Why can't we get some wines?

In previous blogs I commented on why we don't carry Missouri wines or sweet red wines. This is a strategic choice on our part.
There are, however, many wines that customers request that we would like to carry, but that are not available in Missouri or to retailers in general.
Here are some of the main reasons that we are unable to sell certain wines at The Market:

1. A Missouri distributor chooses not to carry the wine.  Missouri law states that a Missouri retailer must buy all of its wine from a Missouri distributor. So, if a Missouri distributor chooses not to buy a wine, then we can't buy it from anyone else to sell to our customers.
2. A Missouri distributor may not be able to buy certain wines. Many wineries with small productions choose the markets in which their wines are marketed. Sad but true: it's much sexier  to have your wines in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas or Chicago than little old St. Louis. 
3. Some wineries select certain wines in their portfolio to be distributed to restaurants only. Retailers typically aren't as prestigious as some of the world's best restaurants - let's face facts, we never are - so some of your "big name" wines are only targeted to restaurants.
4. Many wines that customers fall in love with over seas on vacation are not imported into the US.
5. Some wineries only sell within a limited geographic area.
6. Some wineries only sell through their own websites.
7. Some wineries only sell to their own mailing list.

We will always do our very best to fill a customer's special request - if we can legally obtain the wine ourselves. As you can see, that can sometimes be a challenge.

Tom