Archive for April, 2013

Better Ways To Stock Your Wine Sh

April 30th, 2013

You have a choice as a wine shop owner: recognize that a significant portion of your customers are at least a little insecure about choosing wine and give them the stamp of approval they crave, unconsciously or otherwise. Or [level-members]you can ignore that and let big-budget marketing and major food and wine publications direct them. […]

Winemakers Welcome Wall Stre

April 29th, 2013

There’s no shortage of multinational conglomerates with large holdings in the wine world, but small, privately held winemakers would seem like the last group of people turning to Wall Street for infusions of capital. [level-members] Apparently, though, they are. According to this New York Times Dealbook piece, Winemakers seeking capital infusions. WS would seem like […]

Mexican Food & Wine Pairings: Yes, It’s Possib

April 26th, 2013

Inspired by this Serious Eats column, here are some Mexican food recipes and wine pairing suggestions. [level-members] In general, low-alcohol wine are going to pair better with spicy foods. Bubbles can be a go-to choice since sparkling wines can be so versatile with food and Mexican food is pretty varied in both preparation and primary […]

Food & Wine’s Beaujolais Guide and Noteworthy New Wine Regio

April 25th, 2013

What They’re Reading – Food & Wine Magazine, May 2013 Here’s what your customers are reading in this month’s Food & Wine. The Tasting Room column has an overview of Beaujolais that F&W feels are huge values: underpriced for the quality delivered. (Though they admit that they’re small-production wines, so perhaps difficult to find.) There’s […]

Facebook Smarts For Wine Retaile

April 24th, 2013

Forget the fact that Facebook has more than a billion members. 99.% aren’t interested in what you’re selling or don’t live anywhere near where you’re selling it. But that small group that are interested and are geographically desirable can improve your bottom line significantly. Here’s how. [level-members] First, as with any kind of marketing, you […]

Wine Shop Retail Tip: Entertain Your Audien

April 23rd, 2013

I recently saw an article about fang shui in retail. (Retail Feng Shui Tips – Use Feng Shui To Improve Your Store and Your Sales) And while that may have you rolling your eyes, there’s no dismissing the idea that mood matters, and that more and more consumers view the retail experience as entertainment. Need […]

Bordeaux Futures Priced Sanel

April 22nd, 2013

The question going into the Bordeaux futures season was whether demand from China would push prices higher – again … or if last year’s slow start would temper expectations – and pricing – from Bordeaux properties? [level-members] Early indications seem to point to some restraint. You won’t find the first-growth bottlings in the remainder bin, but prices […]

Weekend Pairing: Barbera Beyond Piz

April 19th, 2013

OK, we admit it. We sold Barbera short last week. It’s good for so much more than a casual Friday night pizza. Here are a few ideas: [level-members] Lentils with Chicken Sausage From the Food & Wine site, a healthy take on bangers and mash that goes fantastically with Barbera of the more new-world style. […]

What They’re Reading – Bon Appétit May 20

April 18th, 2013

The cover of Bon Appétit this month: pancakes! It’s not the pancake issue (sadly), but the American travel issue with pancakes being an attraction at their top-rated hotel. (Blackberry Farm in Walland, TN if you’re curious.)[level-members] The Wine Insider column is devoted to “natural” wines, which writer David Lynch feels are changing the we way […]

Building Customer Loyalty For Wine Sho

April 17th, 2013

When Laura and I first moved to the Catskills, we’d frequently go to a wine shop that was almost an hour from home. We only went in 4 or 5 times a year, and we stocked up when we went in. I’m sure those big purchases helped make us memorable, as did our little red-headed […]