The Santa Rosa Press Democrat (part of the NY Times organization) has an interesting article in their Business section today about how wineries in Sonoma County are beginning to charge for wine tasting.
Hanna, which has gained increased recognition because of its award-winning Sauvignon Blanc, is about to begin charging $5 for a regular tasting, in part to offset the $20,000 (retail value?) of wine that they pour each year.
Obviously, if free tastings don't have the desired result (adequate sales to justify the practice), it's worth an examination. I hope the Press Democrat revisits this story in a year to see what their actual experience turns out to be. A worthwhile read.
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