Ed C.
Yelp
We visited Saint Croix (SC) today after hearing much about it, and being wine lovers, like supporting Minnesota's growing wine industry. Not strangers to vineyards, we've been to the Central Coast, Napa, and Willamette Valley several times, as well as many very nice vineyards here in the midwest. We found the tasting process at SC to be both inflexible and overpriced, and the service terrible -- even though my wife and I were the only party in the tasting room.
There are two options for tasting at SC. The first is a flight of four 2 ounce samples. You can get a flight of white only, red only, or ports. When I asked if we could choose what we wanted in a flight the server very matter of factly informed us, "The menu is set." Period. Other vineyards either let you choose what you want to sample or at least have a mix of types in a preset flight so that you are not forced to purchase multiple flights to have more than one type of wine.
A flight at SC, regardless of type, is $14. So, if you want to sample at least a red and a white from this vineyard it's going to run you $28 before you buy any bottle. You can buy a glass for $8. We didn't choose to do a glass because we wanted to see what the varieties were like at this vineyard. We chose to start with a white flight and I asked the server to start a tab, anticipating that we'd like to sample more than just a white. We liked one of the four and were planning to buy a bottle and proceed to the red or port flight. When I asked if you received any credit back on the $14 flight if you bought a bottle, our server responded with a flat, "Nope."
That was the last straw. First, I felt that the inflexible flights were a transparent gimmick to make excessive profit from a tasting. If I would have bought that one bottle of white in effect I would have paid $14 + $17 or about $31 for a bottle of wine equivalent in quality to a well chosen $9 bottle of wine at any liquor store. Normally, I'd happily pay $17 for a bottle to support a local vineyard, but not when I'm being soaked for tasting wines most of which were very unremarkable. I've normally paid far less for a tasting, had more flexibility in choosing what I wanted to taste, and received far better service than I received at Saint Croix. I would have likely bought at least a couple of bottles on my visit if SC wasn't so aggressive in making money off of tasting regardless of whether or not a bottle was bought. For example, Villa Bellleza vineyard in Pepin, which is far nicer than SC charges $5 for tasting of three wines of your choice. Tasting for TWO is complimentary with the purchase of four bottles. Other local vineyards, like Danzinger in Alma, Wisconsin offer more flexibility and/or discounts when you purchase a bottle. They will also treat you a lot better.
Minnesota and Wisconsin vineyards need our support, however, Saint Croix has forfeited my support because of their poor service, inflexible and expensive tasting. Go to one of the many other vineyards in Minnesota and Wisconsin that will welcome you with enthusiasm for their wine and the desire to encourage you to buy it without taking advantage of your interest.