Archive for the ‘Wine Consumers’ Category
In a three-minute speech at the London Institute of Masters of Wine, reproduced at Decanter Magazine, Master of Wine Natasha Hughes warned her peers that by presenting, talking about and categorizing wine in the same old ways—by country, varietal or style—they will fail the consumer and fail the wine trade. She concludes her flash talk this way: “We’ve got to remember that for most people, wine is part of a lifestyle that includes food and conviviality, rather than being a goal…
Richard Mendelson’s newish book, “Appellations Napa Valley” is a fantastic tome. Written in a personal, first person voice that reflects Mendelson’s vast experience with the development of the Valley’s various sub appellations as well as his obvious and genuine affinity for this part of the world, the coffee table-style book is a unique and necessary addition to the Napa Valley Wine bibliography. However, the subject of the book brings up an important question that has been asked before: Do Napa…
How can wine be an emotional trigger point for drinkers? How can it invoke emotion in its users that in turn provokes them to invest more time and money in the product and, potentially, a brand? These were the questions left unanswered by Reka Haros in a recently published and well-circulated article in which she admonishes the wine industry for a lack of emotionally engaging content in its advertising and marketing. Ms. Haros’ case is best summed up when she…
In 1966 Bob Dylan Released Blonde On Blonde, the Beach Boys released Pet Sounds, and the Beatles released Revolver. It’s arguable that no three albums together had more influence on the history of Rock n Roll. And it all happened in one year. It was a seminal year for Rock n Roll and one we can look back on it and, again, make the case that it was the pinnacle of the Rock genre. I wonder if 2017 might, in…
The American system of alcohol regulations is not merely broken, it has become a parody of the idea of control. What once was supposed to be a post-Prohibition system of regulations to assure the country did not fall back into a free-for-all alcohol market has morphed over the years into a chaotic collection of regulations and laws based on the what the highest bidder wants, on the principle of rent-seeking by the most powerful and politically connected entities in the…
