Today, courting the British wine press is arguably more important than ever. In Britain, unlike many other countries, it is very hard to build retail sales from the reflected glory of being served in smart restaurants; the influence of sommeliers is very limited. Well over 80% of the wines are sold by a shrinking band of big brand- and discount-focused supermarkets, with the remainder being distributed through a handful of specialist chains and a couple of hundred or so significant independent retailers, most of whom offer ranges covering the entire world.
The first contact a consumer has with a wine is often through the label. But what is the best approach to take? What works and what doesn’t? In the first of a series about design, Alain Courbière from the major French firm Autajon, discusses ways to approach the issue.
Consumption in Poland, the biggest of the middle European countries, grew by approximately 15% last year – which means that the growth in consumption over the last decade was 100%. To be more precise, Poland’s population of 38.48m spent approximately €625m on wine last year, making this a small, but attractive market.
With so many trade fairs and tastings on offer, wine professionals could spend the equivalent of months on the road. But in a recession, can you afford the time and expense of participating or attending? Can you afford not to? Maggie Rosen reports.
Excited by the prospect of China’s enormous population, producers are eyeing the fledgling wine market with interest. But while some international companies are doing well, this market can lay traps for unwary players.
As selling wine gets tougher, many producers have set their sights on the emerging Russian market. But, as Eleonora Scholes explains, there are many obstacles to market and the prize goes to those who are most prepared – and patient.
The Russian wine market may still be small relative to its population, but growing wealth, steadily expanding consumption and rising wine imports give international producers a reason to approach it with optimism, says Eleonora Scholes.
Against the backdrop of luxury hotels and casinos, importers are working hard to capture the potential of this rapidly growing market but, as Jeannie Cho Lee observes, the duty reduction in Hong Kong threatens the fine wine business.
The wine world has high hopes for India, given its population and rising wealth, which is creating an interest in Western goods in general and wine in particular. But not so fast, because anybody looking to enter the market needs to consider a number of obstacles, including punishing duties.
Trying to understand Italy’s distribution system is as difficult as coming to grips with its politics, finds Michéle Shah. If you’re interested in doing business, it’s best to have a single, national agent or create your own network of distributors. And don’t get upset when your wines go into a random ‘international’ pile.
