by Meredith Galante | Nov 5, 2019 | Wine & Spirits |
The days of customers ordering “the house white” or “the house red” are dwindling.
Wine drinkers now want to know why they hate Chardonnay but love a good Sauvignon Blanc.
Wine lovers are looking to take classes, go to events, and have unique experiences while drinking their wine to understand why they like what they like. Wine event attendance numbers are up, and brands should consider creating their own events to get customers interested in their wines. (more…)
by Meredith Galante | Oct 29, 2019 | Wine & Spirits |
Tourism in the Greek isles has been on the rise, as has drinking Greek wine.
Between 2009 to 2016, Greek wines sales have increased by 81% in the United States. While this is huge growth, Greek wine sales increased by 562% in Japan, 556% in China, and 105% in Australia, a country that has its own reputation in fine winemaking.
In addition to an increase in quantity of sales, consumers are also willing to pay more for Greek wine. How can you take advantage of this new trend? Let’s take a look. (more…)
by Meredith Galante | Oct 22, 2019 | Wine & Spirits |
Ordering a glass of Rose is not so simple anymore. Now there’s rose cider, CBD-infused cocktails, spiked seltzers, and more.
Drinks have gone hybrid. Pairing two types of drinks has created new sectors in the market and resulted in booming sales on products like rose cider and spiked seltzers. (more…)
by Meredith Galante | Oct 1, 2019 | Wine & Spirits |
Consider this list: John Legend, Drew Barrymore, Steph Curry, Jon Bon Jovi, and Sarah Jessica Parker. What do all of these people have in common?
We’re not talking about the Oscars or an A-List Hollywood party. All of these celebrities and stars share something besides being famous: they all make wine.
Actors, singers, and sports stars are putting their big names behind smaller wineries — or creating their own brand — to celebrate their love of wine and spirits. Stars are taking their fame, pairing it with their love for spirits and helping brands increase sales.
Celebrities are making money off the spirits, too. Just take George Clooney’s Casamigos which sold for $1 billion to Diageo in June 2017.
But who is buying these products, and are they any good? (more…)
by Meredith Galante | Sep 3, 2019 | Wine & Spirits |
First it was rosé, now it’s orange wine? 
Maybe you’ve walked by a restaurant and saw diners drinking what looks like a Fanta orange soda from a wine glass. But it’s not soda, it’s orange wine.
It may seem like a new fad, but this “trend” is actually 8,000 years old. Orange wines primarily come from the country of Georgia (not the state – that’s peach), and exports have risen 54% in the last year.
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by Meredith Galante | Aug 28, 2019 | Wine & Spirits |
Perhaps most drinkers can’t tell the difference between a glass of prosecco and Champagne, but nevertheless they are buying more bubbly — and it’s not just to celebrate.
In social circles, drinkers may interchange “Champagne,” “sparkling wine,” and “prosecco,” but there are distinct differences in where it’s made, how it’s made, and what grapes are used to make it. Let’s look at some of the trends in Champagne vs. prosecco, and what wine suppliers and distributors need to consider in their sales process. (more…)
by Meredith Galante | Aug 20, 2019 | Wine & Spirits |
Too many hot, red flames have burned through California wine country destroying vines and potential delicious vintages. Temperatures during harvest season in the mountains of Spain are not the same as last year. Wine makers are not trying to get political — but climate change is affecting their crops and the wines you’re drinking.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that temperatures will increase between 3.6 and 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century, and this is affecting how wine grapes grow. How can those in the wine industry react to this change? Technology can help. Let’s examine. (more…)
by Meredith Galante | Aug 13, 2019 | Wine & Spirits |
Social media influencers encourage their followers to buy clothes, beauty products, and now wine.
Wine labels are moving beyond traditional Facebook and Instagram pages and are now reaching out to influencers. The social-media stars look like they live an envious life, and sipping some sauvignon blanc by the pool adds to that allure.
Three out of four businesses are on social media — causing customers to expect an online presence rather than appreciate it as an added bonus.
Social media is allowing customers to have conversations around wines and helps the brand project the lifestyle you could have by drinking their product. Let’s examine the impact social media is having on the wine industry and how suppliers can use influencers to increase sales.
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by Meredith Galante | Jul 16, 2019 | Wine & Spirits |
With wildfires, climate change and overcrowding in California, Oregon — and most notably Pinot Noir — is having a moment.
Oregon ranks third as the largest wine producer in the United States, behind California and Washington.
From 2016 to 2017, Oregon added 88 vineyards, totaling 1,144 wineries. The total planted acres of grapes for wine increased by 3,000, or 10.5%, from 30,435 to 33,361.
California, of course, will always remain the dominant wine producer, but with its wildfires putting some wineries out of production for five years or more, Oregon is having its chance to shine.
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by Meredith Galante | Jul 9, 2019 | Wine & Spirits |
Every election cycle it seems there’s another state that has legalizing marijuana on the ballot. As more states legalize recreational cannabinoids, legislators and alcohol producers are tussling over cannabis-infused alcohol.
Recreational cannabis is currently legal in 10 states and the District of Columbia, while a further 13 states have decriminalized possession. California ranks as the largest legal market, where the market research firm BDS Analytics reported that $2.51 billion worth of cannabis was sold in 2018.
When legalized marijuana started to gain popularity, some wine and spirits producers feared it would hurt alcohol sales. However, others have found that they can take advantage of new laws and are finding ways that cannabis can complement their wine sales. Let’s take a look.
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