Sweet Sales For Wine And Chocolate Weekend
YAKIMA, Wash -- The annual Red Wine and Chocolate lived up to the hype for wineries. Some business owners say they saw their best sales in years. KIMA learned wineries went into the weekend with a lot of uncertainty.
For some, nothing is sweeter than red wine and chocolate.
"We really like it,” said Brett Carr. “We've been here since Friday. We're having a good time."
For Carr, a teacher, and his wife, who works for a non-profit, life certainly got a little sweeter after the New Year.
"She's guaranteed her job at least through the end of the year so we're kind of breathing a little better right now," said Carr.
The Carrs like most people have been spending less and saving more over the past few years. Wineries have felt it. In 2010, sales were down and it got worse in 2011. Wineries didn't know what to expect this year. Poor sales last year made them worried, but some are now calling this year the best year ever.
"People that are coming out are freer with their money than they were a couple years ago," said Paul Vandenberg, owner of Paradisos.
Vandenberg has been restocking wine all weekend. He says he made more money this weekend than any other Red Wine and Chocolate event.
Some wineries saw more people, while others saw less. But, all the wineries we contacted agree those who are buying are spending more. At about $20-$40 dollars a person, sales are more than double last year.
"I know we're a little more confident now so we kind of got over the hump and so now were out doing this weekend and buying wine," said Carr.
This weekend could be the first sign of sweeter days to come.
Weather also factors into the wine event's success. Wineries say sales would have actually been stronger except that snow on the passes kept some people from making the drive.
For some, nothing is sweeter than red wine and chocolate.
"We really like it,” said Brett Carr. “We've been here since Friday. We're having a good time."
For Carr, a teacher, and his wife, who works for a non-profit, life certainly got a little sweeter after the New Year.
"She's guaranteed her job at least through the end of the year so we're kind of breathing a little better right now," said Carr.
The Carrs like most people have been spending less and saving more over the past few years. Wineries have felt it. In 2010, sales were down and it got worse in 2011. Wineries didn't know what to expect this year. Poor sales last year made them worried, but some are now calling this year the best year ever.
"People that are coming out are freer with their money than they were a couple years ago," said Paul Vandenberg, owner of Paradisos.
Vandenberg has been restocking wine all weekend. He says he made more money this weekend than any other Red Wine and Chocolate event.
Some wineries saw more people, while others saw less. But, all the wineries we contacted agree those who are buying are spending more. At about $20-$40 dollars a person, sales are more than double last year.
"I know we're a little more confident now so we kind of got over the hump and so now were out doing this weekend and buying wine," said Carr.
This weekend could be the first sign of sweeter days to come.
Weather also factors into the wine event's success. Wineries say sales would have actually been stronger except that snow on the passes kept some people from making the drive.
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