Charging for tasting at wineries.

[Negron Fan]

I have seen both sides of this issue...as a Tasting Room staff member and as a consumer. We never had much of a problem with tasting fees at the winery (they were only chaged to large groups). And rightfully so on that count...the larger the group, the less wine you generally will sell.

From the consumer side, I don't mind, as others have said, paying a fee for special or some reserve wines...but they'd have to be special...I mean, name a winery without the word reserve on a bottle somewhere.

In Santa Barbara last year, we were charged $2 per person at each winery and given a logo glass....as if I don't have enough of those already....not to mention the fact that I use my Reidels for everyday wine enjoyment, so a $2 glass doesn't cut it for me. (Okay, make that a $1.30 glass at wholesale LOL).

Kathy