Max Allen Article in The W/E Australian Magazine

[Red Bigot]

Comparing the pricing strategies of Saltrams (Beringer-Blass), Torbreck and Heritage Wines.

My paraphrasing of the B-B strategy: Produce a shiraz at major price-points, each double the previous - $12, $25, $50, $100

Torbreck admit to positioning the Struie to fill the gap between the $20 Woodcutter and the $120 Descendant, although there is "not a huge difference in absolute quality terms between the Descendant and the Struie".

Heritage use a simple formula - take the cost of production and double it to give the wholesale price, including the Rossco's produced only when the vintage is good enough.

I'm not at all suggesting there is anything devious or dishonest in the first two approaches, market forces apply, good luck to them if they can continue to make wine good enough find buyers at those elevated price-points. But it's the likes of Heritage that get my business if they can continue to make good wines at the prices they sell for now, the standard 2002 Shiraz is out at around $18, surely they managed to make a Rossco's too in 2002.

[Mike Hawkins]

RB,

I'm hoping they made a 2002 Rossco's as well. When I was at the CD a few months ago, the lady was uncertain if one was to be released. So I guess time will tell.