I'm disheartened to come here to see that everyone had an amazing experience, but my siblings and I did not. Maybe we were too sober. Maybe the pourer had a long day. Maybe we felt a bit sad about losing Presidio (the previous tasting room in this location). Maybe the stars just didn't align.
My siblings and I have done an annual trip to Solvang, CA every December since 2013 (for the exception of 2018). Being regulars, we developed a taste for certain spots - and though we knew Presidio was out this year, we were curious to taste at the tasting room that took its place. It is a comfy tasting room with windows that look out over the street. On top of it, the place we were staying had a map that offered "two for one" tastings. This place was on the map!
Upon walking in, we felt like latecomers to a party. There were a number of inebriated women already at the bar (they were actually the best part of our visit to the tasting room). One got up to give us space to belly up to the bar. I mentioned the "two for one" on the map and the pourer (I'm guessing it was Jeff?) asked, "Did you read the map?" I was confused. This map was QUITE busy - lots of details to look at - so I could have easily missed something. He explained, "That offer is not valid on Friday or Saturday." (This was a Friday.)
I shrugged, explained the map was busy, and said, "OK." We were still willing to pay full price (we're not cheap, but also not stupid to turn down a deal). He then explained to the women that I would just believe anything and that that wasn't true - that the two for one WAS in effect. This move left a bad taste at the beginning. Some people don't mind being the butt of a joke, but unless I have developed rapport with you, it's not usually a good way to start a business relationship with me.
So, let's hope the wine would turn this around. The first pour was a Sauvignon blanc. Quite frankly, the aroma was that of a diaper pail, but with the bad start, I didn't want to add fuel to the snarky comments and be treated like the butt in said diaper - so I gave it a try. Thankfully, the flavor did not match the aroma, but it was off putting. I looked around and did not see a dump bucket. Great. I hoped the next wine would be better... and the next. Not so. The rosé had so much bitter sediment in it (and my sister got the brunt of that experience - it crawled all over the sides of her glass).
Perhaps because I had now committed to consuming this wine and the buzz kicked in, I thought the Malbec was decent. It had a distinct taste of blackberry seeds. When I eat blackberries, the seeds are not my favorite part, but I did like how distinct the bitter astringent quality appeared in this wine. I finished my sister's and brother's pour.
By this point, the inebriated women had made their exit. He had made a lot of jokes with them that seemed to make him want to explain to us that "they'd been coming in for years so it was ok." That was when I asked, "How long have you been here?" knowing Presidio was there previously. "A year and a half," he replied. Ah.
He made some better talk with us asking about what we did for a living. No jokes, just decent conversation. Then another couple entered the tasting room and sat at the bar. The woman was from Kansas and the man was from India. The pourer had the gall to comment on how the man spoke English well and, as such, would not find a good job at AT&T. People who know me know I don't get my "panties in a wad" at politically incorrect conversation, but that's with folks that I have some rapport. One in the business of building relationship (and wine pouring is one I'd consider heavy on conversations skills - until the wine kicks in!) should know one's audience (unless one doesn't care about having social grace - and well, that IS a choice). I could not tell whether they thought the comment was humorous or not, but I was NOT compelled to stay around to be the butt of any additional jokes or to witness their being the butt of any additional jokes.
At the conclusion of our tasting, he did apply a discount for the three of us despite the "two for one," since there were three of us. In accepting to pay for my siblings, he said, "Ah - yeah, now that you know you have a discount, you're willing to pay for everyone." I explained that I was the one that was actually willing to pay for full price when I believed that the two for one was not in effect.
Onto the next tasting room! Which was amazing (Sanger).
I sincerely hope you all continue to enjoy this tasting room, but unfortunately, this one will be a hard pass when we return to Solvang in 2020. read more