Hostage Wines...

The great thing about being a wine broker as opposed to selling for a large distributor is that I can choose which wines I sell... and I don't have to get myself involved with any hostage wines. Please allow me to explain: The big liquor distributors sell wine and spirits. So in order to buy certain wines, you have to buy certain hard liquors they sell as well.

It's not a favorable deal for the specialty wine shops and wine bars because they don't like to be told they have to buy something they don't want... if they want a certain wine.

A few months ago I went to Vintage Bouquet, a wine and food festival put on by the Beverly Hills Bar Association. I met a potential client who had a California red blend that wasn't very good. But he also had Italian wines from vineyards in small villages in Italy. Upon talking to him about possible representation he told me his whole business model... which was basically very similar to the way the big distributors work... If you want these rare Italian wines you have to buy my crappy California wine. Needless to say I flaked on the conference call.

Sounds flaky but think about it. How would you like it if you saw a pair of pants you liked at a department store BUT... you could only buy the pants if you bought two shirts you didn't like at all? I didn't feel like pitching wines to some of my people and saying, "No, no, no... You can't buy that wine if you don't buy this one."

I didn't really know what to call this concept... until I ran into another salesperson at the Whole Foods in El Segundo last night. He called 'em "Hostage Wines"... I'm sure you now understand why. By the way, Whole Foods Monday nights is OFF THE HOOK. $5 beer tasting night... and the panini grill master Craig rocks.

A couple more side notes... A little while ago I posted a blog about my rookie mistakes. Of course I have more to tell about. But for now I'll say this: None of them were held against me. As a matter of fact, those people have bought from me... or have promised to.

Also, I finally left my long and crazy television career to focus on something more crazy... studying for the LSAT. Of course wine is a passion I plan to continue to pursue for as long as possible. But being a lawyer is something I've wanted to do since I was a kid... only having an extreme case of ADHD, I'm easily sidetracked.