Dec. 22, 2003

Total Votes: 616

Average price for one bottle

Under $5 12 (1%)
$5-$10 138 (22%)
$10-$15 250 (40%)
$15-$20 95 (15%)
$20-$25 54 (8%)
$25-$30 29 (4%)
$30-$40 15 (2%)
$40-$50 8 (1%)
More than $50 15 (2%)

Dec. 1, 2003

Total Votes: 674

I spend most of my wine-related time on the Internet:

Learning about wine in general 128 (18%)
Keeping up with wine news 82 (12%)
Getting answers to specific wine questions 31 (4%)
Reading individual wine-tasting notes 104 (15%)
Reading producer's tasting notes 10 (1%)
Reading retailer or importer's tasting notes 5 (0%)
Looking up food-wine matching advice 23 (3%)
Reading online editions of wine magazines 47 (6%)
Reading wine discussion forums 96 (14%)
Visiting online wine chat rooms 2 (0%)
Finding or arranging local wine gatherings 6 (0%)
Seeking wine-buying advice 43 (6%)
Checking value of collectible wines 4 (0%)
Price-comparison shopping 35 (5%)
Seeking hard-to-find wines 7 (1%)
Buying wine at retail 18 (2%)
Buying wine at auction 4 (0%)
Selling wine 3 (0%)
Planning wine travel 10 (1%)
Contacting wine producers 5 (0%)
Other (fill-in) 11 (1%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

Nov. 17, 2003

Total Votes: 490

The wine bottles that irritate me most are:

Too tall 96 (19%)
Too fat 141 (28%)
Too heavy 11 (2%)
Too squat 9 (1%)
Unbalanced 20 (4%)
Oddly shaped 61 (12%)
Fancy cut glass 2 (0%)
Label painted on 6 (1%)
Blue or other odd color 31 (6%)
Flat bottom (no "punt") 6 (1%)
Deep "punt" 1 (0%)
Not big enough 2 (0%)
Bottles don't irritate me 63 (12%)
Other (fill-in) 41 (8%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

Oct. 27, 2003

Total Votes: 1138

Choose your capsule

BEST: Dipped in sealing wax 38 (3%)
BEST: Hard metal 39 (3%)
BEST: Thin foil 245 (21%)
BEST: Heavy plastic 23 (2%)
BEST: Transparent plastic 28 (2%)
BEST: Topped with a wax disk 50 (4%)
BEST: Topped with a paper circle 22 (1%)
BEST: Bare naked bottle 85 (7%)
BEST: Bring back lead! 66 (5%)
WORST: Dipped in sealing wax 120 (10%)
WORST: Hard metal 46 (4%)
WORST: Thin foil 10 (0%)
WORST: Heavy plastic 79 (6%)
WORST: Transparent plastic 22 (1%)
WORST: Topped with a wax disk 89 (7%)
WORST: Topped with a paper circle 14 (1%)
WORST: Bare naked bottle 62 (5%)
WORST: Bring back lead! 82 (7%)
Don't know 5 (0%)
Don't care 13 (1%)

Oct. 13, 2003

Total Votes: 439

My favorite wine opener is ...

T-type 6 (1%)
Waiter's style 123 (28%)
Two-step waiter's style 78 (17%)
Two-winged puller 32 (7%)
Two-prong type (Ah So) 24 (5%)
Pocket ScrewPull 48 (10%)
Hand lever 70 (15%)
Table-mounted 8 (1%)
Air injector 4 (0%)
My hands (on a screw cap) 20 (4%)
Other (fill-in) 26 (5%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

Sept. 15, 2003

Total Votes: 398

Is red wine seasonal?

Yes: I drink more red wine in cooler months 169 (42%)
Yes: I drink less red wine in cooler months 9 (2%)
No: My preferences stay the same all year 71 (17%)
No: I drink only red wine all year 21 (5%)
No: I drink mostly red wine all year 100 (25%)
No: I drink mostly white wine all year 4 (1%)
Other (fill-in) 24 (6%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

Sept. 1, 2003

Total Votes: 306

What first prompted you to delve into the wine world?

