Actually, this week, it’s What They’re Watching. We’re not sure who this guy is, but we applaud his willingness to risk life and limb in pursuit of a fine glass of wine.[level-members] Enjoy the summer fun. (Click through for video if it does not appear above for you.) [/level-members]
Archive for August, 2013
What They’re Reading – Dangerous Ways to Open Wi
August 29th, 2013Why Online Marketing Is Important to Local Wine Retaile
August 28th, 2013Many local retailers take the attitude that since they’re not selling online, there’s no reason to market online. Nothing could be further from the truth. Regardless of your business, people rely on information they find online (the web, social media, search engine results, recommendation sites, etc.) This is true in all but the smallest of […]
Handling Bad Press – Other People’s Bad Pre
August 27th, 2013Sometimes, your business is affected by things outside of your control. How you handle them is largely a matter of being prepared for the unexpected. [level-members] The owners of Exxon gas stations – who are mostly independent small business owners, not Exxon employees – had their livelihoods threatened in the wake of the Exxon Valdez […]
Retail Wine Industry News – Chile Moves Upsca
August 26th, 2013Long thought of as a source for bargain-basement and value-oriented reds, Chile seeks to burnish its image with more upscale wines. [level-members] And they’re not messing around. According to Shanken News, one of the initial efforts in this rebranding is a $300 Cabernet-based bottle from Viña Montes called Taita. Interestingly, one Chilean producer noted that […]
Food and Wine Pairing – Summer’s Tomato Boun
August 23rd, 2013With the summer harvest of farm-fresh tomatoes in full swing, here are some great pairing ideas for a variety of wines that work well with tomato dishes. [level-members] Let’s start off with a starter: caprese salad is tough to beat, whether it includes huge, thick slabs of beefsteak tomato as a side salad or tiny […]
What They’re Reading – Bon Appétit September 20
August 22nd, 2013It’s the restaurant issue this month in Bon App. Here’s what your clients may be clamoring for once they’ve read it. [level-members] The Wine Insider column features sherry, the no longer dowdy drink of the moment. (FYI, sherry is wine fortified with brandy.) I have to admit to not being hip enough (or, thankfully, dowdy […]
Getting Retail Wine Customers to Help You Help Th
August 21st, 2013How can you get your retail wine customers to help you to better help them? Here are a few tips. [level-members] First, get that whole pesky price question out of the way. Whether they’re high rollers or on a tight budget, knowing what price range they’re comfortable with makes your job 1,000% easier. Second, find […]
Crazy Retail Wine and Liquor La
August 20th, 2013Did you know … beer isn’t easy to find everywhere, sangria used to be illegal, and there are laws against happiness? Well, sort of … [level-members] Here are some oddball liquor-related laws that probably differ from those in your state. In Pennsylvania, for example, all wine and liquor is sold in “state stores” controlled by […]
Retail Wine Industry News – Still More Weather in Fran
August 19th, 2013This time, it’s Alsace that’s hit with weather bad enough to affect the wine crop. Will it affect retail wine pricing in upcoming vintages? [level-members] Hard to say, of course, but the damage reported does seem on par with the havoc in Burgundy and Bordeaux in the past weeks. The semi-silver lining is that the […]
Food & Wine Pairing – Barbe
August 16th, 2013We recently found Hawk Wakawaka’s illustrated food and wine pairings. They’re irresistible. [level-members] Click the image for the full-size illustration and commentary at Serious Eats. We love that he refers to Barbara as “The Prince,” though we’ll stick with Willie Gluckstern’s “The Acid King of Italy.” Either way, Barbera really is one of the most […]