Tasting Fees?

The Orange Region Vignerons Association is lobbying for a change in NSW law to allow wineries to charge a tasting fee. Apparently this is legal in Victoria and South Australia, but not in NSW.

The arguement is that the individual winery should have the right to decide about the fee based on their own situation. My experience suggests that few wineries would charge, but there are situations where it seems justified. Unless the wine is very bad I usually buy something, and I certainly don't object to a refundable fee. People who see cellar doors as a place for a cheap drink are an expense to the winery and a nuisance to fair dinkum tasters.

Central Western Daily article article about cellar door tasting fees