IN PRAISE OF A PRIVATE IMPORT
Raspipav tasting event will give a glimpse of a less restrictive, ranging wine market
It’s tasting season once again. La Grande Dégustation de Montréal, the city’s biggest consumer wine and alcohol tasting, will be held Nov. 2 and 3 at Place Bonaventure, but first up is Le Salon des vins d’importation privée, Oct. 27 and 28 at Marché Bonsecours.
While La Grande Dégustation highlights mostly SAQ wines, and has a large selection of booze as well (Italy and gin are featured themes this year), Le Salon — organized by the Raspipav group — focuses on wines that are available only on private import.
Private import is a sales stream that runs parallel to the SAQ, meaning the SAQ does not sell such wines in its stores. Those responsible for selling these wines and alcohols are promotional agencies that act as intermediaries between the wineries and the SAQ. If you have ever drunk a bottle of wine in a restaurant that isn’t available at the SAQ, it’s a private import.
This is big business. There are more products available on private import than at the SAQ, and it represents close to $130 million in annual sales.
In many ways, private import is an incubator for the SAQ, which has never been known as a big risk-taker when it comes to what it chooses to put in stores. And when the SAQ does decide to wade into the funkier side of wine — with orange wine, for example — quantities are often so limited that the stock sells out before the bottles can be mentioned in this column.
Because private-import agencies have no storefront, it’s difficult for consumers to taste and purchase their wines. And while I have been told the SAQ has plans to offer such wines on SAQ.com by the bottle, presently they can only be purchased by the case.
If there ever was an argument for liberalizing retail wine sales in Quebec, this is it. I would love for these agencies to open their own stores. They have the expertise, and their knowledge of these wines and their producers goes well beyond that of most SAQ wine advisers.
In the meantime, the Raspipav event offers a glimpse of what it would be like if we did have a choice of where to shop for wine. Next weekend, consumers can taste through more than 1,000 wines, meet close to 100 winemakers and promotional agents and, most importantly, buy single bottles if you find something you like. You’ll find a wide selection, from classically styled wines to no-sulphite, more natural wines.
AT A GLANCE
Le Salon des vins d’importation privée takes place Oct. 27 and 28 at Marché Bonsecours, 350 StPaul St. E. Tickets cost $25 per day, $30 at the door; includes $15 in tasting coupons. Wine samples start at three coupons per glass. For more information and to purchase tickets, see raspipav. com.
You can hear Bill Zacharkiw talk about wine on CHOM-FM (97.7) Fridays at 7:45 a.m. twitter.com/BillZacharkiw facebook.com/ billzacharkiwwine