I was brought up with wine 36 (11%)
Friend or business acquaintance 56 (18%)
Spouse or partner 18 (5%)
Newspaper article about wine 7 (2%)
Book about wine 11 (3%)
Ran across a wine that really caught my attention 22 (7%)
Organized wine tasting 8 (2%)
Restaurant experience 23 (7%)
Wine merchant 5 (1%)
Wine-tasting course 11 (3%)
Lecture or presentation 2 (0%)
Winery or vineyard tour 16 (5%)
Wine-country visit 19 (6%)
Other (fill-in) 72 (23%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

Aug. 19, 2003

Total Votes: 309

I will most likely go to a wine tasting when:

Local wine shop has a free tasting 37 (11%)
Wine shop tasting with admission fee 23 (7%)
Paid tasting with a charitable beneficiary 11 (3%)
Restaurant has a wine tasting with a dinner 17 (5%)
Tasting is focused on a specific winery or theme 41 (13%)
A wine maker or dignitary is presenting his wines 9 (2%)
Major tasting event like the Boston Wine Expo, VinItaly, etc. 21 (6%)
Only when visiting wineries 27 (8%)
Only socially, if I know friends will be at a tasting 4 (1%)
I go to every tasting I can 81 (26%)
I don't go to tastings 4 (1%)
I would like to, but have no access to tastings 9 (2%)
Other (fill-in) 25 (8%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

Aug. 4, 2003

Total Votes: 312

What's your choice with hot-and-spicy fare?

Riesling 58 (18%)
Gewürztraminer 58 (18%)
Chenin Blanc 7 (2%)
Grüner Veltliner 2 (0%)
Sauvignon Blanc 8 (2%)
Champagne 10 (3%)
Other fizzy whites 8 (2%)
Sparkling Shiraz 1 (0%)
Beaujolais 3 (0%)
Merlot 2 (0%)
Syrah/Shiraz 13 (4%)
Petite Sirah 1 (0%)
Zinfandel 18 (5%)
Beer 61 (19%)
Milk or other dairy drink 1 (0%)
Indian lassi or other ethnic drink 6 (1%)
Iced tea 8 (2%)
Carbonated soft drink 5 (1%)
Fruit juice 1 (0%)
Don't know 1 (0%)
I don't eat fiery fare 2 (0%)
Other (fill-in) 38 (12%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

July 21, 2003

Total Votes: 1307

Will you buy wine on the Internet?

Will: Easy to compare prices 141 (10%)
Will: Wide variety of wine choices 279 (21%)
Will: Wide variety of vendors 64 (4%)
Will: Can get wines not locally available 300 (22%)
Will: Less expensive, even with shipping 67 (5%)
Will: I don't have to pay tax on online wine 20 (1%)
Will: No good retailers in my area 29 (2%)
Will: I can't easily get out to local shops 9 (0%)
Will: Convenience of home delivery 75 (5%)
Will: Because it's so easy! 71 (5%)
Won't: Don't like one-case minimum purchase 23 (1%)
Won't: Not convenient to take delivery 16 (1%)
Won't: Prefer to support local retailer 31 (2%)
Won't: Like to look at the bottle before I buy 15 (1%)
Won't: Like to get merchant's advice 16 (1%)
Won't: Cost of shipping wipes out savings 28 (2%)
Won't: Local/state law does not permit it 45 (3%)
Won't: Don't like using credit card online 4 (0%)
Won't: Concerned about damage in shipment 23 (1%)
Won't: Uneasy about returns, customer service 13 (0%)
Don't know 3 (0%)
Other (fill-in) 35 (2%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

July 7, 2003

Total Votes: 696

How do you store your wine?

Simple wine rack 123 (17%)
Uninsulated closet 66 (9%)
Insulated closet 19 (2%)
Converted refrigerator 16 (2%)
Free-standing cellar unit 168 (24%)
Built-in "passive" cellar 106 (15%)
Built-in temperature-controlled cellar 85 (12%)
I store at a friend's place 2 (0%)
Professional storage 32 (4%)
Other (fill-in) 75 (10%)
I don't cellar wine 4 (0%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

June 26, 2003

Total Votes: 421

Drinking and driving: How much is too much?

