Tag Archives: drc

The end of an era?

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For years the Burgundslipp has been for the wineloving wine nerds. But the past years it’s gone down a different path. The first time I joined the queue back in 2019, the front runners were genuine wine lovers, with a keen interest in wine, especially wines from Burgundy. I remember sitting around, listening to them talk about things like the different vintages, terroir and producers. I was impressed with their passion and their knowledge, and was thankful to be included in those conversations and happy to be part of the queue.

For those who have no idea what I am talking about, here’s a quick summary: I might have to explain what the Burgundslipp actually is. Which is not an easy task. Because this phenomenon only happens in Norway, and if we’re really being honest, it’s concentrated around Aker Brygge in Oslo. Here are the broad strokes: on a Thursday in early February at 10 am, the doors open at 12 different Vinmonopol in Norway. And inside, there are hundreds (thousands?) of rare wines from Burgundy. But they are not only rare; they are quite cheap, relatively speaking. And so once a year, it’s possible to get your hands on rare, expensive wines for a fraction of the price of anywhere else in the world. 

The end of an era? 

When I first joined the queue in 2019, I joined the ranks of fellow wine lovers, and enjoyed countless conversations on the topic of Burgundy. Sometimes I even got to talk about Piemonte, but regardless, the topic was wine. We might have even shared a bottle or two. Maybe.  

Today, the queue is a whole other story. The previous front runners have been replaced with bottle flippers, who display little to no interest in wine. The ROI is so high that the temptation to spend 4-6  weeks out on the street in Norway in February in order to make a buck or two has changed the Burgundslipp queue. And it’s changed for the worse. 

It’s sad that so many of the bottles intended for the Norwegian market leave the country almost instantly. The majority of the DRC bottles that have been released in Norway are probably already scattered across the world. It’s sad that the majority of the people in the queue have little to no interest in wine. It’s sad that it’s become a business operation that prevents wine lovers from getting their hands on wine they otherwise might not be able to afford.

Now, let me get ahead of a few things

I want to be very clear: I’m not saying that no one ever sold any of the wines for profit before. That’s most likely been going on for years. The difference between then and now, is that there was a majority of genuine wine enthusiasts before. And the people at the front of the line also bought wines for themselves, that they would enjoy drinking later. In other words, they sold some of the more expensive bottles in order to fund their wine interest.

I also want to acknowledge that I understand the temptation to turn the Burgundy release into a profitable operation. I mean, it is tempting to be able to earn some (read A LOT) money without really doing anything, except sitting in a tent in the freezing Norwegian winter. If you take away the fact that it’s wine they are flipping, it’s really just another way to make money. I’m just sad that it’s happening to the Burgundslipp. 

Burgundslipp 2024 – disappointing  

Every year, the list of which wines will be available Thursday morning, is released the Friday before. And just like the previous years, I impatiently refreshed my browser. I was especially eager this year because Merete Bø had already revealed that Domaine Leflaive wouldn’t be on the list for the first time. So I wondered what else might be left off the list this year. And in the end, the selection of wines being released was extremely disappointing.  

Where was Liger-Belair? Or Angerville? Michel Lafarge? Maison AS? Cassiopee? Or countless other wines from producers far better than several on the Burgundslipp list. It was almost as disappointing as the Piemonte release. If it keeps going like this, pretty soon the only wines «worth» queuing for will be gone, and then what’s the point? I mean, if you’re not in it only for the money.  

Burgundslipp 2025 – even more disappointing 

Friday January 31st, 6 days before the release, and the list is uploaded. The people who had been queuing since December 28th (yes, you read that correctly) were happy because as per usual, there were 2 RC and 1 Montrachet. So they were set. But what about everyone else? I do really believe that we are headed towards the end of an era, because the selection of wines were disappointing. Wines that should have been under allocation wasn’t and wine that was allocated shouldn’t even have been on the list in the first place. And once again, a ton of wines were left off the release completely. Like Leflaive.  

What next? 

I get it. I get why the importer left Leflaive off of the list again. Because when the importer sells directly to private customers through Spesialbestilling, they are able to ensure that the majority ends up in the hands of people who will actually drink it and they are able to spread the allocation across a lager group of people.It’s not a perfect system, and I don’t think we will ever really find a perfect system where everyone is happy. But I do think the importers have the opportunity to make it more fair. And some have already started.  

The end? 

You’re still here? I am too. Every year I think long and hard about whether this Burgundslipp will be my last. Because I do feel a bit hypocritical participating in this circus. There are so many other good wines available in Norway that, for some reason, don’t make the cut. But there are still a couple of wonderful aspects about the Burgundslipp that I enjoy that I am not quite ready to let go. Like camping outside. Or drinking wine with fellow wine lovers. And getting my hands on a bottle or two that I likely wouldn’t get otherwise. Besides, as one of the very few women who partake in this, it would be shame to weaken that statistic. Can’t let the men have all the fun.  

