One event that always catches me off guard is the Oscars. Although I’m not much of a fan, it impacts wine sales. Many people on the island throw Oscar parties; of course, they need wine. I used to be more aware in the past because of a fellow employee (now retired) who talked about the Oscars weeks before the big event was aired. She was a huge movie buff and would talk it up with customers. Anyway, quite a few groups came in about an hour before the big show to grab their wine. It will be interesting to see how the sales figures turn out.
I believe I mentioned this in the last article. I’ve been using the TikTok platform to show small segments of what I do in the wine department daily. Sometimes, I record a short snapshot of a wine I’ve discovered and like quite a bit. It’s fun, and it seems as if people are interested. They are fifteen to sixty-second clips; most get over two hundred views. Of course, my handle on TikTok is, what else, Stan The Wine Man. I also post the clips on Instagram, which seems to be the most popular social media platform here in the San Juan Islands.
I’m super excited to attend the Taste Washington event this Saturday. Over seven hundred wineries will be represented, along with many booths where local restaurants will share menu items from their establishments. I know a ton of people in the wine industry. It will be fun connecting with them and tasting many of the wines from our great wine-producing state. It’s been a while since I’ve been, which surprises me as I am so involved in the local wine scene as well as the wine world in general.
Since March is the original “Washington Wine Month,” I will review Washington State wines on my YouTube channel most of March. I’m airing the third episode today, featuring Cabernet Sauvignons under twenty bucks. I found a couple of gems that you may want to seek out. We can produce some amazing wines here in Washington at very affordable prices compared to other places in the U.S. We can also make wines from several varietals very well. My second episode featured GSM blends, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. All three of those varietals thrive in Washington State. Check out the episodes here.
Customers still ask me if my “Pick Of The Month” is any good. Now, this is from many people who are regulars in my department. My football coach in junior high, drilled in me that there is no such thing as a stupid question. I agree with that, so when I’m asked if my pick of the month is any good, I take that as a conversation starter, rather than a question. Of course, it’s good, that’s why it’s my pick! Granted, there are times when I may steer a customer away from it because I know their palate and I am quite certain they will not appreciate it as much as most. Since my pick is based on the eighty-percent rule, I’m confident that most will enjoy it. The eighty-percent rule means that when I choose a wine for the month, I am almost certain that eighty percent of the people who purchase that wine will like it. I have a good track record and I don’t intend to go backward.
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
