What to do with left-over samples?

As I mentioned the other day, I have this routine where I open the wines I'm taking out for the day, test them for cork taint, put plastic pouring spouts and caps on them, and trundle them around all day in an insulated Winecruzer.  Works well. 

But then there are all the leftovers.  For, of course, you cannot take out stale wine.  You want it to show at its very best.  So the leftovers build up.  A third of a bottle of this, a half of that, sometimes almost a full bottle -- it depends.  It becomes a problem because I hate waste. Especially when the samples represent such a huge accumulated expense. 

So we drink some. 

We throw some away -- the last glass or two in a bottle opened for a few days, that sort of thing.

But I can't tolerate that much alcohol. Not even I.  So I've taken to spreading the wealth.

A few bottles at a time to the young couple across the hall.  They do a great job of not wasting.  Maybe they should give some to their yappy little dog.

A bit to the French lady next door, who appreciates a change from the Beaujolais her late husband always bought, and which she still buys.  If he were still alive, I'd have a far easier time of using up the surplus.  We all miss you, J-P.

I'm thinking of handing it out in paper bags to the homeless people, whose numbers seem to be increasing at a good clip.  More thoughtful than cash, don't you think, during the holiday season?

Well, I'm fresh out of ideas. 

Any suggestions?

Comments

[michele colline]

If a wine is showing particularly well the second day or has completely changed you could show the(I assume highly educated)client a fresh bottle AND the pre-opened bottle and how it shows the next day(if perhaps it is a restaurant and they buy your wine to pour by the glass). Per esempio...

[Anthony Nicalo]

Vin cotto.

We often send out a message on Twitter at the end of the day. Then arrange for pick-up or delivery to the people who respond.

[Steve H]

i read an article where prince charles bought this device that you add your wine spodiodie and sugar to produce ethanol for your car.

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2008/07/01/Prince_Charles_converts_car_for_wine_fuel/UPI-26431214942555/

[Strappo]

Steve, is this spam? BTW, Charlie's a fookin' wanker.

Michele, that's an idea. Don't want to try it with whites, though, no matter how food they may be.

Anthony, I don't think that'd work too well here. I'd have to narrowcast it to, like, my building.

[Anthony Nicalo]

Yep, narrowcast it. After your last call, send a tweet via BrightKite. Closest and fastest respondent gets dibs. And sometimes you get nifty reviews from wine bloggers as a result. Unlike retail salesdouches who can't stand to see you, people who write about wine on the internets love free wine.

[Benito]

Alder from the Vinography blog covered this a few months ago. His suggestion is a rotating neighborhood party in which he provides all the wine:

http://tinyurl.com/5j835f

When I'm blessed with an excess of wine that needs to be consumed quickly, it's an excuse for a dinner party. But that's not an everyday occurrence for me.

Depending on your comfort level and the potential venue, consider passing along a few half-empty bottles to local up-and-coming wine bloggers. You'll get to further their education, get a wider audience for the wine if you're trying to promote it, and get a chance to meet some fellow writers.

I know a wine distributor locally, and I've had the opportunity to taste some spectacular wines through knowing him. The best was probably a Barolo tasting (1960s-1990s). Likewise I've attended tastings with Fredric and taken home a few partially-drained bottles afterward.

I've tried to return the favor by always making sure that I'm not the only one to taste a sample bottle--I'll recruit friends and family, neighbors, random strangers, etc. Get 'em hooked on the good stuff early and you'll build a wine customer for life.

[tracie b]

i leave mine outside of my door, it usually goes away in 24 hours. i have a well-watered maintenance crew.

[Strappo]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I like Tracie's but I fear the condo board would slap me down (the French lady is the president of the board).

Giving it to up-and-coming bloggers? Do any live in my neighborhood? Joe Dressner lives 2 blocks away but he hardly qualifies as "up-and-coming", plus he has his own vino to flog.

We do give some to the doormen and handymen, but we don't want to encourage drunkenness. What if they called in sick and couldn't replace the leaky pipe under the kitchen sink? File that under Unintended Consequences.

If I knew better the other people on my floor it would help. But I'm not giving wine to the schizophrenic lady or to the old hag who lives nextdoor to the French lady. The Japanese widow probably would pour it down the drain. I don't know the gay guys who live in the others 2 apartments, and they'd probably think I was coming on to them. (NMT)

The logical conclusion: distribute it to the homeless. You can tell some of them come from good backgrounds; you never lose your innate good taste.

[Biker Joe]

I keep wine for two days, then make a big deal about using it to saute something yummy for dinner.

[Andrzej Daszkiewicz]

Freeze some of the wine in small containers and use it later for cooking. My freezer is full of the stuff ...

Greetings from Poland!

[Strappo]

Andrzej, if I cooked that would be a great idea. Big if.