Alcoholic Wine?

[Zinner]

Just remember that when you taste wine with a winemaker, and you criticize it, it's a little like being critical of somebody's child. Everybody thinks their child(wine) is the best and brightest thing on the block. How on earth could you think otherwise?

Of course you did the most appropriate thing under the circumstances and I'm glad it worked out for you. Stand up for what you like. But giving them a chance to save face by trading for something you did like was a good plan.

Those winery clubs can be a boon in some cases. Some of them throw parties for members or ship them special wines that weren't made in enough quantity to go to the general public. There can be nice perks.

But you shouldn't have to take wine you find unacceptable in quality. A fellow oenophile here in Birmingham was a member of a Sonoma one two or three years ago. He became disappointed with the wines shipped, even though he had liked their stuff previously, so he sent a very mild letter saying that he wanted to cancel.

They fired back a rather vicious letter saying that if he didn't appreciate their product, obviously he knew less than nothing about wine. They went on to say that since he was from Alabama, he must therefore lack acquaintance with the finer things in life.

Now this is a guy full well confident in his own taste, so he wrote back the funniest letter I've ever read--wish I had a copy. He told them that it was indeed a great hardship living within walking distance of the restaurant that Gourmet magazine listed as number (4 or 5) on their list of the 50 best in the USA(Highlands Bar & Grill). In fact, it was a really sad state of affairs that we have a major importer based here(Vineyard Brands, formerly of NYC and Vermont--importers of fine Burgundies and Chateau Beaucastel among others). He told them off while maintaining a very civil tone with it all.

If a wine club membership is not working out, do as you would with anything else. Trust your own instincts and move on to something more rewarding.