0.00% (zero tolerance) 32 (7%)
less than 0.05% 20 (4%)
0.05% 69 (16%)
0.08% 115 (27%)
0.1% 143 (33%)
0.15% 26 (6%)
No set limit 16 (3%)

June 9, 2003

Total Votes: 666

Most you have ever spent for wine?

Under $15 8 (1%)
$15-25 32 (4%)
$25-45 82 (12%)
$45-65 93 (13%)
$65-90 101 (15%)
$90-125 86 (12%)
$125-175 84 (12%)
$175-250 63 (9%)
$250-350 48 (7%)
$350-500 23 (3%)
$500-$750 20 (3%)
$750-1,250 15 (2%)
$1,250-2,000 1 (0%)
$2,000-$3,000 3 (0%)
$3,000-$4,000 2 (0%)
$4,000 or more 5 (0%)

May 23, 2003

Total Votes: 1901

If I could be 'Winemaker for a Day' I would:

Make wines more sweet 29 (1%)
Make wines less sweet 81 (4%)
Make wines with more oak 59 (3%)
Make wines with less oak 187 (9%)
Make wines with more acidity 80 (4%)
Make wines with less acidity 51 (2%)
Make wines from traditional blends of grapes 127 (6%)
Make wines from innovative blends of grapes 186 (9%)
Make more varietal labeled wines 69 (3%)
Make fewer varietal labeled wines 44 (2%)
Make wines that are ready to drink 130 (6%)
Make wines that benefit from cellaring 134 (7%)
Make wines with softer tannins 104 (5%)
Make wines with more character 259 (13%)
Make food-friendly wines 198 (10%)
Make big, blockbuster wines 78 (4%)
Make wines to please the critics 5 (0%)
Make wines that the critics will hate 17 (0%)
Other (fill-in) 63 (3%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

May 5, 2003

Total Votes: 612

What wine goes best with barbecue?

Zinfandel 202 (33%)
Syrah, Shiraz or Petite Sirah 118 (19%)
Red Rhone blends 44 (7%)
Merlot 29 (4%)
Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends 37 (6%)
Sangiovese and Chianti blends 17 (2%)
Gewurztraminer 6 (0%)
White ... any white 11 (1%)
Dry Rosé 15 (2%)
White Zinfandel 8 (1%)
Cheap bubbly 3 (0%)
Expensive bubbly 3 (0%)
Beer, of course! 56 (9%)
Sweet iced tea 5 (0%)
Unsweet iced tea 3 (0%)
Other (fill-in) 55 (8%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

April 21, 2003

Total Votes: 757

Smoking in restaurants: What do you think?

Ban it completely! 491 (64%)
Separate rooms for smokers 200 (26%)
Separate section, same room 46 (6%)
No need for separation 16 (2%)
Don't care 4 (0%)

April 14, 2003

Total Votes: 157

Most unusual wine smell?

Here's mine! (fill-in) 157 (100%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

March 31, 2003

Total Votes: 422

How far would you go to get a special bottle of wine?

I'd drive to the next nearest city 66 (15%)
I'd drive, say, 200 miles 59 (13%)
I'd fly across the country 8 (1%)
I'd fly to another country 18 (4%)
I'd pay a premium at a rare-wine shop 47 (11%)
I'd pay a premium at auction 12 (2%)
I'd have it shipped, legal or not 79 (18%)
I can get everything I want locally 47 (11%)
I don't go to wine, wine comes to me! 22 (5%)
No wine is worth that much effort 25 (5%)
Other (fill-in) 39 (9%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

March 17, 2003

Total Votes: 2574

I love wine because ...

I love the taste 545 (21%)
It makes me feel good 148 (5%)
It makes me feel sophisticated 37 (1%)
It's good for my health 160 (6%)
It's more fun than lemonade 38 (1%)
It tastes good with food 186 (7%)
It enhances the entire dining experience 487 (18%)
It relaxes me 188 (7%)
It makes me feel less inhibited 17 (0%)
It makes me a 'babe magnet' 2 (0%)
It attracts guys 1 (0%)
It's fascinating to think and talk about 229 (8%)
It's fascinating to study in great depth 175 (6%)
It makes me feel connected to other cultures 79 (3%)
I enjoy wine-related travel 80 (3%)
I like to collect wine 69 (2%)
I make a living from it 32 (1%)
Other (fill-in) 101 (3%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

March 1, 2003

Total Votes: 504

What was your biggest wine-buying mistake?

