Archive for the ‘Wine Marketing Rules’ Category
Naming a winery or a vineyard or even giving a single wine a name beyond the varietal or the place where it was made is a pretty interesting project to undertake. I’ve been involved in a number of such projects. Every time I’ve been involved in such a project, the first question I answer when coming up with particular names is this: “What impression will the name leave with the people who will be buying the product?” There are other…
Beginning yesterday, January 1, 2014, any wine released that will identify any American Viticultural Area (AVA) on the label located inside Sonoma County MUST also carry the words “Sonoma County” on the label. I’ve noted in a number of blog posts why this is a very bad idea. This made no difference and the “Conjunctive Labeling Law” for Sonoma County is now in force. Vintners in the Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley or Bennett Valley, for example, who see no…
There is and has been a very strong trend among wine industry members, commentators, and reporters to declare that the Millennial generation is changing everything about wine. The side story is that they are breaking free from the bonds and chains of pretentiousness and obfuscation that defined previous generations of wine drinkers and winemakers. I can’t help but wonder what these folks are going to say when they finally wake up and discover that the Millennial Generation wine drinker and…
For as long as I’ve been in the wine industry there have always been waves of varietal popularity. Certain wine types, at different times and for different reasons find an audience, become popular and seem to attract the attention of the trade and consumers more so than other varieties. Zinfandel is due for a resurgence. For quite some time, you couldn’t turn a page without reading about Pinot Noir, thanks in large part to the movie “Sideways” and a contingent…
Exploring the way decisions on wine purchases are carried out by the average wine buyer, I think I’ve come up with the correct (in nearly every case) decision tree: Occasion—–> Flavor—–>Price OCCASION Broadly speaking, the first thing a consumer of wine determines upon choosing a wine is why they are buying it—or, for what occasion. 1. On the occasion of my friend’s 50th birthday 2. On the occasion of my dinner of grilled scallops tonight 3. On the occasion of…
