BerserkerDay 10 (as featured in Forbes!) Master Thread - MASSIVE RECORDS SET!!!

J_a_y_H_a_c_k · January 12, 2019, 3:37am

Todd: I would really love it if you could just list the wineries - no offers required - a lot in advance so I can do some research. Every year, I pick one or two wineries that I have never tasted before and I buy a couple bottles as a gesture to the newbies for not selling out to Constellation and AXA. I’d love to be able to research the candidates well in advance. There are at least three wineries that I can think of, maybe more, that I buy from and enjoy and I started by throwing them a three pack bone on Berserkerday.

There’s a reason that I wanted to post this photo this morning because of something someone said on this thread. I forget why, but I think this should win a cutest Berserker award. My cousin’s granddaughter:

T_Fletcher1 · January 12, 2019, 3:46am

BD comes a week or two after ALL THE OFFERS…every year…so get used to it…and save enough for BD because there are plenty of gems to be had.

Rich_K0rz_nk0 · January 12, 2019, 3:21pm

The upcoming BerserkerDay prompted some scary CellarTracker data crunching. I found that I purchased a total of 405 bottles from at least 35 different producers from BD V through IX. More important, though, is that after consuming 64 of those bottles I can report that I’m routinely thrilled with both the quality and value of my BD acquisitions. In some years my average price was well under $30/bottle and has never been more than $37 (and that even with some George III and Tench vineyard Cabs), so there really is something for almost any budget. Money talks, so perhaps the best proof of the quality and value is that I’ve purchased more than 200 bottles from BerserkerDay producers separate from their BD offerings, meaning that the wines are good enough to keep me coming back for more.

BerserkerDay is a wonderful day of discovery of new wines, regions, and people and for building new relationships and renewing old ones. I encourage everyone to try at least one producer that is new to them this year. You never know what new find will become an old standby that you will follow year after year.

As a BD veteran, I’ve found that the best way to manage the mayhem is to become a Grand Cru Crü member. My strategy is to use the Preview Day and Early Purchase Offers to prepare a spreadsheet outlining everything I want to buy. It is much easier to budget and plan when you can review the offers in advance instead of having to react to them as they appear (though I still haven’t figured out a way to completely avoid at least one or two impulse buys in the excitement of the actual event). Remember, these are mostly small producers, so quantities are limited and I’ve seen in recent years that some wines offered by BerserkerBusiness members get sold out to Grand Cru Crü members as Early Purchase Offers and never make it to the actual BerserkerDay event.

If you want some insight into wines being offered, the “Has Anyone Been Drinking BerserkerDay Wines Lately?” thread is a good resource, as are the forums from past years. Looking at the forums from the past few BDs will give you an idea of how things look once the dust has settled. While my past excessive exuberance means that I will be more of a spectator than a participant this year while I try to work through more of the great BD wines in my cellar to clear space for more, I’ll still be following it all day and am as giddy as a kid on Christmas Eve in anticipation of the excitement to come.

And here, friends, is what the BerserkerDay All Pro has to say. Heed his expert words.

Its spot on and great advice. I just popped a new tab in the spreadsheet for this year. The spreadsheet is also great for knowing who you paid up with and who you haven’t after the damage is done. Then it all moved to CT.

Lastly who does not love a good impulse buy, or seven.

ToddFrench · January 12, 2019, 3:50pm

Sorry, Jay - no list, for several reasons. The insanity is part of the fun, and with GCC members getting a FULL preview the day before, that should be plenty of time for a smart big-name attorney to score through the list and figure it out. Also, if I provide a list now, or even next week, it will change, as it’s constantly moving/shifting and we’re always adding at least a dozen or so last-minute entries. The list isn’t final until essentially Jan 26

Yes, cutest Berserker Award without a doubt!!!

larry_schaffer · January 12, 2019, 4:34pm

Really looking forward to taking part once again! Todd, how many more PR pieces do you expect to see out there? And where will the ‘sponsor’ pieces show up? Facebook? Here?

Cheers

Don_Maloney · January 13, 2019, 4:24am

Especially if they’re the pilots.

ToddFrench · January 13, 2019, 4:50pm

Macario_Montoya · January 14, 2019, 7:18pm

Exciting times…

Jay_Miller · January 14, 2019, 9:27pm

Any idea yet on what time the Early Purchase Offers will become available on the 26th?

