Michael A. Descamps

What exactly is the difference between wine grapes and table grapes? Find out in this short read! 🥂

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Barry Gilbert private label wines and their increasing popularity among consumers has a place in the market. I love to hear Aldi has a successful partnership with E. & J. Gallo and have focus on delivering quality wines at affordable prices. I agree with the article that private labels provide consumers with value and quality. The question is will this shift the consumer away from branded wines? I don’t think so. How about you? ------------------------- 📌 Enjoy my content? I'm Samuel Anderson, and I share insights on the drinks industry, business development, technology, retail, and building a versatile career. Follow + Share + 🛎️ #drinks #wine #privatelabel #marketing ♻️ Share with those that are are interested in learning more about private label wine.

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The next few years will provide ample retrospective analysis to identify the choices made that brought us here--everything from a lack of urgency/willingness to shift gears when the road conditions changed, to alc-bev industry infighting that repeatedly stalled DTC legislation--and those retrospectives will include also the pulled-through-the-reorganization examples we will learn from. The pandemic revealed the industry's potholes--and pointed toward solutions--by the end of 2020. That means some folks are in Year 3/4 of strategy adjustments. Others, who hoped to wait out a disruption rather than understand the evolution, are beginning Year One. But for all, there are still opportunities to not only survive, but set a new foundation from which to thrive. It'll always come back to three things: 1. Planning to strategy. 2. Protecting identity and reputation. 3. Build your community--within the distillery, and beyond.

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There are many theories that seek to explain the slowdown in the wine market. Mine is based on well-founded research, but I don't think many wine professionals or enthusiasts will find it very palatable. https://lnkd.in/eq58GNaN

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https://lnkd.in/gAWYSSgt The wine industry must continue to push the narrative, Red and White wines consumed both responsibly and in moderation support health benefits across multiple areas of human health and anatomy. It is scientifically proven that the benefits are far reaching, the studies continue to prove this time and time again.

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There's a lot of wine out there. I 100% agree with Mario Zepponi when it comes to the limited options for distributors in the US....five years ago. LibDib, LLC is now available in 15 markets, including the top 5 (CA, NY, FL, IL, TX) in the US. Wineries need to commit to doing the work to sell their wine. Being in the market, tastings, events, meeting Buyers (vs. distributor management and reps) and consumers alike. Selling. Relationship building. We can provide an efficient distribution route to market for everyone. However, there is more work to be done than just posting on a web site or selling a pallet to a traditional distributor. Wine is one of the most crowded CPG categories out there. Convincing a Buyer to bring on your brand is hard work. And there is no better sales person than someone from the winery themselves. Spending time and resources doing that.... hopefully wineries will find success. https://lnkd.in/gsnzY7ra

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"Canned cocktails are far from a new phenomenon. One of the earliest "Commercial canned cocktails in America was Heublein's Club Cocktails, which hit the market in 1892, but even that wasn't actually a first. Bars were known to mix and bottle their house cocktails and sell them at retail along with other bottled liquors in the mid-1800s when regulations on the sale of liquor were looser, allowing guests to take their favourite beverages home with them from the bar." Fascinating. What are your favourite canned cocktails? https://lnkd.in/gF5GN_cp

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In this article, we share with you the top Sauvignon blanc Wines that offer excellent quality for the price and have a great package that judges picked at the USA Wine Ratings. USA Ratings

