Thank heaven? 7-Eleven to enter the world of wine
Published: November 5, 2009
Updated: November 5, 2009
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If you thought the world of dirt-cheap wine was already crowded enough with Carlo Rossi, Box-O-Franzia and the famous “three buck Chuck” from Trader Joes, think again.
Late-night munchies stop 7-Eleven announced today that they are making a foray into the wine business, working with vineyards in the Napa Valley to produce a brand of wine exclusive to the convenient store called “Yosemite Road.” While previous bottles of wine at 7-Eleven would go for around $10, the company is lowering the bar down to hoboesque levels with this one: according to the press release, the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon bottles being offered will be sold for $3.99.
Yes, you heard me right, $3.99. That’s like the price of two Slurpees.
“We prefer to think of it as value,” said 7-Eleven spokesperson Carole Davidson in an interview with the Dallas Observer. “But, yes, it is inexpensive. … We do have a couple of proprietary labels, but they’re a little higher-priced than this offering.”
Working with their own private “label” allows the company to more aggressively negotiate prices, Davidson said, as well as jiving nicely with their current effort to brand lots of things in the store with the 7-Eleven name. They found that customers were looking for discounted wines at their store, and they weren’t being offered until recently.
“Value-priced wines, those under $5, have been gaining in popularity and enjoying double-digit sales growth at 7-Eleven stores as consumers continue to search for value in their purchasing decisions,” reads the press release. “By using our collective purchasing power to negotiate product exclusivity and pricing, we can meet customer demand for quality and value, as well as differentiate our brand from the competition.”
The press release goes on to talk about how delicious the wines are going to taste:
Experienced, award-winning wine-makers John Willumson and Jim McDonald were tapped for the task. The winning vintners created a Chardonnay, described as fresh and zesty with notes of apricot, peach and honey, and a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with juicy plum overtones. Both are well balanced, offered at an affordable price and can be enjoyed anytime of the year.
The wine is being released in supermarkets in Japan first, and the store expects to bring it to 2,000 of its U.S. stores by the end of next week. Hopefully The Spectator can get a sneak taste-preview of this horrendously cheap wine. Because it’s obviously not about how good it tastes, it’s clearly about getting drunk for as cheaply as possible.


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