Burgundslipp 2023

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It’s finally that time of year again: Burgundslipp! I don’t think anyone could have predicted that a global pandemic would postpone the Burgundslipp for 2 years. And when it’s finally back on again, something unexpected happened.

But before we get into that, I might have to explain what the Burgundslipp is. Which is not an easy task. Because this phenomenon only happens in Norway, and if we’re really being honest, it’s concentrated around Aker Brygge in Oslo. Here are the broad strokes: February 9th, at 10 am, the doors open at Vinmonopolet Aker Brygge. And inside, there are hundreds of rare wines from Burgundy. But they are not only rare; they are quite cheap, relatively speaking. And so once a year, it’s possible to get your hands on rare, expensive wines for a fraction of the price of anywhere else in the world.

But there’s a catch. You have to get in line. They let people into the store, one at a time, in order of appearance in the queue. And although the wines scattered around on the floor might be attainable for person number 57, it’s the wine behind the counter that’s got people lining up days, or even weeks in advance. And yes, it’s February in Norway. And yes, it’s cold. And yes, they live outside, at Aker Brygge, for days or weeks at a time, waiting for those doors to open. And, yes, it’s quite crazy. I’ve answered some questions about this before, like why do it and do they keep or sell the wine. But for now, let’s get back to this year’s curveball!

Burgundslipp sleeping arrangements

Plot Twist

January 13th, I get a message: “There are 2 people in line. And apparently they have never been in line before.” If we do some quick math, that’s 27 days before the wines hit the deck. A whopping 9 days more than the previous record for number of days spent in the queue. Thursday January 17th I get a new message: “A 3rd one has appeared.” And just like that, the first 3 spots in the queue are taken. By Sunday January 22nd, there are already 6 people in line. And it doesn’t seem like that any of them have been in the queue before (they are not so talkative, so some deductions have been made). And so the 6 spots that are normally occupied by the regulars, are now taken. This is significant, because of the top wines, there are usually only 3 or 6 bottles available. And so if you end up being number 7, like I was last year, you likely won’t get a hold of the most sought after bottles.

Now, I don’t care that I won’t get my hands on the DRC Romanee-Conti, because let’s be honest, that was never the plan. But I am curious to see what happens the next 16 days.

What number will I be in the queue when I finally get there?

What will happen to the kingdom now that the 6 first guys are different from the usual 6 veterans that occupy the firs spots?

Will there be more women at the 2023 Burgundslipp?

How many will there be by 9:59 am Thursday January 9th?

Stay tuned!

Burgund Slipp 2020

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Burgund Slipp takes place in February every year. Around the end of January, a small community pops up outside Vinmonopolet at Aker Brygge. I call it a community because a community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Which pretty much sums it up. And as far as communities go, I am very happy to be part of this one.

Last year was my first experience as a member of this community, and it blew my mind. It’s hard to convey with words what the queue experience is like. But I thought I’d try to answer some of the most common questions people ask me.

What is a Burgund Slipp?

In Norway we have one store that sells wine across the country. A monopoly. And every year in February, Vinmonopolet releases the newest vintage of Burgundy wines (you can see the list here). They do it that way in order to make it as fair as possible for the most people. These wines are so rare and hard to get a hold of, which leads some people to sleep on the streets in order to be the first one in line.

Why do you do it?

Why not?
I get to spend some quality time with other wine nerds who share my passion, and at the same time get some free PR. Seems like a no brainer to me.

The world is full of people who do all sorts of things. I understand that it probably seems strange to sleep on the street in order to buy some bottles of wine, but is it any stranger than sleeping outside a theater to buy tickets for Harry Potter? Or spending millions on cars that mainly sit in a garage?

What number were you in the Burgund Slipp queue?

I was number 7 this year! Last year I was number 16.

Do they keep the wine or sell it for profit?

I get this question a lot. And my answer will forever be the same: “It’s not something you ask. So I don’t know. And I personally don’t care.”

What my queue neighbors do with the wine they buy is really none of anyones business. I suspect some of them sell the wine, and financially it makes total sense. The ROI is quite high. So why the hell not?

What I want you to know is that my queue neighbors are decent people who have a genuine interest in wine.

Aren’t you scared, being the only woman?

No. Absolutely not. The men in the Burgund Slipp queue take such good care of me. Last year, I was welcomed into the community with open arms. They made sure I knew where the bahtrooms were, invited me to join them in the tent, included me in their dinners, and generally just made me feel very comfortable.

Another thing I’d like to add is that Aker Brygge is private property, so there are guards patrolling 24/7.

Burgund Slipp beds

What do you do all day? Don’t you get bored?

You wouldn’t believe how fast the days fly by. Between meals, trips into the wine store & conversations with curious strangers the hours go by quite quickly.

