With the COVID-19 pandemic keeping much of the population in their homes, economic uncertainty is prompting wineries to offer discounts in addition to free shipping.
Those factors combine to make it possibly the best-ever time to check out B.C. wineries’ websites and, for those who have never bought wine online, to give it a try, according to Mike Klassen, longtime B.C. wine booster and former executive director of the BC Wine Appellation Task Group.
“We’re blessed in the sense that we have extraordinary wine producers who are here, and they are incredibly important small businesses for us to support, both because that they are employing a lot of fellow British Columbians who are depending on us, but they also make a hell of a good product,” Klassen said.
In normal times, the promotions that some wineries are offering might be exclusive to members of their wine clubs. Wineries differ in how they run wine clubs but most tend to require commitments to purchase a case or two each year, and that ongoing commitment is rewarded with discounts, free shipping and access to rare wines.
Klassen, for example, is a wine-club member at Okanagan Crush Pad Winery, River Stone Estate Winery, Bartier Bros. Vineyard & Winery and Moon Curser Vineyards.
While most people tend to have a general idea of whether they like wine, and what wines they like, Klassen said that being shut in at home provides an ideal opportunity to hone their wine appreciation and to build a home cellar.
He also has some recommendations for what to add to that cellar.
“One wine is from Skaha Vineyard,” he said. “Last night, I was crying out to my wife how beautiful their Pinot Blanc is. Pinot Blanc is a wine that people don’t think of as their first white, but this was beautiful, and fruity and tropical. I loved it. I could have it every day.”
Wine Folly is one blog Klassen visits to learn about wine. He also sometimes goes on Twitter on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. and follows the hashtag #bcwinechat.
Former Tinhorn Creek Vineyards co-owner Sandra Oldfield launched that Twitter group in December 2011, when she used the hashtag #Tinchat.
“Very quickly, I realized that people weren’t interested in Tinhorn specifically,” she said. “They were asking questions in general, so the next month I switched it over to #bcwinechat.”
To focus each week’s discussion, Oldfield sets a topic. On March 18, for example, it was wine clubs. The next week it was on how wineries are dealing with staffing. On April 1, she plans to make the topic about spring wine releases because April is when many wineries start selling new products, she said.
When Oldfield is not able to moderate the online discussion, she has “helpers,” such as Bowen Island wine retailer Paul Rickett and Therapy Vineyards assistant winemaker Brad Cooper.
“I have yet to speak to a winery that isn’t doing free shipping for everyone currently, and I’ve talked to a lot of wineries,” Oldfield said. “In normal times, they would not want to do free shipping and a percentage off but they are absolutely doing it now.”
Those focused on the best buy for the dollars might also check out Ron Wilson’s six-year-old blog, Cheap and Cheerful.
His focus is steering people to low-priced yet great-tasting wines.
His latest top pick is Blue Grouse Estate Winery’s Quill Q White blend of Pinot Gris, Schonburger, Gewurztraminer and Siegerrebe – a combination that might sound sweet.
“It’s dry,” Wilson told Business in Vancouver. “I’m not a fan of the standard floral, Germanic grapes unless it has really good acidity because I find the sweetness overwhelms everything. This one is perfect. It goes with anything, but seafood for sure.”
The winery is offering a 25% discount on the wine’s $22 regular price when customers buy a case, and it delivers wine for free when people buy more than six bottles. •
@GlenKorstrom
