SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif- Wine sales on the central coast may soon see a big boost with help from the retail web site, Amazon. A lot of wine makers on the central coast opted in for amazons wine sale site because it gives them exposure that they may never have had.
Now with amazon getting into the sales business it's another place for wine makers to distribute their product, but it comes at a price of 15-percent. "A lot of wineries are taking much more than 15 percent when they are selling the wine to a big box store, or even a distributor or broker," said Katherine Taylor from Sauelito Canyon Vineyard.
For smaller wineries who mostly sell locally, if they opt in to the new online store, they'll be able to broaden their exposure. "They are launching in 13 states, but then they want to cover the whole country," said Brian Terrizzi, a winemaker for Gioranta Wine.
But will the retail giant take away from local tasting rooms? For Saucelito Canyon Vineyard, they produce close to 4,500 cases a year and by selling online with amazon, they're estimating a 10% bump in sales. "I don't think it will detract from the tasting room at all, when people come to a tasting room they want the experience the area, the patio, the people working here," said Taylor.
Ultimately the trickle down effect good be good for the central coast. "If just a portion of those people from Amazon, who never knew that central coast wines existed find us online, it might bring more attention to our area, more attention for tourism, hotels, businesses and restaurants."
The web site just launched Friday, we will have to wait and see how it goes for local wine makers
