Can anyone tell me why.....

[glenora]

May as well jump in----

Roberto, I could turn your question around and ask "can anyone tell me why, whenever a NY producer heads out into the wild world of wine distributors and retailers, the most common reply to a request to carry our products (and most often before tasting or asking about pricing) is-----"Why should I carry your wines--no one is asking for them", or "NY wines--they are all sweet foxy tasting things, no one drinks that anymore" (an untruth still promoted by the most of the wine press who would rather report age-old heresay, rather than getting out into the field and learning what is really happening).

Foodie had done a great job of explaining many of the reasons we are not out there, as well Foodie and Bucko have given us a bit of credability it terms of wine quality, which I don't feel is the issue, or is pricing.

As a 40000 case producer I would welcome the opportunity to expand our market place. During our 20 plus years in the wine business we have spend countless hours and dollars pounding the pavement from Boston to DC, and even a few forays into CA, in the early 90's. We have always done "the things" that distributors request--samples, POP, tastings, winery sales reps in the trade, etc.--but to this point to no avail.

Generally I believe this is the situation with most NY producers who venture out into the market place. Palmer, a Long Island producer, has spent a fortune over the years and, and in terms of case sales for dollars invested, has little to show other than being able to say "my wines are distributed in ?? states".

As far has NY producers selling locally, I believe most have subscribed to the "drop the pebble in the puddle", and let the waves move out concept theory of marketing. In other words, if visitors at the winery enjoy the wines they will go home and ask their favorite wine shop to carry them--pull through marketing. This has workd quite well for markets within 300+/- of the wineries.

Roberto--Thanks for asking the question--maybe it will cause others to ask why haven't I looked at, or tried to find, some NY wines.

Let me know if you decide to take up Foodie's offer for a personal tour of New York winery country--I would be glad to make arrangements for visits in the Finger Lakes wine region.

Gene