As a result, wine retailers around the country are scrambling, with some taking desperate measures.

Nicolas is a French wine retailer, which also has stores in other countries.

"Communicating with sommeliers and wine retailers becomes easier and more effective."

Most wine retailers say this holiday season is their best in years.

Even the cognoscenti aren't up to the task; calls to many of the better wine retailers in and around Manhattan produced little more than giggles.

These wines may be purchased at the local cellar door sales and at wine retailers around Australia.

Costco now claims to be America's largest wine retailer with half a billion dollars in sales in 2001.

"No serious wine retailer can afford to ignore Australian wines," he added.

There are also a limited number of private wine retailers in Manitoba as well.

The first issue was sent free to mailing lists Parker purchased from several major wine retailers.