tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819829113979242722.post8955811880112477022..comments2024-02-28T21:09:17.490-08:00Comments on Samantha Sans Dosage: "More Than A Beverage, More Than A Beverage To Me......."Samantha Duganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819829113979242722.post-55461910132718184432012-05-08T23:13:23.628-07:002012-05-08T23:13:23.628-07:00That LaFon made turning 50 the best year and fancy...That LaFon made turning 50 the best year and fancy dinner party ever. I was not a Chardonnay fan. Still am not, but I am a huge Dominique LaFon fan... thanks to you.The Duchess of Paso Robleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01237982555442928211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819829113979242722.post-54668451384695509192012-05-03T14:09:39.736-07:002012-05-03T14:09:39.736-07:00Sam,
With my store, the lights did go off ;)Sam,<br /><br />With my store, the lights did go off ;)Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819829113979242722.post-77410500159455901892012-05-03T10:36:56.474-07:002012-05-03T10:36:56.474-07:00Thomas,
More than a few of "Us" started ...Thomas,<br />More than a few of "Us" started as "them" though right? Maybe not you and I but I'm sure there are a lot of our customers that started out buying their wines at Costco, in fact I'm sure some of them still do buy a few things there as I know they shop there for other things. Everyone has to start somewhere I just hope stores like mine can continue to eek through while we wait for the light to go off....Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819829113979242722.post-68527433371668419172012-05-03T10:30:33.759-07:002012-05-03T10:30:33.759-07:00For the record, places like Costgo and Walshit (or...For the record, places like Costgo and Walshit (or Sam's Club) never get the benefit of my shoe leather, but we aren't talking about us, are we?Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819829113979242722.post-87459131466997419432012-05-03T09:02:42.753-07:002012-05-03T09:02:42.753-07:00Ron My Love,
I haven't been in a Costco in ove...Ron My Love,<br />I haven't been in a Costco in over 15 years and used to wait in the car when my mother went on her weekly trip there. Something about that place gives me the willies. Always has. The thing that killed me with this story was everyone's outrage and shock, like Costco ever gave a shit about anything but the bottom line. Then everyone saying she said wine was the same as toilet paper proved how little people read, in fact I went back and read the damn thing again just to be sure I wasn't the nutty one As both Thomas and I pointed out, it was the person doing the interview that mentioned toilet paper but give the masses something like poop paper to run with and run they will. Ugh. <br /><br />The point I was trying to make, (probably poorly as usual) is that they can't do what we do, nor can we compete with their prices and I think, fuck I hope, there are enough of both kind of wine drinkers to serve both kind of wine shops. Oh and, when are coming to visit me? I miss you so.Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819829113979242722.post-84800900850776737502012-05-03T08:57:53.172-07:002012-05-03T08:57:53.172-07:00Ron,
While you would be hard-pressed to find the ...Ron,<br /><br />While you would be hard-pressed to find the esoteric wine products that you can find where Sam works, if you are in the market for respected DOC wines, and other high falutin's, they appear on shelves at some Costco stores and at prices unheard of elsewhere.<br /><br />In other words, if you know what you want of the "famous" labels, you may be able to find it at Costco and for a good price. You ought to take a look.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819829113979242722.post-50447165047233496662012-05-03T08:23:19.697-07:002012-05-03T08:23:19.697-07:00My Gorgeous Samantha,
I've never even set foo...My Gorgeous Samantha,<br /><br />I've never even set foot in a Costco, and I sure as hell wouldn't go there to buy wine. But the folks that do buy wine there would see me as a wine snob, as would the millions of people who buy their wine at Trader Joe's and BevMo. But buying wines at those venues and thinking you love wine is like eating at PJ Chang's and thinking you're a foodie. Luckily, though, most of those folks don't care either way. <br /><br />We're lucky there are places like Costco. Dageneau and Lafon can't make enough wine to satisfy Costco customers. You sure as hell don't want BevMo competing with you for grower Champagnes. But it's the dreck they sell at Trader Joe's that sends a few intrepid souls out to wine country and great wine shops like yours to pursue their passion, and once they meet an ambassador for wine like you, My Love, there ain't no goin' back.<br /><br />It's simply a measure of the vacuity of wine blogs, in general, (not yours, Baby, yours is the best)that the toilet paper analogy posed by the interviewer went viral. Actually, I like the analogy. I need both toilet paper and wine, though, if given a Sophie's choice, I'd quickly sacrifice the Charmin.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819829113979242722.post-33893579155213792922012-05-03T07:39:26.018-07:002012-05-03T07:39:26.018-07:00Thomas,
