmegaJJH]

Love this. One of my favourite Aussie wineries.


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[TNT009]

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[Baco Noir]

The answer to a hard day will always be good food and wine. Feeling a little bit better after this. Filet mignon with a cream peppercorn sauce, roasted brussels sprouts, and garlic mashed potatoes, served with 12 year old Pritchard Hill Napa Cabernet from Chappellet.

[TNT009]

Great Costco fine. Very berry forward!


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[Carguy87]

Originally Posted by TNT009

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We were just there! Super cool winery; might break open a bottle of their old vine Zinfandel tonight. How’s that one? We didn’t try hardly any of the white wines while we were there.

[TNT009]

Originally Posted by Carguy87

We were just there! Super cool winery; might break open a bottle of their old vine Zinfandel tonight. How’s that one? We didn’t try hardly any of the white wines while we were there.

..

Dry sweetness.... Cant wait to get back up there!

[Baco Noir]

Originally Posted by TNT009

Great Costco fine. Very berry forward!


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I loved visiting Daou. That's not one of theirs that I have seen. A blend?

[TNT009]

Originally Posted by Baco Noir

I loved visiting Daou. That's not one of theirs that I have seen. A blend?

No, a 2020 Cab…. Getting into reds and this one was ReallY good.. Costco had this and the less expensive red!


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[Baco Noir]

Originally Posted by TNT

No, a Cab…. Getting into reds and this one was ReallY good.. Costco had this and the less expensive red!


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Nice! We’ll have to look next time we go.

[TNT009]

Originally Posted by Baco Noir

Nice! We’ll have to look next time we go.

Try Quintessa, thats my new fav red.. Tried it up there!