I understand your frustration with us Winebuyers. I feel your pain. Just remember, in most instances (for retail, anyway), we do the same job you do, but we sell to the “public.” Try that one out for a while.
A winebuyer worth their salt must work within a budget. So if ordering with you puts me over that budget (and if I’m disciplined) I cannot do it – even if I “love” your wines. And speaking of “loving” your wines, I am not in the business of only selling wines I like because not everyone drinks Saumur-Champigny and Refosco, so I need to keep other people’s tastes in mind too. Plus “liking” something doesn’t necessarily mean that it is good.
But the bottom line is that I am always on the lookout for quality. So if I don’t choose your inexpensive French country wine it is likely because I can find 10 similar wines at the same price point that are better quality. There is no shortage of wine out there. I am open with hundreds of suppliers so that I can properly source for my customers. But I can’t buy from everyone. I am not Wilfred Wong.
Rest assured, if I can’t get to your order as soon as you like, know that I most definitely have you “in the queue”…
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Yeah… I get that, totally. And honestly, I sort of feel for you. “The Public.” Oy.
But you’re not the Winebuyer I was complaining about. Now granted, some buyers are going to be more drawn to my portfolio than others, and are more likely to “love” a larger percentage of the wines I pour… but I still want to hear things like, “the packaging is god-awful” or “I’m just not finding the varietal characteristics in this wine,” or “there is no mid-palate…” SOME point of reference for what you may or may not be finding in a wine. There is no way you could love every single pinot noir or chenin blanc or blaufrankish that I pour you.
Well put but most Wine buyers are uninformed and selfish.
If you are over budget for the month – tell me.
If you don’t have room for something in my bag – tell me.
If the wine doesn’t fit the demographics of your store – tell me.
If you love the menetou salon but are too lazy to sell it as a lower cost alternative to Sancerre – I’ll figure it out.
If you don’t have the confidence to give me a professional opinion on what you tasted, maybe you should move back the Cheese aisle.