Looks like we are agreeing once again....Thomas,<br />Looks like we are agreeing once again....Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819829113979242722.post-7631650152786435472012-05-03T07:26:05.026-07:002012-05-03T07:26:05.026-07:00Marcia,
Please, of please, don't get trapped ...Marcia,<br /><br />Please, of please, don't get trapped in the vortex. The wine buyer never equated wine with toilet paper--the only mention of toilet paper came in a question from the interviewer. <br /><br />This is like playing that "telephone" game when we were kids.<br /><br />On the subject at hand, I have to say that while my winery and my wine shop that followed it specialized, the way that Sam's does, in particular wines, the fact remains between 90%-95% of the wine-buying public, wine is a beverage for which they refuse to pay a lot of money, or to spend their time waxing philosophic over.<br /><br />I delineate the wine market this way: 90-95%% are the "vinted and bottled by or cellared and bottled by" crowd 5%-10% the "produced and bottled by or estate bottled" crowd.<br /><br />Costco and places like it are not intended for the 5%-10%. Still, if you know what you want on the high end, at some Costco stores, you can find it and pay a lot less for it.<br /><br />I believe the wine buyer that was interviewed just reflected what her job entails.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819829113979242722.post-58295117759518589472012-05-02T20:19:50.325-07:002012-05-02T20:19:50.325-07:00Marcia,
That is a true value, that knowing your cu...Marcia,<br />That is a true value, that knowing your customer and assuring that they do have a positive wine moment, of a good wine merchant....be they a big box or small independent. I do however think that smaller stores are better equip to have a staff that will take the time, and that is where....for wine drinkers like you and me, the little guys do in fact win. Ever walked into a BevMo and asked someone a question? Holy fuck....<br /><br />My Beloved (and dude I miss you so much) Amy,<br />Yup, all the talking heads will advise that we cut corners on every fucking thing and in the end, for those of us that derive pleasure from the things we put in our mouths, we may be saving pennies but losing passion, adventure, elation. Don't know about those others but I know you and I, fuck the talking heads....lets pop some grower Champagne, (um, where are those at Costco?) and feel really damn good. I love you.<br /><br />Randy,<br />I'm with you darlin', lets dump 'em. There might be a person or two that walks out without buying anything because we don't have Dom or Patron, Franciscan or Ferrari Carrano but I have a sinking suspicion that they would not understand that we have to charge more for those "premium" (and yes, I'm snickering) brands because we don't buy in the same volume as Costco, and they would have either busted our chops for a discount or price matching before walking out the door empty handed anyway. Not the consumer we buy for....or really understand. Lets buckle down and do what we do sweetheart.Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819829113979242722.post-80336422241213257732012-05-02T15:40:03.667-07:002012-05-02T15:40:03.667-07:00Wonderful post, Sam.
I saw something very helpful...Wonderful post, Sam.<br /><br />I saw something very helpful at Costco the other day while I was buying big bananas for my 88 year old mother (She refuses to buy the littler bananas at Trader Joe's). There was a chart posted over the wine selection helping to explain the 100 point scoring system. It makes it easier to find the best industrial wine in their store. <br /><br />Incidentally, there are very few wines at Costco that you'll also find at The Wine Country, and fewer still next week when we dump a bunch more of 'em.Randynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819829113979242722.post-35579402825302634212012-05-02T11:30:56.601-07:002012-05-02T11:30:56.601-07:00Watching The Today Show yesterday, a "Money E...Watching The Today Show yesterday, a "Money Expert" suggested people buy wines and spirits from Costco to save money, like 15%-30%.<br />It's an area of my budget where I'm supporting good people and small business. No room for Costco here.<br />Support small business or save a few bucks?<br />Mixed messages in the media abound.Amy in Dallasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4819829113979242722.post-38030401789757825622012-05-02T11:01:45.609-07:002012-05-02T11:01:45.609-07:00Yea! Love this post.
I'm sure the gal at Cost...Yea! Love this post.<br /><br />I'm sure the gal at CostCo has received her share of ribbing for her Romney-esque TP comment.<br /><br />One of my favorite things is going into one of my favorite wine shops where the owners/employees know me well and simply asking them to pick something for me. (Of course, I provide context: the specific food it's to accompany, or the varietal I'm on a quest for.) <br /><br />They KNOW from our long history what styles I like (or not). Never had a bad selection made for me. And without question, they've always been outstanding. Go, girl!Marcia Macomberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07237764449953259939noreply@blogger.com