tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post3374696064857501024..comments2024-03-18T04:47:16.199-07:00Comments on The Gray Report: Why aren't there more sparkling wine producers? Taxes.W. Blake Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-21134368015575896532016-08-08T12:11:17.517-07:002016-08-08T12:11:17.517-07:00How do we change this law!? How do we change this law!? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15354096811948732430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-42490650142822162382011-08-10T05:51:58.025-07:002011-08-10T05:51:58.025-07:00There's more East Coast bubbly than just NY......There's more East Coast bubbly than just NY... we did a comparative tasting of about a dozen Virginia sparkling wines this past winter with a few ringers thrown in. Talking to winemakers here, it seems like the cost to produce it is just really difficult to get back at the register. Great post about the taxes, though - I had no idea.G.E. Guyhttp://swirlsipsnark.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-45678041003853744862011-07-30T13:37:56.780-07:002011-07-30T13:37:56.780-07:00Good column, bringing to light an issue I for one ...Good column, bringing to light an issue I for one had never considered. Curious to dig in a little deeper, I asked a very successful domestic sparkling producer, an old friend of mine, why so few have joined him in making bubbly. High taxes, yes, that gets in the way, he said - but there are bigger impediments. For instance: "major investment in inventory, machines, and know how." And, Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02687901018988176237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-49038155541219103882011-07-26T00:08:55.138-07:002011-07-26T00:08:55.138-07:00Hmmmm....it doesn't seem fair and thanks for b...Hmmmm....it doesn't seem fair and thanks for bringing this up. <br /><br />I myself have been following the organically grown wine arena and am pleased to announce that there is a lovely pocket of sparkling wines that are very good and somewhat affordably priced coming out of Mendocino. Most are being made at Rack and Riddle in Hopland. Here's eight organic sparklers I've counted Pam Strayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00382825085636463727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-66671792488772775052011-07-20T13:03:11.600-07:002011-07-20T13:03:11.600-07:00The true economics of the matter go beyond taxes. ...The true economics of the matter go beyond taxes. Agreed, taxes are unjustly higher on sparkling wines. I would love to see an even playing field there. The other reality is that everything else about sparkling wine is much more expensive. Granted the barrel costs are a fraction of still wine producers, however, labor costs more than make up for this fact. A bottle of sparkling wine is handled Fred Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00547662653548224149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-50264641709660465682011-07-20T11:10:18.487-07:002011-07-20T11:10:18.487-07:00Although the tax rate is burdensome, the real prob...Although the tax rate is burdensome, the real problems of methode champeoise are the massive overheads Elisabeth alluded to and relative returns. When I worked in the Cellars at Chandon 30+ years ago, the then cellarmaster who was not generally known for his insights said to me something along the following line: "I don't know why anyone would make this stuff. You have all the costs Tom Stutzhttp://tstutz@LRWine.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-12570447819689342032011-07-19T19:05:54.086-07:002011-07-19T19:05:54.086-07:00Be carefull what you ask for.
You may see a new ...Be carefull what you ask for. <br /><br />You may see a new "carbon tax" on that bubbly CO2.<br /><br />Both parties are always on the look out for "drive by" revenue pick-ups.Ernie Pinkhttp://www.amalierobert.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-5156059350395494672011-07-19T17:02:10.973-07:002011-07-19T17:02:10.973-07:00Elizabeth: There's a big difference between tr...Elizabeth: There's a big difference between trying to turn unripe grapes into something usable, and a new company trying to make bubbly from the start. <br /><br />I'm glad to hear the details on how difficult it was, but it's not really what I'm writing about.W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-52501951988700286592011-07-19T15:38:27.288-07:002011-07-19T15:38:27.288-07:00Having literally just finished bottling my first a...Having literally just finished bottling my first and possibly only vintage of sparkling wine - approx. 200 cases - I feel I have a little perspective and forget the taxes. The labor and specialized equipment alone means it will never pay for itself. So far I have been able to borrow everything I need but have yet to decide how we will disgorge. Today we were dosing and putting the crown seals Elizabeth Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12350875035834566595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-52500173798905389932011-07-19T12:10:39.139-07:002011-07-19T12:10:39.139-07:00Actually I was hoping for John Boehner.Actually I was hoping for John Boehner.W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-41282118488086515952011-07-19T11:03:01.148-07:002011-07-19T11:03:01.148-07:00To give this topic serious credibility, you need N...To give this topic serious credibility, you need Nancy Pelosi and Diane Feinstein to take the lead on your request.tom barrashttp://tombarraswinecommentary.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com