Would you be interested in the Society doing something like this in future?

strawpig · November 8, 2020, 6:01pm

I’ve just suggested it as a destination in the Christmas thread too, but I’d recommend a trip to Madeira for just that purpose. My other suggestion would be that north west Wales is becoming increasingly gastronomic, although the prices are starting to match, unfortunately.

Inbar · November 8, 2020, 6:46pm

Not that I’ve done it - but I can imagine cycling around Sussex whilst taking in the (increasingly growing) number of wineries and gorgeous vineyards to be rather fun. Lots of beautiful spots, and extremely welcoming wine growers! And Sussex is - to this old (ex)foreigner at least - one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

JC21 · November 8, 2020, 7:33pm

I’m just salivating at the bottles of Flaccianello, as much as I like living in Sussex,

Petsco · November 8, 2020, 8:45pm

That was the last night; a tour around the vineyard with Giovanni Manetti, then piled into a couple of landrovers to his local restaurant, with a flight of Flaccianello (if memory serves, a 2003, a 2004 and a 2006; could be wrong as much wine was drunk…). Ended up talking to Giovanni for ages about L’eroica, which he was heavily into; he was a really lovely chap.

Amazing night in hindsight. Didn’t realise at the time how amazing it was.

MarkC · November 8, 2020, 8:58pm

Surprised it wasn’t marketed as POA, in other words if you have to ask you can’t afford it…

Offering introductions for members to visit suppliers is what TWS should do. Not become a specialist travel agent.

AVI6 · November 9, 2020, 7:52pm

I imagine this is in some ways an “if you have to ask” gambit to stop idle enquiries from those who can’t afford it, or more to the point, those who aren’t or won’t become ‘serious’ buying clients.
It’s also a statement of the exceptional value of the experience, as perceived, so that when the merchant offers one or two top buyers the chance to join as a guest, or at 50%, the invited have a feel or measure for what they are being ‘given’, increasing their loyalty to the merchant and the estate.

Realistically, this is c.£1k of wine at current market price. A luxury dinner (one presumes with quantities of fine wine) would set you back nearly £400/head at BBR, so add on a suitably luxurious set of accommodation, same again, and we’re hitting £4.2k before the presentation case and extras. Small run, so not cheap, add in a first rate tour, it’s easily £5k value. If it’s then just you and three guests (not a big gala, but that’s unclear) the costs of delivering that increase, as does the ‘special’ nature of it. No, I can’t afford it either, but there are more outrageous things. It’s a ‘money can’t buy’ experience - though, of course, money can buy it!

Nfrost00 · November 10, 2020, 7:17am

I’d be far more interested in a day in a mini bus with Marcel in the (ideally N) Rhone valley. That sort of access is worth the money!

SteveSlatcher · November 10, 2020, 9:04am

My vote is to let the buyers do what they are employed to do.

I don’t doubt that some buyers could turn their hand to communication and writing (as suggested earlier in another thread), or tour-guiding. But essentially the skill sets required for those tasks are not the ones needed for buying.

JamesF · November 10, 2020, 9:09am

according to my wife…any holiday I organise

JamesF · November 10, 2020, 9:11am

exactly this - I have had some fantastic visits courtesy of introductions by staff at another wine merchant.

likewise - when I have visited some who supply TWS, mentioning the name has elicited a smile and another few bottles added to the flight

JamesF · November 10, 2020, 9:16am

Many years ago, in Burgundy, ended up tasting with a party who were cycling. Was an interesting exchange from the Domaine with the party…worried that if they drank the samples and then cycled and crashed, that they would be partially responsible !! they promised to wait an hour before cycling !

On the plus…they did have a van following (a la TdF) to transfer their luggage and collect their purchases!

BENEDICTNASH · November 10, 2020, 9:23am

Now that would be elietist !

CCouzens · November 10, 2020, 9:53am

Changing tack a bit, I enjoyed some excellent TWS dinners in Montreuil and thereabouts. Sadly the demise of the shop, the B-word and now the C-word make those a feature unlikely to be restored.

And didn’t they run trips to Champagne from time to time?

Jonathan8 · November 11, 2020, 5:40pm

Thank you for sharing, that does sound like an amazing trip!

Jonathan8 · November 11, 2020, 5:49pm

Completely agree that would be a good day - perhaps that could be a prize for those who join the Rhone 2019 EP offer

Thanks to all for their views on this. Agree with many that it may be aimed at a certain type of person who’s perhaps more a collector than an enthusiast, and far from cheap. Value and enjoyment can be found in many other places and price ranges.

TWS are not a holiday company though perhaps some of us would welcome the return of those (lottery) opportunities to travel with a buyer.

Rio_Jano · November 11, 2020, 7:22pm

I’ve got visions of a quirky comedy film - wine drinking, language barrier, rickety minibus, rural french roads… probably starring Chris O’Dowd as @owmarcel