Yes, clearly the content of the flights matter in that they have to be interesting. Changing the flights periodically can also keep it interesting for the return visitor.

Regarding the choices in the poll, I generally try to present extreme choices and leave the comments open for any nuance.

Jack, while I appreciate your desire to participate in the DrVino.com community, many — close to all — of your comments have a decidedly negative tone. This latest exchange generated several e-mails (”Yay for Phil!”). While I don’t censor comments, I have to wonder why you’re so consistently negative. I hope you’ll offer more positive–or at least balanced and pleasant–commentary in the future.

Your reply to my comment was far more thoughtful than your original comment, and I applaud that.

I note that you shift the discussion: from wine flights available for purchase in wine bars to wine flights available (or not) in RESTAURANTS. Like I said earlier, flights at a restaurant are a stunt. I agree wholeheartedly that ordering a flight at a restaurant is silly. If I want wine that matches my food, one wine will do. (Or one wine per course, if you’re going that route.) But not a flight.

A bar is different, though. I like the idea of tasting a range of wines without committing to a full glass.

The problem I see with wine bars (in general, and not just re: flights) is that many wines are just not meant to be had on their own. They’re best with food, and the wine bar doesn’t usually offer much in the way of food pairings. So the experience ends up being sub-par, since it’s not being enjoyed in the ideal context — flight or not.

I also agree with your comments re: the pricing of flights. Wines by the glass are expensive enough. Flights are even worse!

I disagree with your argument that flights are dumb and should be replaced by classes. I think there are many ways to learn about wine. Don’t get me wrong, I see the value in classes, though I have never taken a class. I don’t begrudge those who do, and I’m sure that Dr. Vino’s classes, which you mention, are superb. But different learning styles suit different people, and flights may be part of that mix. Why are you so absolute about everything? (FWIW, I learned what I know from a few books, and from many bottles.)

Finally, I disagree with your depiction of the American consumer. Sure, there are some people whose idea of fine dining is Cheesecake Factory, but there are others who are as adventurous as can be. The US is amazingly diverse, and I would argue that the dining variety — and flexibility — is one of the greatest things about our multifaceted culture. And big cities — Tyler’s potentially myopic New York-centrism aside — are the epicenter of adventurous dining and drinking.

Flights have their place. GOOD flights even more so. And good, REASONABLY PRICED flights? Bring ‘em on. I only hope you won’t require any statistics for me to make that claim.

EvWg

But, when you’re at a restaurant, you generally want wine that goes with your food, right? I mean, I’m not making a stretch there, right? Okay, so how does a flight of disparate rieslings match my food? One/some will/might match, but not all. Dry rieslings most often pair with different foods than Off-dry rieslings. So the flight only partially works with the food; hence, a savvy diner won’t order a flight the next time. This eventually leads to flights being dropped from this restaurant’s list. And, dare I say, answers Tyler’s question!

Phil, I’m not saying that there aren’t those who want to try adventurous flights of riesling (such as people who read wine blogs)…but is the typical diner/wine bar visitor wanting that? I just don’t think so; people (in the US) are very unadventurous when it comes to what they put into their mouth. Perhaps, too, they think they won’t like 1 or 2 glasses in the flight, so why order the flight? Most can’t bear to order something, not like it, and then still not drink it; so just don’t order it. Once they have a bad experience, they may never order a flight again.

Another poll answer missing is: Flights cost too much. Again, if a flight costs $25, and you might only like 2 of the 3 wines in the flight, why not just order a glass of each of those instead? Ah-hah.

Another Poll answer missing is: Wines Not So Good. Perhaps the flights just aren’t appealing enough to the customers who are disposed to order a flight?

Oh, and Tyler is telling us his perception (rather than citing statistics) that wine flights are not doing well at NYC wine bars, correct? But, it does seem that wine bars are thriving much more now than they were 20 years ago in NYC. Back then, it was the Soho Kitchen & Bar that was the spot; and a few others not-so-grand. Now…wow!

I completely disagree with Jack. If I were starting out as a wine drinker, and I wanted to learn about riesling, damn straight I’d want to taste how an Australian, Washington, and German riesling compare. Now, at this stage in my wine-drinking life, I doubt I’d order that. But 10 years ago? Sure! Now, how large is the market for such tastings? That’s the real question…

And another comment for Jack: Get off your high horse, buddy. Not only are your views on wine woefully arrogant, but your editorial comments are equally so. Open up the EditingDrVino.com message boards if you feel so passionately about a freakin’ blog post’s organizational consistency. If there were an “ignore commenter” option on this blog, I’d click it for you.

Cheers, Boyce

“Have your say in the latest poll!” and then, only two choices for the poll? Tyler, I think those are your choices, not mine. Or was this poll generated by the Republicans For Safer Flights in Wine Bars?

Hmmm…thinking further, I don’t see how the poll question relates to the title of the post, except, in a very obscure way.

Example, do I really want a Wash. Riesling, a German Riesling and an Australian Riesling as a flight? No, these wines are quite dissimilar, and serve no purpose of being in a flight unless you’ve never ever had a German Riesling (or whatever). How often do you see a flight where comparison can be meaningful, such as flight of 2001 German Spatleses?

But what do I know.

Of course, we don’t have many places here in Philadelphia that offer them.