Question: Wendouree Newsletter.

[Prester John]

I recall a post some time ago on this forum which dealt with the meaning of the coloured line which appears on the Wendouree newsletter.

I have just received the newsletter, and my order form has a red crayon mark across the top right corner. I would like to know that this line means.

I have searched the forum for that former post, but to no avail.

Can someone point out the old post to me, or perhaps enlighten me in relation to the above question.

Many thanks in advance,

PJ.

[Guest]

hi, had the same question, except i have a blue crayon marked on the corner of my form.

any insight to this would be appreciated

[Guest]

Arrrgghh!!! Not the dreaded blue crayon!
I'll take a stab and suggest:-
*Tony Brady's signature (initials) in black - In the Top priority group for the State you come from(mercifully, on mine!). Seriously, he works on a State by State basis, with SA first. I seem to recall WA comes next but I'm not sure - can someone out there shed some light??
*Red crayon - next priority
*Blue crayon - the poor unfortunates.........(little or no priority at all??)
Good luck
Geoff G

[Guest]

I just got mine yesterday and don't have any crayon marks - Should I worry ?

[Adair]

Arrrgghh!!! Not the dreaded blue crayon!
I'll take a stab and suggest:-
*Tony Brady's signature (initials) in black - In the Top priority group for the State you come from(mercifully, on mine!). Seriously, he works on a State by State basis, with SA first. I seem to recall WA comes next but I'm not sure - can someone out there shed some light??
*Red crayon - next priority
*Blue crayon - the poor unfortunates.........(little or no priority at all??)
Good luck
Geoff G

I think NSW is last or near last. All Cabernets were gone last year before Tony got to NSW!

Adair

[Adair]

Arrrgghh!!! Not the dreaded blue crayon!
I'll take a stab and suggest:-
*Tony Brady's signature (initials) in black - In the Top priority group for the State you come from(mercifully, on mine!). Seriously, he works on a State by State basis, with SA first. I seem to recall WA comes next but I'm not sure - can someone out there shed some light??
*Red crayon - next priority
*Blue crayon - the poor unfortunates.........(little or no priority at all??)
Good luck
Geoff G

I think NSW is last or near last. All Cabernets were gone last year before Tony got to NSW!

Adair

[Guest]

I think you are correct, Adair - from memory Tony Brady told me years ago that NSW orders were attended to last. He didn't attempt to explain the logic of his 'system' of allocation and wasn't interested in discussing it. After SA I think he works the States from West to East with Tassie and Qld even getting a 'guernsey' before poor old NSW.
I also know that you have NO hope of getting any Cabernet unless your order includes across-the-board wines. This came up in my discussions with him.
I had a bit of a written altercation with him a few years ago when my order for Shiraz was not met and I got a serve of (not-ordered)Shiraz-Mataro only. Following that dummy-spit he did say that he was going to revise his allocation priorities to ensure that his longest-standing customers always got their Shiraz order. Its worked for me since.
Cheers
Geoff G

[Guest]

Does anybody know what NO CRAYON marks mean ? This is my first year on the list.

[Guest]

Dear NO CRAYON person
Being on the mailing list for the first time( and you've probably already waited a fair while to get to that exhaulted position) you are in the "poor-unfortunates" group - no priority at all . HOWEVER, your chances of getting a gong are best promoted by having a crack at several wines on the order sheet. Now, if you happen to be a SA resident, you'll probably get all you ask for!!
All the best
Geoff G

[George Krashos]

I was the 'red crayon of doom' poster last year. I recall the first year I got on the List (1998) I had a green crayon stripe (maybe the blue of that year). I still got some 1998s however. I missed out on 1999, got what I ordered in 2000 and got most of what I ordered in 2001. What really peeved me in 1999 was missing out and seeing 1999 Wendouree wines popping up on Langtons and Oddbinns auctions, almost immediately.

We'll see how we go this year.

-- George Krashos

[radioactiveman]

I can't even get on the waiting list! I rang to leave my details over the phone and they told me I couldn't do it that way, I had to apply in writing (and e-mail is not available). What's the deal with that? I haven't used paper for ages. Do you still have to lick stamps?


Jamie

[Adair]

No Jamie, you don't have to lick stamps anymore. They come in stickie rolls of 100 or sheets of 10 or so.
... but yes, you still need to use snail mail. I will tell you how I got on the waiting list the next time we share a glass from the same bottle.

I picked up my newsletter today. I have a red crayon stripe.

