Good stuff, Tom. I think in your coming discussions, it's important to point out that in the early '70s when I got in the game, there were only about 250 wineries in the U.S. offering a couple thousand wines. It was a seller's game, and every winery had national distribution. But now we have 11,000 bonded wineries and thanks to custom crush, something like 25,000 domestic brnds offering over half a million wines. Imports that desire U.S. distribution are perhaps a similar number. The numer of these that are actually successfully distributed through TTS is probably about 20,000.
Since these distributors vet each wine, they are turning away well over 99% of the wines that are out there. The rest need to go DTC. The paradox is that wine professional in shops and restaurants have legal access for resale to less that100th of the wines the average Joe can buy direct from the winery.
as far as I know, it is illegal for me as a retailer to buy wine from another retailer (at cost). Certainly as a 'customer' I can, but not the same. (Begs the question of Why I would want to?) Can you send me the excerpt from the WA State reg book? It's just too bizarre to say that. My license allows me to buy from out of state winery/wholesaler direct (assuming the latter has the correct license) IF the wine is not available through WA wholesaler.
Good stuff, Tom. I think in your coming discussions, it's important to point out that in the early '70s when I got in the game, there were only about 250 wineries in the U.S. offering a couple thousand wines. It was a seller's game, and every winery had national distribution. But now we have 11,000 bonded wineries and thanks to custom crush, something like 25,000 domestic brnds offering over half a million wines. Imports that desire U.S. distribution are perhaps a similar number. The numer of these that are actually successfully distributed through TTS is probably about 20,000.
Since these distributors vet each wine, they are turning away well over 99% of the wines that are out there. The rest need to go DTC. The paradox is that wine professional in shops and restaurants have legal access for resale to less that100th of the wines the average Joe can buy direct from the winery.
Clark, I agree with all of this.
Moreover, I think we are 12,000 wineries now.
Tom...
Tom Under WA rules, I think you meant to write 'in state and out of state producers" not 'retailers'
Joel
Joel....Whatever do you mean? That's exactly what it says :)
Thanks....
Tom
as far as I know, it is illegal for me as a retailer to buy wine from another retailer (at cost). Certainly as a 'customer' I can, but not the same. (Begs the question of Why I would want to?) Can you send me the excerpt from the WA State reg book? It's just too bizarre to say that. My license allows me to buy from out of state winery/wholesaler direct (assuming the latter has the correct license) IF the wine is not available through WA wholesaler.
Curiouser and curiouser!
Joel