Curt Wohlgemuth > writes:

> Ben wrote:
>
> > Just got back from a trip to the Oregon coast. Along the way my wife and I
> > stopped at a number of wineries (McMinnville) to sample and purchase the
> > local products. The tasting fees ranged from $5.00 to $15.00!! I was
> > appalled at the high dollar tasting fees charged and the arrogance of not
> > applying the fee to a purchase!
>
> In my experience in California, the practice of "Napa Valley: tasting fees;
> everywhere else: no charge" is historical at best. At this point, I expect
> everywhere to charge a fee in the tasting room; if they don't it's a bonus.
>
> Actually, I don't mind if they charge me; it's a nominal amount, they need
> to defray their expenses, and it keeps down the marauding hordes of "let's
> hit all the wineries in the area and get blitzed" people. But if they don't
> apply the fee to a purchase, I do think it's arrogant.

Unfortunately, many wineries in Oregon don't apply the fees to a
purchase. In their defense:

1) These wineries are mostly very small compared to many California
wineries (especially Napa!). So running a tasting room probably
costs them more relative to their size.

2) The wineries don't get the same PR benefit as (say) Phelps does.
Even the ones in McMinnville don't have nearly as many people
nearby (Portland being smaller than the extended Bay area). And
since the wineries are small and distribution is spotty, you are
much less likely to _see_ a bottle of Erath in your local store
three months later and think "that was a nice visit, I'll buy
this" than you would be with Phelps.

But I agree, they _should_ credit it to a wine purchase.