Looking For An Affordable California Wine Tasting Fee? Sonoma Offers $15 Tastes Through March 15
Wine Industry Struggles And 1/2 Price Case Offers
The slow down in California wine sales continues forcing wine makers to push tasting room pricing downward. Sonoma currently has 50 wineries offering $15 tastings, if you are in the know. Their Sonoma Sips program runs through March 15 and all you need do is show up (no reservations) and tell the participating winery you’re there for the Sonoma Sips promotion.
| ‘And, keep your eyes out for 1/2 price case sales. They’re quite popular in California wine country these days.’ |
Check their list here for names, specifics and offerings. Many of them are light tastes (ie: 3-4 tastes) but they’re happy to sell you an enhanced tasting…..for a few dollars more.
This downward pressure on Direct to Consumer (DtC) winery sales forces wine sellers to create new ways of coaxing you to visit. They’re trying to ease pain visible with the sale and closures of wineries in California and the West Coast.
For the fourth time this New Year a major wine company is closing a facility and releasing employees. Jackson Family Wines, the sixth-largest U.S. wine company, permanently shuttered its Carneros Hill Winery, located in Sonoma’s Carneros wine region. Jackson Family wines is known for the best-selling buttery Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay .
Hard Times Continue
This news comes after Gallo, the largest U.S. wine company, confirmed it was closing an immense Napa Valley production facility while cutting its workforce at four other locations totaling 93 layoffs. They’ve also announced closure of Talbott Vineyards in Carmel-By-The-Sea. You may still purchase remaining wines (and Kali Hart wines) at Denner Vineyards in Paso Robles. We’re wondering how long Denner will remain open as Gallo looks hard at expenses versus revenue. They’ve shown no mercy in closing facilities. Consider their Wild Horse and Edna Valley operations, both closed these past few years.
Earlier this month, Foley Family Wines & Spirits closed its production facility for the historic Central Coast winery Chalone. In January, Constellation laid off more than 200 people at the historic Mission Bell Winery in Madera, and the Boisset Collection closed two Napa Valley tasting rooms.
Continuing signs of trouble are visible elsewhere: Trinchero Family Wine & Spirits, the third-largest company, listed two of its top vineyards for sale. Treasury Wine Estates, the seventh-largest U.S. wine company, paused dividend payments after a 17% drop in revenue these last six months.
These are just the big guys. Many small wineries producing 1,000-3,000 cases yearly are winding down operations. One Paso Robles winery we’re familiar with has not created wine in two years. They’re focused on selling thousands of cases from previous vintages before fashioning additional wines. Sadly, their winemaker, an up and coming talent creating thoughtful and tasty vino, has no wine to create.
Look for more discounted tasting offers like the Sonoma Sip program going forward. Regions in California wine country are looking to lure you back and they’re ready to discount. They’d love to see you tasting in their winery.
And, keep your eyes out for 1/2 price case sales. They’re quite popular in California wine country these days.
Some notes on our wine ranking system.
Bill & Erin Hodge write about California Wine, the estates & winemakers producing them and educational information about Vino. Living in California Wine Country provides a front row seat to the places you want to visit the most here in the Golden State.
– -✰ means -What’s next on your list of wines
-✰ means -Not liking it too much
✰ means -We’ll drink this wine, especially if it’s hosted!
✰+ means -You’ve got our attention and we might buy this wine.
✰+ + means -We’re hooked and we’re going to buy this wine.
When you see -✰/✰+ with a slash, it means we disagree.