I’m suddenly anxious for BDay to come around as I opened my last tin of Veleta sardines this past Saturday. Timed it almost perfectly…

ToddFrench · January 15, 2019, 12:33am

Not yet - will be announced closer to the event, via PM and post

AndrewH · January 15, 2019, 8:01pm

80% of sales?!

sdfruman · January 15, 2019, 11:00pm

The upcoming BerserkerDay prompted some scary CellarTracker data crunching. I found that I purchased a total of 405 bottles from at least 35 different producers from BD V through IX. More important, though, is that after consuming 64 of those bottles I can report that I’m routinely thrilled with both the quality and value of my BD acquisitions. In some years my average price was well under $30/bottle and has never been more than $37 (and that even with some George III and Tench vineyard Cabs), so there really is something for almost any budget. Money talks, so perhaps the best proof of the quality and value is that I’ve purchased more than 200 bottles from BerserkerDay producers separate from their BD offerings, meaning that the wines are good enough to keep me coming back for more.

BerserkerDay is a wonderful day of discovery of new wines, regions, and people and for building new relationships and renewing old ones. I encourage everyone to try at least one producer that is new to them this year. You never know what new find will become an old standby that you will follow year after year.

As a BD veteran, I’ve found that the best way to manage the mayhem is to become a Grand Cru Crü member. My strategy is to use the Preview Day and Early Purchase Offers to prepare a spreadsheet outlining everything I want to buy. It is much easier to budget and plan when you can review the offers in advance instead of having to react to them as they appear (though I still haven’t figured out a way to completely avoid at least one or two impulse buys in the excitement of the actual event). Remember, these are mostly small producers, so quantities are limited and I’ve seen in recent years that some wines offered by BerserkerBusiness members get sold out to Grand Cru Crü members as Early Purchase Offers and never make it to the actual BerserkerDay event.

If you want some insight into wines being offered, the “Has Anyone Been Drinking BerserkerDay Wines Lately?” thread is a good resource, as are the forums from past years. Looking at the forums from the past few BDs will give you an idea of how things look once the dust has settled. While my past excessive exuberance means that I will be more of a spectator than a participant this year while I try to work through more of the great BD wines in my cellar to clear space for more, I’ll still be following it all day and am as giddy as a kid on Christmas Eve in anticipation of the excitement to come.

I’m in the same boat as Mike. My wine consumption is way down (damn you RDHudak and your tequila habit), and I’m getting furniture delivered tomorrow that will hit the same billing period as BD10. That said, I’ve started opening wines that were new to me last year. I’ll also post any I’ve tried over the past year, so thanks for the link, Mike! I’m ready for the 10th anniversary craziness to begin!

Dean_Fjelstul · January 19, 2019, 4:00am

You are a very silly man and I’m not going to read your posts.

Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w · January 19, 2019, 5:32am

Or at least Uber/lyft to the airport.

James_FS · January 19, 2019, 9:32pm

This will be my first participation in BerserkerDay. That being said, I live in the murky backwater wine state of Pennsylvania. Does anyone who also resides here have any feeling for how many of these smaller producers are even able to ship here? I can’t imagine they all pony up money for the required license to do so.

Chris_G_l_a_r_n_e_r · January 19, 2019, 9:56pm

Enough of them ship to PA to make it worthwhile. However, that is the first thing I am going to look for this year in the offer posts. I spent a lot of time last year reading the offer and getting excited about the wines only to discover at the bottom of the post that they don’t ship to PA.

Dave_McIsaac · January 19, 2019, 10:38pm

What part of PA?

Dave_McIsaac · January 19, 2019, 10:39pm

I am a Pittsburgh native, and get back there with some regularity. If you get stuck on something, I can help.

Feel free to PM me.

ToddFrench · January 19, 2019, 10:42pm

Just a quick bit of info…

Many wait until the LAST MINUTE to join Grand Cru Crü, and since it is a manual process, there’s a good chance I won’t get to you the morning of Preview Day/Early Purchase Offers IF YOU WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. Annually, I get panicked emails and PMs from last minute members about how they joined but they still can’t see it. I’ll do what I can, but if you plan to participate in Preview Day/Early Purchase Offers, I suggest getting it down before the 26th, just to be sure. (this goes for BerserkerBusiness renewals, as well)

Chris_G_l_a_r_n_e_r · January 19, 2019, 11:27pm

Will do, much obliged.