Comments on: VinoVenue: Wine Bar For The Next Generation? http://winexpression.com/2006/07/03/vinovenue-wine-bar-for-the-next-generation/ Ratings, News, and more on Wine & Spirits since August 2003 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:21:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: jatemack http://winexpression.com/2006/07/03/vinovenue-wine-bar-for-the-next-generation/#comment-2530 jatemack Thu, 06 Jul 2006 22:51:52 +0000 http://winexpression.com/2006/07/03/vinovenue-wine-bar-for-the-next-generation/#comment-2530 Suzanne, Ahh yes, the line where business interest and honest commentary gets crossed. That conflict of interest is the same reason some Wine bloggers refuse to accept free samples for reviewing. Lenn, Sorry about your ho-hum experience. They must be understaffed right now, as my experience was similar (Mary Lynn was the only one there). Chris, You point out one of the major benefits of a system like this: tasting wines you already own to determine if they are ready to drink. P.S. Welcome back. Richard, So I guess this shop makes their money on selling you the bottle's of wine you enjoyed tasting. Vinovenue on the other hand can just be a tasting bar without the pressure of purchasing anything, or sell you the wine as well. Different business models I guess. Suzanne,

Ahh yes, the line where business interest and honest commentary gets crossed. That conflict of interest is the same reason some Wine bloggers refuse to accept free samples for reviewing.

Lenn,

Sorry about your ho-hum experience. They must be understaffed right now, as my experience was similar (Mary Lynn was the only one there).

Chris,

You point out one of the major benefits of a system like this: tasting wines you already own to determine if they are ready to drink.
P.S. Welcome back.

Richard,

So I guess this shop makes their money on selling you the bottle’s of wine you enjoyed tasting. Vinovenue on the other hand can just be a tasting bar without the pressure of purchasing anything, or sell you the wine as well.
Different business models I guess.

]]> By: Suzanne Henricksen http://winexpression.com/2006/07/03/vinovenue-wine-bar-for-the-next-generation/#comment-2527 Suzanne Henricksen Thu, 06 Jul 2006 17:27:53 +0000 http://winexpression.com/2006/07/03/vinovenue-wine-bar-for-the-next-generation/#comment-2527 I'm not sure how long it's been around, but there is a similar tasting room called Stave in downtown Napa, CA. It's set up as a wine lounge with comfy couches and even food delivered from a cafe down the street, but they also have the automated tastings with the same method as mentioned in the original blog. It's a great place to hang out and it also has free wi-fi. The owner is actually part-owner of a wine or two that he sells there, however...so if he pushes certain ones as "the favorite" you can be sure he has his own personal motive to sell you a bottle! I’m not sure how long it’s been around, but there is a similar tasting room called Stave in downtown Napa, CA. It’s set up as a wine lounge with comfy couches and even food delivered from a cafe down the street, but they also have the automated tastings with the same method as mentioned in the original blog.

It’s a great place to hang out and it also has free wi-fi. The owner is actually part-owner of a wine or two that he sells there, however…so if he pushes certain ones as “the favorite” you can be sure he has his own personal motive to sell you a bottle!

]]> By: Lenn http://winexpression.com/2006/07/03/vinovenue-wine-bar-for-the-next-generation/#comment-2518 Lenn Wed, 05 Jul 2006 18:18:02 +0000 http://winexpression.com/2006/07/03/vinovenue-wine-bar-for-the-next-generation/#comment-2518 While I didn't taste around the shop portion of the store, I did enjoy a glass of zin from the wine bar. It was a little annoying that the wine menu was beyond out of date (the guy tending the bar told me to just look at the opened bottles behind him instead) and said tender wasn't all that friendly or knowledgable. I couldn't even find anyone over in the wine shop area...they seemed a little understaffed. But, I enjoyed my glass of wine and would like to try the tasting the next time I'm in town. While I didn’t taste around the shop portion of the store, I did enjoy a glass of zin from the wine bar.

It was a little annoying that the wine menu was beyond out of date (the guy tending the bar told me to just look at the opened bottles behind him instead) and said tender wasn’t all that friendly or knowledgable.

I couldn’t even find anyone over in the wine shop area…they seemed a little understaffed.

But, I enjoyed my glass of wine and would like to try the tasting the next time I’m in town.

]]> By: Chris Kolodziej http://winexpression.com/2006/07/03/vinovenue-wine-bar-for-the-next-generation/#comment-2500 Chris Kolodziej Tue, 04 Jul 2006 23:55:16 +0000 http://winexpression.com/2006/07/03/vinovenue-wine-bar-for-the-next-generation/#comment-2500 My friend I'm sorry it has been so long. But talk about timing. On a trip to Reno I stopped into a new wine shop with this system. GREAT i got to try wines in my own library (2001 Chateau Lafite) that I don't open on a daily basis but would like to try. AWSOME. Great Idea I wish I would have thought of it . My friend I’m sorry it has been so long. But talk about timing. On a trip to Reno I stopped into a new wine shop with this system. GREAT i got to try wines in my own library (2001 Chateau Lafite) that I don’t open on a daily basis but would like to try. AWSOME. Great Idea I wish I would have thought of it .

]]> By: Richard A. http://winexpression.com/2006/07/03/vinovenue-wine-bar-for-the-next-generation/#comment-2448 Richard A. Mon, 03 Jul 2006 21:50:26 +0000 http://winexpression.com/2006/07/03/vinovenue-wine-bar-for-the-next-generation/#comment-2448 There is a wine store in my area that has those new wine tasting machines. It is the Wine Gallery, located at 375 Boylston St. Brookline (http://www.wine-gallery.com/). They call it their "wine Jukebox." And unlike the store you have described, this wine jukebox is free. There are three machines, two circular ones with red wines, and one rectangular one with whites and roses. They hold about fifty wines in all. You receive a card that contains 12 points and you can only receive one card per day. Each 1 oz. sample of wine then costs you a certain number of points. Basically it is 1 point for wines of $10 or loss, 2 points for wines $11-$20, etc. There are wines of all price ranges in the machines and they change on a regular basis. It is interesting to see how some wine stores are charging for these tastings while others are offering them for free. There is a wine store in my area that has those new wine tasting machines. It is the Wine Gallery, located at 375 Boylston St. Brookline (http://www.wine-gallery.com/). They call it their “wine Jukebox.” And unlike the store you have described, this wine jukebox is free.

There are three machines, two circular ones with red wines, and one rectangular one with whites and roses. They hold about fifty wines in all. You receive a card that contains 12 points and you can only receive one card per day. Each 1 oz. sample of wine then costs you a certain number of points. Basically it is 1 point for wines of $10 or loss, 2 points for wines $11-$20, etc. There are wines of all price ranges in the machines and they change on a regular basis.

It is interesting to see how some wine stores are charging for these tastings while others are offering them for free.

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