Should the Port trade move to six-packs?

[Roy Hersh]

Six-packs are often found with DOC Douro wines and many others around the world. In modern times (20th century forward) Port has almost always been sold in 12 bottle (750 ml) cases. Given pricing and consumer demand what it will be in the future, would you prefer the OWC's to remain 12 bottles or move to six-packs?

[Paul Fountain]

6 packs would be my preference. I've only two examples where I have more than 6 of a particular port from a particular year.
In fact I'm fairly certain I have a couple of 6 pack OWCs - a Warres and a Noval both from 2003.

[Andy Velebil]

Personally I wish all wine producers in the world would move to 6-packs. They are easier on my back to lift, easier to store, easier to move around, and if I don't want 12 bottles I still have a "case."

I would love to know at what point in time and why 12 was decided as being the "correct" number for a case?

[Eric Menchen]

I'm all for 6-packs for wine, Port in particular. I have 6 of many different things. If I could afford more, it would probably be more different sixes, not twelve of the same thing. There are a few exceptions, but for those I can buy two 6-packs.

I would love to know at what point in time and why 12 was decided as being the "correct" number for a case?

I don't know the time, but twelve is evenly divisible by 2, 3, and 4, which can be convenient. Also, a 3x4 bottle arrangement is reasonably compact compared to say 2x5. While a 2x5 might be lighter, it might also be awkward to carry.

[Jeff G.]

My local store gives me a discount on 12.

I hate having to make two trips to the cellar to bring down 2 x 6packs when I can just bring 1 x 12 pack down.

If someone wants 6 packs.. get magnums

[Moses Botbol]

Considering the price of Vintage Port, it would be a good idea. Not everyone wants or can afford to buy 12 bottle cases of vintage port at current release prices.

[Roy Hersh]

For older consumers, it might just be a change worth exploring, as I'd be far more likely to buy a young emerging vintage, say 2011 (next year), in a six-pack then any chance of buying 12 at this point in my life.

[Carl D]

In addition to Roy's excellent point, I would favor 6-packs because I believe that there is a bias among the occasional wine-buying consumer in the USA that wine that's sold in 6-bottle OWC is superior to wine sold in larger case formats. The fact that most (all?) of the high-end wines from Napa are sold in 6-bottle cases I'm sure reinforces this bias here in the US.

[Eric Menchen]

I hate having to make two trips to the cellar to bring down 2 x 6packs when I can just bring 1 x 12 pack down.

You can't stack one on top the other?

[Jeff G.]

I hate having to make two trips to the cellar to bring down 2 x 6packs when I can just bring 1 x 12 pack down.

You can't stack one on top the other?

the stability of stacking a 12 pack is distributed over a wider surface area then 2 x 6packs on top of each other. I've fallen down my stairs to the basement cuz I couldnt' see over the 2 stacks of a 6 pack (and there's a hole in the wall that I put my foot through) but i haven't had the problem yet with a 12 pack.

Regardless, this begs the question, why not just sell it in 3x pack cases instead?

I believe most people are asking this question because they want that cute wooden box that the port comes in?

For me these owc gets unruly and I use most of them either as storage for things like shoes or toys or i burn them when the weather gets cold.
Also when you decide to actually drink the wine, your case is no longer full and the case now becomes an efficient waste of space unless you're replacing the bottle you drank.

otherwise, the answer is simple, if you can afford 3, you buy 3, if you can afford 6, you buy 6.

Most wine stores only give the full case discount if you buy 12 regardless of price.

[Al B.]

I don't remember the last time I bought a new release in anything other than a 6 pack - and by new release I mean newly shipped out from Portugal, not just the most recent vintage. I like them because I can buy a "case" of a dozen bottles, have them all stored in bond but only withdraw 6 when I want to drink that particular port. This halves the pressure on my space at home. I only have to find the space for 5 extra bottles, not 11.

I 've got 6 packs going back to the '77 vintage.

[Ronald Wortel]

We don't see anything other than sixpacks on the Dutch markets. I don't think the 12 bottle cases are even sold there anymore.

[Eric Menchen]

I do still see some twelves around here. I have a 12-pack OWC of Noval. Now I don't have 12 of the same thing in it. I bought 6 of the 2007 Quinta do Noval, and 6 of the 2007 Quinta do Noval Silval. The local store will give me the OWC if I buy enough similar things to fill it.

[Roel B]

We don't see anything other than sixpacks on the Dutch markets. I don't think the 12 bottle cases are even sold there anymore.

12 bottle cases are still quite widespread on our side of the channel. Especially when ordering new vintages.
For Port, but also for example for Bordeaux. I was just happening to look through the Bordeaux 2011 pre-order
lists today, and all chateau's are still offering 12-bottle cases.

Also, for the most recent (2009) Vintage Port's, a number of houses had 12-bottle cases listed as packaging
unit on the pre-order lists at my local supplier. I only bought a (6 bottle) case of Niepoort in pre-order this
year, but afaik 12 bottle cases are still the norm for most other houses.

Roel.

[Andy Velebil]

We don't see anything other than sixpacks on the Dutch markets. I don't think the 12 bottle cases are even sold there anymore.

12 bottle cases are still quite widespread on our side of the channel. Especially when ordering new vintages.
For Port, but also for example for Bordeaux. I was just happening to look through the Bordeaux 2011 pre-order
lists today, and all chateau's are still offering 12-bottle cases.

Also, for the most recent (2009) Vintage Port's, a number of houses had 12-bottle cases listed as packaging
unit on the pre-order lists at my local supplier. I only bought a (6 bottle) case of Niepoort in pre-order this
year, but afaik 12 bottle cases are still the norm for most other houses.

Roel.

Roel,

Are you seeing more and more 6-packs now, as compared to previous years?

And to the forum, glad you've joined us!

[Marc J.]

I'd be much more likely to pull the trigger on a 6-pack case than a 12. Six is a much more manageable volume and I also find it much easier to move around the cellar. Sure the 12-pack wooden cases are very cool, but they are also very heavy and cumbersome. My vote is for 6-pack cases...

[Roy Hersh]

Let's hope the Port trade is reading.

Roy

[Eric Menchen]

Checking my purchase notes, I've purchased 6-packs eleven times, a full case once. There were a few purchases at auction in between (8, 9, and 10).

[Roy Hersh]

So far, I've yet to read a single good reason why beyond tradition, that six packs would not be a better option for the consumer than 12 packs of Port.

I wonder if the freight cost differential would be substantial?

However, IF the move to six packs would result in a net increase in Port sales "by the case" ... I just don't see any downside. This from a person that has never bought Port in six packs, outside of Vesuvio and always has loved the old OWC for Port. But I am trying to look at the bigger picture ... which is the likelihood of increasing Port sales. Here we have some serious Port collectors, with all but one individual who would prefer six packs ... and this from the "target market."

[Andy Velebil]

I wonder if the freight cost differential would be substantial?

Since they're generally shipping by the palate, shipping costs is pretty much a wash. Though maybe very slightly more due to the increase weight in packaging. The biggest cost issue would be packaging. A shipper would need twice the containers for the same amount of bottles. And while the containers would be smaller and cheaper to begin with, IIRC the cost for a 6 pack box vs. a 12 pack box is not 1/2 the price of the other one.