Archive for June, 2015

Culture and Values Matter for Retail Wine Sho

June 30th, 2015

Even for small retail shops, culture and values matter in building a successful business. [level-members] At a minimum your culture and values should align with principles of treating customers fairly and honestly, treating employees respectfully and generally striving to create an unsurpassable customer experience. You can go above and beyond that to build a culture […]

Wine Industry News – 6/29/

June 29th, 2015

In the news in wine this week, top South African wines, more climate change trouble (it’s not what you think), and wine and technology. [level-members] South African Wines The 2015 South African Wine Index is out and it includes the coutnry’s top 10 wine producers. On the list are: Saronsberg Cellar (Tulbagh) Bouchard Finlayson (Hermanus) […]

Pairings: Falanghina and Grilled Chicken Caesar Sal

June 26th, 2015

Following up on our Falanghina piece yesterday, here’s a great pairing to go with. [level-members] This is straight from the New York Times article we linked to yesterday, so you may have already seen the recipe. We’re planning on giving it a try this weekend. (Though I have to admit, we don’t have any Falanghina […]

Falanghina: Isn’t He One of the Beat Poet

June 25th, 2015

An obscure reference on top of an obscure reference. (The beat poet is Lawrence Ferlinghetti.) Falanghina is a lesser-known grape that recently got the New York Times treatment. [level-members] The Italian grape is undergoing a rebirth in Southern Italy’s Campania region and Eric Asimov dives into details that your more sophisticated (or wine-geeky) customers will […]

There is no Rational Retail Mind: Emotion Trumps A

June 24th, 2015

We’re tempted to attribute the recent research findings we came across to Captain Obvious, but the findings really aren’t as obvious as they should be to too many wine retailers. [level-members] Forrester Research has recently reported that though consumers think they are motivated by rational thought, many of their buying decisions are made emotionally. This is […]

Why Mobile and the Web are Good for Your Wine Sh

June 23rd, 2015

Sure it’s easy to bemoan the damage the the web and mobile retail can – and probably are – doing to your retail wine business. But it doesn’t have to be that way. [level-members] Yes, the more connected world we live in means there’s more competition. There’s also more price transparency and much more information available […]

Wine Industry News 6/22/

June 22nd, 2015

Worries about turning water into wine, tax relief, making wine more accessible, and more. [level-members] US Champagne Consumption Up Shanken News Daily tells us that Champagne consumption is on the rise in the US, with major players ramping up for continued growth.There had been a tick down in 2012, but the past two years reversed […]

Food & Wine Pairings: Squid Ink Risot

June 19th, 2015

Since Wine Spectator suggested a pairing of Oregon Gamay Noir and skid ink risotto, we thought we’d see if we could find a recipe available for you to share with your fans, friends and customers. [level-members] The Food Network has a recipe that I believe is from Bobby Flay. It’s an oldie but a goodie. […]

Content Ideas for Wine Shop Social Media 6/18/

June 18th, 2015

This week, your clients may be reading the latest issue of Wine Spectator (6/30/15). Here’s what they’ll find and what you might want to take advantage of in your social media. [level-members] It’s all France, all the time this month in the Spectator, with cover stories about Burgundy’s Grande Dame, the 2012 reds from Burgundy, […]

How Big a Threat is Amazon to Your Busine

June 17th, 2015

Is Amazon a threat to your wine shop? Is there any marketing you can do to fend them off? [level-members] Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were extolling the virtues of the Duct Tape Marketing blog? Yes, I believe it was. And, as if to prove our point, they provide us with this gem of […]