Bought wine based on bad advice from retailer 36 (7%)
Bought wine based on bad advice from critics 31 (6%)
Bought wine based on bad advice from friends 2 (0%)
Bought wine while overly enthusiastic during winery visit 63 (12%)
Bought highly rated wines that didn't age well 16 (3%)
Bought more drink-now wines than I can drink now 38 (7%)
Bought cheap wines that didn't hold up 22 (4%)
Bought over-oaked wines 23 (4%)
Bought big wines that don't go with food 6 (1%)
Didn't buy "better" wines when they were still affordable 84 (16%)
Spent too much on "better" wines 24 (4%)
Bought so much mailing-list wine that I couldn't afford other wine 5 (0%)
Bought wines that I thought I liked ... then my tastes changed 40 (7%)
Bought more wine than I will live long enough to drink 17 (3%)
Mistakes? I never make mistakes! 18 (3%)
Other (fill-in) 79 (15%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

Feb. 21, 2003

Total Votes: 1283

Are you buying French wine these days?

Yes, and I live in the U.S. 665 (52%)
No, and I live in the U.S. 305 (24%)
I don't care, and I live in the U.S. 82 (6%)
Yes, and I live outside the U.S. 203 (16%)
No, and I live outside the U.S. 17 (1%)
I don't care, and I live outside the U.S. 11 (1%)

(NOTE: A relatively small number of multiple votes apparently aimed at skewing the results, revealed by duplicate Host IP numbers, were deleted during the course of this poll, which ran from Feb. 21 through March 1, 2003. For the record, a total of about 100 fradulent votes appeared to be cast by only two individuals, all of them for the choice "No, and I live in the U.S." The host IP numbers involved have been recorded.)

Feb. 10, 2002

Total Votes: 908

What's the worst wine myth?

The more wine costs, the better it is 258 (28%)
Old vines make better wines 11 (1%)
Sulfites are unhealthy for everyone 26 (2%)
Filtration is bad for wine 6 (0%)
Natural cork is the only good wine closure 54 (5%)
Screwcaps are the sign of cheap wine 23 (2%)
Europe makes the best wine in the world 55 (6%)
You can tell a good bottle by smelling the cork 46 (5%)
Wine critics are always objective 35 (3%)
Only experts understand wine 48 (5%)
Zinfandel is a pink wine 44 (4%)
Wine labeled "Reserve" is the best 16 (1%)
Wine must be stored at 55F (13C) 3 (0%)
Wine storage temperature doesn't matter 7 (0%)
Old wine is better than young wine 53 (5%)
Old wines are always valuable 12 (1%)
White wines don't age 10 (1%)
Always decant wine 10 (1%)
"Legs" on the glass indicate quality 18 (1%)
Never serve red wine with fish or white wine with meat 94 (10%)
Never serve reds chilled or whites at room temperature 24 (2%)
Other (fill-in) 55 (6%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

Jan. 20, 2003

Total Votes: 517

Favorite professional wine writer

Gerald Asher 10 (1%)
Dan Berger 9 (1%)
Michael Broadbent 13 (2%)
Oz Clarke 17 (3%)
Clive Coates 11 (2%)
Dorothy J. Gaiter & John Brecher 24 (4%)
James Halliday 12 (2%)
Huon Hooke 1 (0%)
Andrea Immer 37 (7%)
Hugh Johnson 25 (4%)
Claude Kolm 7 (1%)
Matt Kramer 33 (6%)
James Laube 12 (2%)
Karen MacNeil 8 (1%)
Allen "Burghound" Meadows 13 (2%)
Robert M. Parker Jr. 69 (13%)
Frank Prial 7 (1%)
Jancis Robinson 48 (9%)
Tom Stevenson 7 (1%)
Stephen Tanzer 14 (2%)
Can't decide on just one 23 (4%)
None 9 (1%)
Other (fill-in) 108 (20%)

Here are the fill-in votes:

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