Big Discounts on Big Wines in DC
March 3, 2010 by Derek Swanson
A group of DC-area wine enthusiasts have opened their private buying collective to outsiders. The Capitol Case Club, as it is now known, uses its numbers to negotiate discounts with local wine merchants. Members agree on a target acquisition, set a target price, then solicit friends (and now strangers like me) to pledge to take an allocation. The inaugural offering was the 2006 Chateau Montrose, and the club is currently requesting commitments for the elusive Sea Smoke Pinot Noir and a ripe Calon-Ségur.
The club’s organizer is in technology marketing by day. He said he is in this solely to help him and his friends save money on wine they all buy regularly, but also has a vision of organizing gatherings for club members. He pledges complete confidentiality for members’ purchases and for the local retailers he buys from.
If the current wines are indicative of future prospects, this arrangement seems to me a win-win for buyers and sellers. $90 and up bottles don’t normally fly off the shelf, so I imagine retailers might embrace the chance to help their distributors move some high-end bottles. For members, the advantages of getting a 15-25% discount normally given on case purchases are obvious, and there is no minimum commitment or membership fee. Check out the club’s website for more information.
