For a follow up to this post, check out How Can Wineries Use Instagram Better? Okay guys, let’s sit down and have a heart-to-heart here for a moment. I’ve been breaking up with a lot of you via Instagram by unfollowing your winery accounts. And, yeah, it’s you and not me. Simply put, a lot of your winery Instagrams aren’t worth a damn following. Now I’m not saying that my own personal IG is gold.…
By now, I’m sure a lot of folks have heard about the viral video of two brothers reacting to hearing Phil Collins’ ‘In the Air Tonight’ for the first time. If Tim and Fred Williams want to continue their tour of 80s hits, one song that the wine industry could certainly use a blast from the past of is Lionel Richie’s 1983 classic ‘Hello (Is it Me You’re Looking For?)‘. That’s because as we stare…
I just had an intensely uncomfortable experience. Since France started easing Covid restrictions on May 11th, I’ve been itching to get out of the house. So today I took the plunge and walked to my local wine shop to pick up a few bottles. When I got there, I made a note of the shop’s safety precautions posted outside. Everyone must wear a mask. Only two customers allowed in the store at once. Maintain at…
Note: This piece was mentioned in Meiningers Wine Business International’s April 15th, 2020 article “Can virtual wine tastings be saved?” by Robert Joseph The last few weeks, I’ve been wrapping my head around the new abnormal. This has included indulging in the smorgasbord of virtual wine events that have sprung up everywhere. They’re fairly easy to find via social media and handy calendar pages. But while several events, such as Master of Wine Rebecca Gibb’s…
“Unicorns aren’t real, but the house advantage is.” I just got back from a weekend in Las Vegas where I lost far more than I care to admit at the casinos. Growing up in St. Louis with church bingo and riverboat casinos, I will always have soft-spot for the gambler’s heart. But man does it suck losing. However, as I’ve gotten older I’ve found one game that I love playing in Vegas where I’m a…
I’m very excited to have been asked by Robert Joseph, aka the Wine Thinker, and Polly Hammond of 5forests to join them on their April 20th Real Business of Wine panel talking about wine consumers. While I’ll be there to share some insights on Millennial buyers, the event is going to cover a lot of ground. “Join us for this very special session in collaboration with ARENI Global, as we explore the changing face of…
It’s been a little over a month since I wrote my post Why Do Winery Instagram Feeds Suck So Much? which garnered some tremendous responses. Many folks have emailed me, including wineries, to share their thoughts. I was most surprised at the number of wineries that asked me to “audit” their feeds. I have to give them massive credit for seeking honest feedback. It’s effortless to get lulled into the status quo, thinking that if…
Forty-five years ago today, the Judgment of Paris happened. I’m sure we’ll see lots of missives commemorating the occasion, all the more bittersweet with the recent passing of Steven Spurrier back in March. While I’ll toast the success of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Chateau Montelena, I have to confess that, even as a wine geek, the glow of that achievement is waning for me a bit. Sure, it’s cool when you first hear about…
While the present is still grim in some areas (such as South Africa), many wine regions have open up their tasting rooms even in a limited, socially distant capacity. That’s been sure relief for cash-strapped wineries and a welcome respite for wine lovers who need to digitally detox. (Provided they feel safe and welcomed.) But make no mistake. There is still a lot of value and a healthy market for online wine events. The folks…
For a follow up to tasting rooms reopening, see “How NOT to Respond to a Guest’s Concerns About COVID“ Jason Haas of Tablas Creek recently posted a poll asking if people were ready to go back to tasting rooms. While the plurality was raring to go, the majority of respondents to his question were a bit more reserved. I’m interested, with tasting rooms starting to reopen, are you ready to go out wine tasting? If…
