Moderators: Jenise, Robin Garr, David M. Bueker
Tom Troiano wrote:I noticed in my area that 20-25 years ago (when I was first buying good wine) there were some/many very knowledgeable people at the retail level of the wine business but as Parker and others gained momentum things changed. Today, more often than not you see wine sales people who have no real knowledge/appreciation of wine but who can tell you the Parker score of every wine they have.
Rahsaan wrote: I wonder how much of that tracks the general decline in attractiveness of retail as an occupation (i.e. stagnant or declining wages)?
Hoke
Achieving Wine Immortality
11420
Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:07 am
Portland, OR
Hoke wrote: Very, very, very, very few attractive positions for wine specialists exists, and even most of them don't pay very well. So there's little incentive, other than desire to do that kind of work, to be a retailer.
Hoke
Achieving Wine Immortality
11420
Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:07 am
Portland, OR
Tom Troiano wrote:Hoke wrote: Very, very, very, very few attractive positions for wine specialists exists, and even most of them don't pay very well. So there's little incentive, other than desire to do that kind of work, to be a retailer.
This seems to be a much bigger factor than Robert Parker's retirement plans.
I just find it sad when the only thing the wine person can tell you about a particular wine is that Mr. Parker gave it 91 points.
Hoke wrote: It is sad, Tom. But just the usual Sturgeon's Law at work.
Tom Troiano wrote:Hoke wrote: Very, very, very, very few attractive positions for wine specialists exists, and even most of them don't pay very well. So there's little incentive, other than desire to do that kind of work, to be a retailer.
This seems to be a much bigger factor than Robert Parker's retirement plans.
I just find it sad when the only thing the wine person can tell you about a particular wine is that Mr. Parker gave it 91 points.
Hoke wrote:With a continuing cascade of regions, brands, grape varieties, styles, etc., etc., the bar is significantly higher now...and the bullshit detection factor of the general public is significantly more sensitive as well.
Hoke
Achieving Wine Immortality
11420
Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:07 am
Portland, OR
Brian Gilp wrote:Hoke wrote:With a continuing cascade of regions, brands, grape varieties, styles, etc., etc., the bar is significantly higher now...and the bullshit detection factor of the general public is significantly more sensitive as well.
On what do you base the belief that the BS detector of the general public is any better than before, especially in light of all of the new offerings that may exist? I have not witnessed anything that would imply its much different. The number of people who have some limited knowledge of wine has increased but so has the causual wine drinker numbers and from what I see they are as clueless as always. I can't tell you how many people have told me they are a wine geek and are largely clueless. They know more than Mary and Tim so they are the self anointed experts of their circle but when you talk to them they don't know Alsace from Austria and god forbid that their beloved Pinot Grigio is the same grape as that insipid Pinot Gris.
JC (NC)
Lifelong Learner
6679
Mon Mar 27, 2006 12:23 pm
Fayetteville, NC
David M. Bueker
Riesling Guru
34412
Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:52 am
Connecticut
David M. Bueker
Riesling Guru
34412
Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:52 am
Connecticut
Users browsing this forum: AhrefsBot, APNIC Bot, ClaudeBot, Google Adsense [Bot] and 2 guests