HBO Wine - Free for Who?
Friday, January 12, 2007 10:28The first report about the HBO Wine Giveaway has rolled in. Commenter Brad tells us:
I got the half bottle at the Stinking Rose last night. There where no cards on the table, I had to ask for the wine, the sever wanted to know how I knew about it. From the looks of it they where only giving it out to select people. We only saw one other couple the whole night get one, there must have been 10 tables that we saw leave without one. I wonder what the profile is on who they give it to? You are not allowed to drink the wine at the resturant.
First of all, GO BRAD! Good for you for having the gumption to ask for the promo. Second, I wonder what the giveaway criteria is for the vino, who do they offer it to?. Third, lame that you can’t drink the wine at the restaurant, my apologies to anyone who thought they were getting free wine with dinner.
Now I’m curious, what are the rules of the giveaway? Is it like McDonald’s Monopoly game? Can I write my name and address on a 3×5 inch index card and get a bottle in the mail? You can ship wine in California right?
Hmm, a little more digging finds this article which explains that:
HBO, a premium TV network, is targeting 21- to 55-year-olds with high incomes through the promotion.
Interesting. If you want to ensure yourself a half bottle, perhaps you should bring along a paystub and recent credit report. Or tip the valet and have him tell the waiter that you pulled up in the Black Austin Martin outside.
“In all, 11,460 bottles will be handed out.”
If you want to go try out your own luck, Eater LA does have a list of the participating restaurants, however I don’t know where they got it or how accurate it is, use at your own risk. Don’t drink and drive. Don’t reuse the list without implied oral consent.
By Jonah (see more of his posts). Jonah is the founder of la.foodblogging and also created Digesty, a food blog aggregator and Cheww.com, a spam free foodblog search engine.
meg says:
January 12th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Yeah, go Brad!
Looking over the list of participating restaurants, they can’t be all that serious about the “high income” — most of those places are solidly mid-range, at least by LA standards. Come to think of it, I’m not wild about any of the ones I’ve been to… Maybe they’re looking for 21-to-55-year-olds who blow their Jacksons on restaurants of poor value? Cue the *Rome* jokes…
Lesley says:
January 12th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Hey there: Thanks for linking to us linking to you… I got the list of restaurants from the publicist. A quick google search had another article about the promotion, which quoted the marketing/PR company behind it. I sent them a quick note and Viola! list.
Kevin says:
January 13th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
HBO should ask for their wine back from Palermo!!!
I just returned from Palermo’s in Los Feliz with a group of friends. We went there after reading about the HBO vino promo. After we were seated, we inquired about the HBO offer. Our server knew nothing about it. We inquired with another worker at the restaurant, and they too shrugged their shoulders and stared blankly. This had our curiosity peaked so we made it our mission to find someone in the establishment who was aware of their advertised participation. Finally, somebody came back to our table and said, “You know we don’t normally sell half bottles of wine but I inquired after you asked. Funny thing is that we now do have some half bottles of BV wine and they are available for $2.50.”
She showed us a bottle and it was marked “HBO-Rome” and the airdate of the show. Times must be tough for Palermo. I guess that massive crowd waiting out front doesn’t pay their rent anymore so they charge for the complimentary bottles of wine.
Peter says:
January 15th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Last night I was at Louise’s Trattoria in Westlake Village and saw the bottle at my table. I asked the server and she said the bottle cost $7.
I told about the promotion, but she knew nothing about it.
Jonah says:
January 15th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
I’m sensing that this promotion may have gone awry. Perhaps there needs to be an investigative HBO documentary to get to the bottom of this. They can promote that documentary with more wine…that will never be given away.
sam says:
January 17th, 2007 at 12:01 am
you know if you’re looking for 21-55 year olds with high income going for free wine eating at those restaurants….
7 dollar half bottles of wine aren’t going to cut it.