Insights

What should wine producers focus on?

Marketers advise wine producers to have a good story to tell when they approach the market. An increasing number of them also suggest that wine producers need a clear purpose for making the wines they do. But, says Robert Joseph, there's an even better reason for making wine.

One answer to climate change is information sharing

There is an enormous amount of high quality information about battling climate change locked up in the wine industry, says Robert Joseph. It's time to start exchanging that knowledge.

Is food and wine matching necessary?

What do wine lovers most need to know about food and winematching? Robert Joseph has some thoughts.

Make wine great again

Is it possible to make wine the traditional way? Or are people wearing rose coloured glasses about the wines of the past? Robert Joseph ponders historical wines.

The downside of premiumisation

Jeff Siegel says that not all ‘premiumisation’ in the US is what it seems – and that this may bite the wine industry.

The cost of future proofing the vineyard

If you want to know the shape of things to come, and how much it’s going to cost, asking a pépiniériste is a good start, says Sophie Kevany. 

No- and low-alcohol wine in the US

The numbers, say analysts, are there for anyone who wants to read them. US consumers are drinking less and are looking for lower-alcohol products. Jeff Siegel reports.

Russians grapple with a new excise tax

After importers exploited a loophole meant to help Russian wine producers, the Russian Finance Ministry stepped in. Igor Serdyuk reports.

The days of scores are numbered

Scores have driven sales in the US market for two decades or more but, says Jeff Siegel, there are signs their dominance is coming to an end.

Is it better to go with a big or small US wine distributor?

The big US distributors are merging. But, says Jim Clarke, this has opened opportunities with small distributors that smaller brands should consider.

The overlooked wine demographic

Women over 40 are one of the most lucrative of all consumer demographics and yet they are being ignored by most wine marketers. Charlotte Hey wants to know why

Is the wine customer always right?

The purpose of the small pour is for the customer to ensure the wine isn't corked. But what's the right response if the customer hates the wine? Robert Joseph offers some thoughts.

In defence of winemaking technology

Fans of natural wines claim that conventional winemakers are creating manipulated and artificial products. Robert Joseph hits back.

When will a wine label backfire?

Tank Garage Winery caused a small storm on social media this week, when they released a wine with a pornographic label. Is there a place for such labels?

What is the point of replica wines?

Like perfume makers that create copies of famous scents, a new group of people are copying well known wines. Robert Joseph considers the phenomenon.