tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post7092581227152600450..comments2024-03-18T04:47:16.199-07:00Comments on The Gray Report: Any wine Anywhere to Anyone over 21: A call to armsW. Blake Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-65062864305752951912011-08-12T20:41:49.225-07:002011-08-12T20:41:49.225-07:00Blake, as each state is subject to own laws and go...Blake, as each state is subject to own laws and governance... I guess the consumer movement needs to focus on the most problematic (like PA). I'm in GA- while we are a franchise state, we have about 25-30 active wine distributors (thus competition), allow shipping, have a strong independent retailer base, and a vibrant restaurant culture in Atlanta... it keeps us in the wholesale business onMatt Mauldin https://www.blogger.com/profile/08730509895080535690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-8148718367678582262011-08-10T20:12:12.826-07:002011-08-10T20:12:12.826-07:00Wes said:
"One thing that always seems to be...Wes said:<br /><br />"One thing that always seems to be omitted when people complain about the big distributors is that the big producers whose wine they push share their interests. They work hand in hand, producing that easy spectrum of wines at all the price points. Diageo, Fosters and Gallo have all contributed large sums of lobbying money to enact anti-shipping legislation."<br /><Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-90604424931312029682011-08-10T19:55:39.334-07:002011-08-10T19:55:39.334-07:00Thanks for all the kind comments, folks. I really ...Thanks for all the kind comments, folks. I really wish I had more plans to offer. But as you can see from these comments, my readers include some of the smartest people in and out of the wine business.<br /><br />What can we do? What should we do?W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-1879634218758996912011-08-10T13:59:55.094-07:002011-08-10T13:59:55.094-07:00Blake, that was an excellent post. Thank you for p...Blake, that was an excellent post. Thank you for publishing your thoughts. I have worked for distributors, importers, retailers, and now for myself, where my wife and I sell grower Champagne directly to the people. All of what you said is true and it is nice to see it written down. I love the motto that you came up with and would like to help with the movement. Cheers!Bryan Maletishttp://fatcork.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-85847723328068555352011-08-10T12:50:15.298-07:002011-08-10T12:50:15.298-07:00David, I understand your argument. I do work in a ...David, I understand your argument. I do work in a franchise state. You're right... It's not the same as other industries. The historical argument from the industry is its role in being the tax collector for the state, etc. How best to govern the commerce side of something where the government has a stake, unlike other industries, I don't have an answer for that. I'm not sure how Matt Mauldin https://www.blogger.com/profile/08730509895080535690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-81635466574179707302011-08-10T11:25:58.857-07:002011-08-10T11:25:58.857-07:00Matt Mauldin accuses Blake of being "dogmatic...Matt Mauldin accuses Blake of being "dogmatic and simplistic," but his description of how the market functions for distributors is much more "dogmatic and simplistic," and as a result, it's misleading and dishonest.<br /><br />In franchise states (NC, VA, etc.) wholesalers have exclusive rights to the wines they carry - so there's ZERO competition. In every other David Whitehttp://www.terroirist.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-76525297473105590662011-08-10T10:21:20.064-07:002011-08-10T10:21:20.064-07:00Blake, a little less heavy-handedness on the issue...Blake, a little less heavy-handedness on the issue and toward those who work on that side would surely bring some thoughtful people into the conversation. <br /><br />I do enjoy your writing. Perhaps I took the jist of the piece too personally. But I take my job seriously, and try to do it well as I can, and for the benefit of all involved. So do many of my colleagues.Matt Mauldin https://www.blogger.com/profile/08730509895080535690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-52040160667243461872011-08-10T00:00:53.304-07:002011-08-10T00:00:53.304-07:00Matt: I am open to your suggestion about how I can...Matt: I am open to your suggestion about how I can involve you in the debate.