Christian Roguenant emailed yesterday to bow out of his position as a judge at the 2009 Monterey Wine Competition, scheduled for early March. Christian expressed regret, but the Baileyana winemaker indicated duty calls.
His duty, it turns out, is to hit the road in March to bolster sales in this sagging enonomy. I fear it is a sign of the times. Baileyana, which produces beautiful Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah from the Edna Valley and surrounding environs, is both high class and well priced.
If Baileyana is hustling to move inventory, I wonder what it must be like for lesser lights in the wine industry. Never mind, I already know. It’s rough out there.
Restaurants in particular have scaled back on their wine purchases, and more and more consumers are drawing down their private stocks rather than indulge in the latest releases.
Wine for some of us may be a necessity, but for the vast majority of Americans it’s a luxury. And those wine enthusiasts who continue to buy wine are shopping for value.
What this means for the wine industry over the long haul is difficult to gauge. I would imagine many of the haves (that would be wineries and wine companies with cash reserves) will gobble up many of the have-nots over the next couple of years.
The wine landscape will change, for sure. For consumers like you and me, I know there are deals out there. I just scored four bottles of Gaja’s 2000 Sperss for a rediculously low price.
I hate this economy, but I’m trying to make the best of it. This may be a bad time to be a seller, but it’s probably never been better for buyers!
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