Adair

[simm]

I can't even get on the waiting list! I rang to leave my details over the phone and they told me I couldn't do it that way, I had to apply in writing (and e-mail is not available). What's the deal with that? I haven't used paper for ages. Do you still have to lick stamps?


Jamie

Yes, you do look like you've licked a few in your time

[Guest]

Hey Jamie!
Met you at the Canberra Divine Cabernet tasting not that long ago and we made our way together through the line-up. Thankyou again for the lift you gave me back to my brother' place - damned uncommonly civil of you!
Love your new avitar, BTW.
As far as the mail-out from Wendouree goes, the envelopes are all hand addressed (I think by Lita Brady's weary hand) and in each of the last few years there's been at least one of our local group who have been missed (had to phone to replace the missing order form).
Hang in there mate, you'll eventually get on - but with no priority at all of course and being in the ACT (at the very bottom of their 'food chain')the best you could hope for at that joyous time would probably be an obscure bottle of cleanskin Pressings!!
Cheers mate
Geoff

[jezza]

I have some relatives in SA, if anyone wants to use their address for newsletters and deliveries for priority. For a fee of course

[Aussie Johns]

My slip came yesterday, and had a replica of Tony Brady's Roseworthy degree on the bottom right hand corner.
This signifies that I am a very good, old and loyal customer, and that Wendouree will do anything for me.
I ordered two cases of the 1990 shiraz, and six bottles of the 1978 shiraz, all for $31 a bottle. (from their museum stock)
Prolly also pick up six cases of the 2002 shiraz, given that it has been offered to me at $23 a bottle.

[Prester John]

AJ,

If your intention was to make me envious, it has worked well. I find that combination of price, quantity and vintage unbelievable.

Good luck to you. It seems that I'll have to start ordering large quantities to get those benefits.

Best,

PJ.

[Gavin Trott]

AJ,

If your intention was to make me envious, it has worked well. I find that combination of price, quantity and vintage unbelievable.

Good luck to you. It seems that I'll have to start ordering large quantities to get those benefits.

Best,

PJ.

Hmm

One wonders if AJ's tongue may have been firmly in his cheek!

[GraemeG]

I can't even get on the waiting list! I rang to leave my details over the phone and they told me I couldn't do it that way...

Oh, so they're on the phone now? Ah, how times change.

I see the 2086 Annual Wine Marketing Awards..
"Special Mention goes to A P Birks Cellars, who've just had an e-mail address installed at the winery..."


Graeme

[Justin B.]

Hi All

I spoke with Tony today and he said that red means you ordered last time, blue means you order last year but mised out due to no more stock or credit card problems etc, no mark means your a Wendouree virgin, and Tony's signature means your a legend that has been ordering since pre-1983.

[JamieBahrain]

Justin

My slip has Tony's signature. I have been on the list under a decade. I also have an Adelaide address.

A Wendouree e-mail would be dreadful-akin to Wendouree shiraz in stelvin!

There is a timeless, rustic charm about the whole process. From the mail out to the cardboard boxes that turn up labelled AP Birks. Incidentally, the boxes timeless in themselves, cellar foundations, holding many times their weight where modern boxes crumple.

[Justin B.]

The strength of the boxes is certainly true. There are none other that come close that I am aware of come to think of it.

Also, Tony said that long time customers dont get any special offers of back vintage wines, yet I thought I heard from some that this does occur ???

[radioactiveman]

No Jamie, you don't have to lick stamps anymore. They come in stickie rolls of 100 or sheets of 10 or so.
... but yes, you still need to use snail mail. I will tell you how I got on the waiting list the next time we share a glass from the same bottle.

Thanks mate. I look forward to sharing a bottle or two with you soon, you must visit again. How's the new bub going?

Hey Jamie!
Met you at the Canberra Divine Cabernet tasting not that long ago and we made our way together through the line-up. Thankyou again for the lift you gave me back to my brother' place - damned uncommonly civil of you!
Love your new avitar, BTW.
As far as the mail-out from Wendouree goes, the envelopes are all hand addressed (I think by Lita Brady's weary hand) and in each of the last few years there's been at least one of our local group who have been missed (had to phone to replace the missing order form).
Hang in there mate, you'll eventually get on - but with no priority at all of course and being in the ACT (at the very bottom of their 'food chain')the best you could hope for at that joyous time would probably be an obscure bottle of cleanskin Pressings!!
Cheers mate
Geoff

Hey, good to hear from you. Are you still lurking here? You should sign up. Ric and Brian are actually nice people, so don't be put off by them. I'll take your encouragement and keep pressing on with potential membership. Although I fear I may have to get my Dad to write the letter, as his handwriting will be much nicer than my own. No problems about giving you the lift, anytime. I should have driven past a Chinese takeaway for you though, since you weren't getting a feed when you got there.

