Comments on: Weird Tasting Rooms: How Much Is Too Much?

By: Chinon Ron

Chinon Ron — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:19:05 +0000

As Dave Batt said above, As long as the theme represents the owners/winemakers I don’t care how wacky and wild the tasting room is. That and the wine is quality stuff. For instance, Clautiere vineyards in Paso Robles has a very colorful and liberated tasting room as mentioned in the Sept issue but the wines rock!!!! Why not drink amazing wine while in a relaxed, fun atmosphere.

By: Susan Kostrzewa

Susan Kostrzewa — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:48:51 +0000

I am thinking of Bonny Doon and the fun they have with their wines………it really works in their case from a branding perspective.

By: Dave Batt

Dave Batt — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:45:46 +0000

I agree with Bob – Capture the personality of the proprietors, vintners and the wines (fighting the inertia of tradition for tradition’s sake)…and I’m all over it. As for clowns. as long as their red clown noses don’t fall off in my glass of red, or their dry wines don’t taste like cotton candy, I’m good to go.

By: kelkeagy

kelkeagy — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:01:13 +0000

I appreciate friendly and knowledgable tasting room staff. Which is something you don’t find all that often. I would probably be put off by too much kitsch (something I haven’t experienced), but I do like to shop for things other than wine. Like olive oil made at the winery etc.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:31:47 +0000

Personally, I like the tasting rooms to represent the winemakers’ personalities. If I go into a tasting room with clowns pouring the wines, so be it. If those wines are good, I’ll buy them. I like to see wineries put a little personality into their $20 tastings. I’ll remember those offbeat places and will then be more likely to return.