For The Love Of Port

Here in Norway Churchill Reserve port has the last year been available in 20 cl bottles.
As from 2nd September this year also Grahams LBV is available in 20 cl. Grahams LBV is steadily one of the top-three sellers of port in Norway.
I have been checking out the market for these small bottles, and have been speaking with representatives of the State Monopoly and importers.
They believe that there is a market there for people that do like port, but are not willing to spend money on a big bottle they will never drink.
That could be elderly that want a small glass after a weekend dinner at home, younger people that do not want to spend big money on port. etc
I see now that Grahams is also introducing this bottle size for tawnies.

Would be interesting to hear other FTLOP subscribers view on this bottle sieze.
Will it just be marginal in the market? Will it be a door openerer to more port later on etc?

We have the Grahams 10, 20 and 30 year old tawny in 20cl on stock starting this weekend. I don't think it will be a big market, but it offers great port (like the 30 year old) for a desent price. Not a lot of people are willing to spend a 100 euro.

I would probably drink a lot more Port on my own if I could find good port in 20 cl bottles. A 750 - or even a 375 - is really too much Port for me to open at one time because I'm generally drinking alone and only want 1-2 glasses. Sure, I can drink the Port over a few days, but that gets monotonous. I'd rather open a 20 cl bottle and drink it in one night, then open something different a couple of nights later.

Very large bottles of tawny have been a big hit in some restaurants. So much so that the Symington's now regularly make a decent amount of them to sell now. So long as the price point is good I think the smaller bottles will sell decently once they start to catch on. I would suspect initial selling of them may be a bit slow until people realize they are there. I think it's a great idea, for reasons mentioned.

Jasper
What's price point compared to 375's and 750's of the same Port?

Andy Velebil wrote:Very large bottles of tawny have been a big hit in some restaurants. So much so that the Symington's now regularly make a decent amount of them to sell now. So long as the price point is good I think the smaller bottles will sell decently once they start to catch on. I would suspect initial selling of them may be a bit slow until people realize they are there. I think it's a great idea, for reasons mentioned.

Jasper
What's price point compared to 375's and 750's of the same Port?

For example a normal bottle 30 year old graham's we charge €99,50, the 20 cl version will cost €29,95

Graham's LBV in Norway:

20 cl is abt 53 % of 37.5 cl
Price for a 20 cl is abt 54 % of the price for a 37.5 cl

Rune EG wrote:Graham's LBV in Norway:

20 cl is abt 53 % of 37.5 cl
Price for a 20 cl is abt 54 % of the price for a 37.5 cl

I like your prices better.

Jasper A. wrote:For example a normal bottle 30 year old graham's we charge €99,50, the 20 cl version will cost €29,95

That's really a reasonable margin, ~13% for the smaller size. I hate when 375s are so much more per ml, like 50% compared to the 750, that I either just get the full bottle or skip it altogether out of annoyance.

Eric Menchen wrote:

Jasper A. wrote:For example a normal bottle 30 year old graham's we charge €99,50, the 20 cl version will cost €29,95

That's really a reasonable margin, ~13% for the smaller size. I hate when 375s are so much more per ml, like 50% compared to the 750, that I either just get the full bottle or skip it altogether out of annoyance.

+1 Eric.

20 cl bottles make for nice gifts.

Eric Menchen wrote:

Jasper A. wrote:For example a normal bottle 30 year old graham's we charge €99,50, the 20 cl version will cost €29,95

That's really a reasonable margin, ~13% for the smaller size. I hate when 375s are so much more per ml, like 50% compared to the 750, that I either just get the full bottle or skip it altogether out of annoyance.

Eric I agree. Bartholomew Broadbent (the importer) had a good rant recently on Facebook about his dislike for the pricing of many 375's compared to 750's. I wish he could change all 375ml wines to better prices in relation to their full bottle counterpart.

Given the airline cabin baggage limits on fluids that are now virtually universal at 100mL (10cL), I have been prodding a few producers to start bottling in 10cL ..

I've even volunteered a brand name for it: Air Port

Tom Archer wrote:Given the airline cabin baggage limits on fluids that are now virtually universal at 100mL (10cL), I have been prodding a few producers to start bottling in 10cL ..

I've even volunteered a brand name for it: Air Port

Pretty sure Apple already has that trademarked, etc.

I hope we will see more of these in the future. It gives those new to Port wine, a chance to get their first impression at a very reasonable price.

Great for ballgames too!