I can't even get on the waiting list! I rang to leave my details over the phone and they told me I couldn't do it that way...

Oh, so they're on the phone now? Ah, how times change.

I see the 2086 Annual Wine Marketing Awards..
"Special Mention goes to A P Birks Cellars, who've just had an e-mail address installed at the winery..."


Graeme

I suspect that when they hear the word e-mail that they might think of air conditioners or fridges. But, I guess if that's the way they want to do things, that's fair enough.



OK. It looks like I'm going to have to borrow a pen and write an application to join the mailing list. From there I'm going to have to wait a year(?) to see if I get a mail out, order from it and get nothing, wait another year to get a mail out, order from it and get maybe something, wait another year for the next mailout, order from it and, perhaps, get marginally more, etc, etc. All the while knowing that because of where I live, my order will never be taken seriously or even come close to being fully filled. Hmmmmmmmmm


Maybe I'll just buy a couple of bottles at auction, try them, and work out if I like them. From what people say, I may well be dead before the latest release comes into it's drinking window


Cheers

Jamie

[radioactiveman]

I can't even get on the waiting list! I rang to leave my details over the phone and they told me I couldn't do it that way, I had to apply in writing (and e-mail is not available). What's the deal with that? I haven't used paper for ages. Do you still have to lick stamps?


Jamie

Yes, you do look like you've licked a few in your time

You cheeky little bugger!



Jamie

[Red Bigot]

Hey, good to hear from you. Are you still lurking here? You should sign up. Ric and Brian are actually nice people, so don't be put off by them. .

Jamie,
Just for that I'll tell you that I have Wendourees back to 1990 and have ordered 6 each of the 2002 reds on my form with the black AB signature and expect to get them all despite an ACT address.

I can still remember buying at cellar door (mid-late 70's?) and the old gentleman Roly Birks writing out the docket in immaculate copperplate, pity I didn't keep it as a memento.

[radioactiveman]

Hey, good to hear from you. Are you still lurking here? You should sign up. Ric and Brian are actually nice people, so don't be put off by them. .

Jamie,
Just for that I'll tell you that I have Wendourees back to 1990 and have ordered 6 each of the 2002 reds on my form with the black AB signature and expect to get them all despite an ACT address.

I'll be good

[Guest]

My dear Radioactive Jamie
It is indeed satisfying to find you still troubled by your lack of sensitivity to my food-deprived condition on the said Canberra evening. Actually, on my return to my brother's place that night, I WAS offered a paper-thin piece of deteriorating 'steak' to cook on this strange 'George Foreman' contraption (with nothing to support it) . It looked as forelorn as I must've, sitting there alone and shrivelled on its plate (no, I wasn't sitting on the plate). This was followed by a cup of questionable coffee, a swift 'goodnight' and a hasty departure the following morning in the direction of the nearest food outlet. His is a good place to stay if you're on one of those savage diet kicks!
Till next tasting, mate.
Geoff G

[BenK]

Has anyone on the list from NSW not got their order form yet?

[TORB]

Has anyone on the list from NSW not got their order form yet?

Yep, I got mine on Tuesday.

[Baby Chickpea]

Hi All

I spoke with Tony today and he said that red means you ordered last time, blue means you order last year but mised out due to no more stock or credit card problems etc, no mark means your a Wendouree virgin, and Tony's signature means your a legend that has been ordering since pre-1983.

Yep, that's it. I remmeber posting s similar reply two years ago on the old Auswine forum about this after having spoke to Tobny. Thanks for that Justin as it refreshed my mind.

Adair - I have never had problems getting the cabernet (despite being in NSW) and I know someone who was only on for the 2nd year who also got it!

What I like about Wendouree is that if you have the black APB signature (like I do) you never have to worry about missing out. I was away last year for the entire month of July and got so worried I missed out (didnt get the mailer until 4 weeks later!). Tony told me that if you have the black signature then if you order within a few weeks it will be looked after. I think he does the long timers and black signatures first, then allocates the rest according to signature and quantities. Saves alot of pain!