LATimes: Calif Awash In Wine Bargins...

http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fi-winedeals16oct16,0,5362645.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[James Roscoe]

Okay, Tom, what's your take on the article. I certainly am not seeing anything like what is described in the article here in the DC area. Am I just being too picky? Is there really qpr to be had in California these days? I am surprised this article didn't ellicit more of a response from the crowd.

Sounds like it's time to drop by Grocery Outlet and Trader Joe's!

Mike

Not seeing a lot of that here in NewMexico, either. Though the NapaRiver brand has shown up at our TraderJoe's (having seen and walked the NapaRiver, that brand name doesn't evoke a whole lot of..positive images).
I think the great bargins are pretty much isolated to the Calif market for right now.
Tom

I can't help but notice that the article speaks mostly of private-label brands and such factory-wine stalwarts as Bronco. Frankly, I have almost nothing to do with that end of the business. Here in North Carolina, the cheap California stuff is handled by the supermarkets. (Note: I have nothing against cheap stuff. We sell no fewer than four Spanish reds priced at $5.99--and they're all good, I might add.)

I'm far more interested in the collapse of Cali merlot prices, and wondering where all that juice is going to go--because you know it's going to go somewhere. I think I posted something earlier about this; I'm expecting to see California Pinot Noir with a new and unusual green bell pepper note appearing sometime next summer.