Not to mention the wine discussions amongst the queue members. Some of these guys really know their wine, especially burgundian wines, and the discussions are very interesting and educational. I’ts honestly wine nerd heaven, talking about vintages and terroir, winemakers and winemaking styles. It might be my favorite part of the queue life.

Will you be in the Burgund Slipp queue in 2021?

I hope so! Maybe there will be some more women next year as well!

Uh Oh

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Good news for those who show up at 8:50 on Thursday. Aker Brygge is enforcing a new rule: maximum 12 quoted wines per customer. I’m guessing the people who have slept outside for the past 2 weeks are less than happy….

Is it fair to change the rules meere days before the release?

Last year, there was no maximum number of wines per customer, so as long as you adhered to the quota per wine, you could buy as much wine as you want. So it would be beneficial to sleep outside for days on end.

Any change is difficult. This change might piss a lot of people off. And make a lot of other people happy. Are they trying to make these rare wines available to more people? Or are they trying to get rid of the people sleeping outside for weeks at a time? Maybe those who spent 3 weeks vacation would have prioritized differently. I am excited to hear what Vinmonopolet has to say about it…

Btw, you’ll find the list here.

My 48 hour Burgund Slipp Adventure

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It’s the middle of the night.
It’s cold.
It’s dark.
I’m lying on a cot on the street in Oslo, next to 5 men, and I’m thinking to myself: What on earth am I doing?

That is an excellent question. What am I doing?

I’ll tell you. I am waiting in line to get my hands on some of the rarest wine in the world. Every year, the Norwegian Vinmonopol releases the new vintage of burgundy wines, and if you want the best, the rarest and most expensive, you need to wait in line.

Now, let me be clear: I am not lying in the cold, dark, Norwegian winter next to 5 strange men to buy the Romanee-Conti from DRC. Partly because I’m too late, as number 16, but mostly because that’s not why I’m here. I’m here to experience a phenomenon native to Norway. The intricate brotherhood of the Burgund Slipp Kingdom.

I don’t think I know how to begin explaining this. I feel like I’ve entered another world where they have their own rules, routines and etiquette’s. Some of the rules are:
– No pictures
– No personal questions
– You’re supposed to put a symbolic placeholder in queue next to the entrance
– The last person in the queue is in a way responsible to inform the next person who arrives which number is next in line.
– You can leave for a while to eat, shower, go to the bathroom but there is a time limit.

These rules and norms are formed by what I call the Brotherhood. The veterans. The, let’s face it, boy’s club, that runs the Burgund Slipp. They have a big tent, where they spend days planning their “shopping list” and strategize for the big day. The list of wines circulates among them, they scribble and take notes, discuss and then do it all over again the next day. Until the big day arrives.

I sit on my cot, under my tarp, hiding from the snow and wind, while trying to absorb all the activities happening around me. I’m on the outside, looking in. At least for now.

What would you do for a DRC 2015?

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Would you spend 16 days outside a wine store to get your hands on a 2015 DRC?

Bjørn Håvard is currently camped outside Vinmonopolet at Aker Brygge, waiting patiently for the Burgundy release February 7th and the DRC 2015. But this is not the first time Bjørn Håvard is sleeping outside to get his hands on rare and exceptional wines. His first stunt was in 2007, and has become a regular event in the following years. But this year he is taking it to a whole other level. 16 long days outside, breaking the record from last time, which was only 8 days.

Watch my 15 seconds of fame

How does this work?

In Norway, the wine is regulated with the monopoly, aka Vinmonopolet. So when rare and exceptional wines are available and released, they do so in a special way. Throughout the year they have “releases”. So one release for burgundy, one for riesling, etc. And because the number of wines released is so small, there is a queue system. In order to get your hands on one of these wines you need to be one of the first in line. This is why Bjørn Håvard is sleeping outside, to ensure acquisition of the rarities released from Burgundy this year. Another fun fact is that Norway is the cheapest place to buy these wines. So it might be worth checking into… if you’re not already camped outside.

DRC 2015

This year, the burgundy release is quite special. 2016 Bourgogne produced very little quantity of wine, but the quality is outstanding. And 2015 was a great vintage in Bourgogne, and although most other producers released their 2015 wines last year, DRC did not. So on the menu this year is Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 2015 and all the Bourgogne 2016. What would you do to get your hands on one of those? Sleep outside 16 days in Oslo during winter?

Dedication, patience and guts

Imagine you’re spending 16 days outside. In Norway. In January. It is not for the faint of heart. And as you can see, a lot of equipment is required to make it all the way to the finish line. Apart from warm clothes, you also need sleep gear, like cots and sleeping bags.

Waiting for DRC 2015

Brotherhood – a special bond

One of the most fascinating aspects of this phenomenon is the brotherhood between the participants. There is a mutual respect and understanding between them, which is helpful when one of them needs to use the restroom or get something to eat.

Be on the lookout – you might find me in line soon…