Archive for the ‘Wine Business’ Category
There was a moment back in the early 1990s when many folks in the wine industry believed fervently that America’s Neo-Prohibitiionists would play a key role in inhibiting the marketing of wine in the United States. Mothers Against Drunk Driving seemed to have the ear of every law enforcement agency in America. It appeared their goal was nothing less than stopping all drinking. The news about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was everywhere and threatened turn off every single pregant woman in…
I spent three years in Humboldt County, that (way) Northern California county best know for its world class dope. (I have a good story about Humboldt dope that comes toward the end of this post). I was there in the mid 1980s studying History at Humboldt State University. It was where I lived when I discovered my passion for wine. Yet the entire time I never once tasted a wine from Humboldt County. Now, it seems, there are enough local…
You don’t see it pointed out much, but here’s the fact the of the matter: The wholesaler-dominated and controlled system of wine distribution in America hurts small business and hurts family businesses. A new article in Forbes by Dirk Smillie that outlines why it’s likely that 20% of all American wineries will be sold off over the next five years makes this point in a backhanded sort of way, but it’s a point worth taking not of: "The expected selloff…
"He said: "I think the market has just tipped. All of a sudden, rather than being driven by 20-year-olds who were the early adopters [of the net], I’m starting to get emails from people saying ‘as a pensioner … The silver surfers have arrived." This comes from a news story put out by Off License News. Just how significant is this finding that older drinkers are coming to the on-line wine sales channel? I think it must be significant. Despite…
I sometimes run by my kids issues I am dealing with at work. I probably shouldn’t mention this as clients of Wark Communications are supposed to think that what we do here is a bit more than child’s play. Anyway, this morning over "Eggs in Frame" we were discussing how wineries sell wine. I explained the state-mandated three-tier distribution system to the kids (which, oddly, they seemed to comprehend easily). One of them piped up and said, "I think the…