<br /><br />You see my goal; I put it in big red letters. What can you and your company contribute toward reaching it? We would love to have your help.W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-23018290788419413682011-08-09T20:09:33.650-07:002011-08-09T20:09:33.650-07:00I work for a large wine distributor. My company h...I work for a large wine distributor. My company has several sales divisions to address specific portions of our vast portfolio. <br /><br />In my role within the company, I constantly seek small producers and esoteric wines in our portfolio to serve my account base. It's also true that at times I have to devote attention to the company's larger suppliers. We do well with some Matt Mauldin https://www.blogger.com/profile/08730509895080535690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-86634127847992828942011-08-09T17:27:14.028-07:002011-08-09T17:27:14.028-07:00I think Wes Barton's comment needs more attent...I think Wes Barton's comment needs more attention. Just saying.Beauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05835422435318171027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-59929986706601902692011-08-09T15:07:18.675-07:002011-08-09T15:07:18.675-07:00THis all makes sense. Hats off to you for spelling...THis all makes sense. Hats off to you for spelling it all out with just enough drama/gravity, and with a catchy tagline that people should be able to understand and get behind.<br /><br />Having just come back from a swing thru several states, I was reminded of just how stunningly ifferent each state is. We may never be able to change that, but the wine culture in the U.S. has matured enough, I Tishhttp://www.nywinesalon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-10909978505559043092011-08-09T14:31:17.263-07:002011-08-09T14:31:17.263-07:00One thing that always seems to be omitted when peo...One thing that always seems to be omitted when people complain about the big distributors is that the big producers whose wine they push share their interests. They work hand in hand, producing that easy spectrum of wines at all the price points. Diageo, Fosters and Gallo have all contributed large sums of lobbying money to enact anti-shipping legislation.<br /><br />So, it seems to me that Wes Bartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09817941805887888032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-76244903923861625592011-08-09T14:27:36.963-07:002011-08-09T14:27:36.963-07:00Anonymous: There is nothingnecessarily inconsiste...Anonymous: There is nothingnecessarily inconsistent with fine wine stores and multiple outlets. We ahve that in california, and our store, K&L is full of small producer wines, chosen by our passionate buyers. And we are huge supporters of the Specialty wine retailers Association, dedicated to consumer access to fine wine. See www.winewithoutborders.org for more info.<br /><br />Ketih Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-67230721478841889222011-08-09T12:52:55.012-07:002011-08-09T12:52:55.012-07:00I could not agree more or more strongly with this ...I could not agree more or more strongly with this post. Excellent call to awareness here.Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-2296357950991602192011-08-09T10:49:51.702-07:002011-08-09T10:49:51.702-07:00First,
Blake: Touche! And Thanks for the outstan...First,<br /><br />Blake: Touche! And Thanks for the outstanding post.<br /><br />Second:<br /><br />Mr. Anonymous, until distributor reps and distributor owners start calling out their trade associations for their anti-consumer actions like opposing direct to consumer shipping by retailers and wineries and pushing horrible self-serving legislation like H.R. 1161, your comments will carry little Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-66119920202147247662011-08-09T10:04:35.717-07:002011-08-09T10:04:35.717-07:00I am a sales rep for a distributor in Colorado and...I am a sales rep for a distributor in Colorado and I can't completely dispute your argument. However, I don't think all the blame should fall on the distributor. Look across the land and see who owns most of those shelves where the big brands reside. Here in Colorado there are dozens of small, wine focused distributors that cover the Denver metro area and some of the key mountain Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-48801654766202299642011-08-09T07:57:14.931-07:002011-08-09T07:57:14.931-07:00Maybe it's because Vermont, is itself, a small...Maybe it's because Vermont, is itself, a small, unheralded and idiosyncratic place, that we are fortunate to have six independently run distributors, who provide us with a selection that is pretty impressive considering the size of the demographic served. Sure some of them also bring in the big expected brands, via the big wholesalers, but that extra layer adds cost which can make the Todd - VT Wine Mediahttp://www.vtwinemedia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-81876036256587512642011-08-09T07:46:05.064-07:002011-08-09T07:46:05.064-07:00I know exactly where my congressman stands on this...I know exactly where my congressman stands on this issue and I've already informed the s.o.b.that he won't get my vote. Sadly, he doesn't need my vote since the only way he could lose in this district is to change his name to Anthony Wiener.Dan McGrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03309316822761418876noreply@blogger.com