MareCat wrote:
>
> The liquor stores here (Baltimore area, not state-owned) give out wine
> samples every now and then (usually on the weekends, when a representative
> from a particular winery is present).
>
> I can't imagine the state stores in PA giving out samples.


It happens once in a while in some of the LCBO stores here in Ontario. They
cannot give it away, so they have you pay a quarter to a charity. Local
wineries used to give free samples but it became too much of a local
pastime to go out wine tasting and people were going from winery to winery
sampling but not buying. There is a limit on how many samples they can give
you. The wineries where I shop don't usually charge me for the samples if I
buy a case. I went in to a winery last month with my wife and two friends
from Holland. We had 3-4 samples each, including an ice wine and it was all
free when I bought the case..... and it was a bottle of cheap Chardonnay
that was on sale... old stock.... quite drinkable. It has been a nice every
day wine for us.