America’s premier luxury wine region has outdone itself, reaching new highs in prices for bottles and tastings. The average price per bottle at Napa Valley wineries crossed the $100 mark in 2022, and winery tasting fees increased 35 percent, according to the 2023 Direct to Consumer Wine Report released on Wednesday.
Examining the available wine tastings in the U.S., the survey notes a rise in tasting fees as well as a continuation of reservation-only policies. Up until the past decade or so, many wineries would not charge for winery visits, and would take walk-ins for casual stand-up tastings. Since wineries were forced to switch over to a reservation-only based system during the pandemic, many have decided to keep this appointment-only format.
