At Dover Canyon, we do not normally sell futures. Futures are a commodity, in this case wine, bought for future acceptance or sold for future delivery. For some wineries, this provides an advance cash flow, and for the consumer, a discount on the anticipated price of the wine. However, selling futures on wine also locks the winery into its production plans. Futures buyers normally select the vintage, variety and even the vineyard that they expect to purchase. They may decide to buy the wine after tasting it from the barrel, and will expect to receive exactly what they tasted.
We like the artistic freedom of choosing our vineyard designated wines, creating blends, and perhaps holding back some lots for further aging and possible blending, which is why we do not offer a futures program.
Charlie Lepore is a big fan of the Benito Dusi Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel. Charlie, like some other Dover Canyon fans, asked for an opportunity to buy futures. "Charlie, I don't have a program set up for that," I explained. "We do take pre-orders a few months before release." Charlie, however, was not to be put off so easily, and after some very creative wrangling on his part, I sent Charlie our first—and only—futures invoice for one case of Dover Canyon Old Vine Zinfandel, Benito Dusi Vineyard, along with a handwritten note of congratulations and a couple of labels signed by winemaker Dan Panico.
Charlie framed the invoice, notes and labels, and his future hangs prominently on the wall of his office. So I guess you could say that at any given time, Charlie can point the way to Dover Canyon's future.
Charlie, you're the best!
Comments