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U.S. Wholesale Wine Distribution Today and What Does the Future Promises. Our editor covers the current state of distribution in the US market on USA Wine Ratings USA Ratings. So what is the state of wholesale wine distribution in the U.S. today? The wholesale wine market lies amidst a huge transformation. Consolidation among distributors, the rise of private-label brands, and shifting consumer preferences have reshaped how wine producers, both domestic and international, bring products to the American market. While large producers may have the resources to navigate these changes, small and medium-sized wineries face mounting challenges as they struggle to compete for distribution and shelf space. This situation also affects independent wine retailers. The Shrinking Wholesale Tier and the Concentrated Power of Large Distributors At the heart of any issue facing winemakers is the vastly decreasing number of U.S. distributors. Today, three major players—Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, Republic National Distributing Company, and Breakthru Beverage Group—dominate the landscape, limiting opportunities for smaller wineries. The annual Impact Databank Report from Shanken (which includes spirits sales) showed that Southern Glazer’s and RNDC together will control a projected 53% of the market in 2024. If we expand that to the top 10 companies, they will control a projected 81.5%. Barry Herbst, Wine Director at independent retailer Bottle Barn in Sonoma, summarizes that distribution is “greatly consolidated now. Fewer companies carrying more products in their books.” But there are many “products and services the big guys don't want to bother with.” Southern Glazer’s, for example, represents more than 1,700 beverage suppliers, including more than 7,000 individual brands. There are, however, about 12,000 wineries in the US, many with multiple brands. Wine in Warehouses Rob McMillan of Silicon Valley Bank’s wine division explains the current situation: “Wine distribution continues to be stacked up in the warehouses.” This is affecting everyone involved, but not equally. “Larger premium wineries with good brands are getting their wine through to retailers and consumers while other wine inventory continues to linger.” McMillan is not convinced that this situation will be resolved quickly. “There are occasional speeches that are made by the senior people in larger wholesalers and those in a few larger wineries as well, that they think the backlog will start to abate next year, or that we are on the precipice now. But thus far, the data aren’t supporting that.” He points to the graph pictured above. “At the peak, the backup in inventories was 1.67x sales in May 2023. Inventories have dropped through July 1st to 1.59x sales. That’s about a 5% drop in a little over a year. It’s progress, but that’s still a long way from historical averages.” Read the full story here.

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48% of consumers said they're drinking just less alcohol in general, and 34% of consumers surveyed said they are drinking nonalcoholic wine. The wine industry has been plagued with challenges and change for many years now, an interesting observation is that the hard choices we are facing now need to be addressed when times are good rather than waiting for the impact of what may need to be done. It was once called "future proofing" and maybe the industry should be able to take this thinking model on board as in general terms the industry is very slow to change and lacks adaptability. The ancient paradigm shift here is of course the 7 years of good harvest and 7 years of famine that struck ancient Egypt - old Joseph was a clever lad :) The shame is the industry is and does not act as one, it is not homogeneous by nature, today it is dog eat dog as wine makers and growers are manning the lifeboats as opposed to trying to work out how to avoid the iceberg. Happy Monday kids.

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2021 Windy Oaks Estate, Old Vine Series - Dry Muscat, Rodnick Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County. The all new and heavenly jasmine perfumed Old Vine - Dry Muscat comes from the chalky limestone rich soils of Chalone is a stony and floral, Alsace style white with crisp apple, keffer lime, tart peach, muskmelon and pineapple fruits in a soft light bodied wine that also shows spearmint, green almond and verbena accenting. This smooth example of Dry Muscat a subtle sense of the exotic and a unique version of this ancient varietal that saw a gentle crushing and direct press to used French oak barrels for fermentation and aging. Muscat, also known as Moscato Gialla, Zibibbo, Muscat of Alexandria and or Muskateller is found from North Africa to Australia, though more common in Alsace, France, the United States and in Germany’s Pfalz region along with Italy’s Piedmonte region where is is famously grown for their Moscato d’Asti. Muscat is a highly perfumed grape with a striking Jasmine nose and can be done in many styles, as we see throughput to old and new world, with sweet, sparkling, dry and tawny editions being some of the wide range of Muscat offerings. There are many theories as to the origins of the Muscat grape, with its ancestors go back to the ancient Egyptians and Persians of early antiquity (c. 3000-1000 BC) while some ampelographers, such as Pierre Galet, believe that the family of Muscat varieties were propagated during the period of classical antiquity (c. 800 BC to 600 AD) by the Greeks and Romans. Because the exact origins of the Muscat family cannot be pinpointed we are relying on what maybe be myth that the grape originated in the Arabian country of Oman and was named after the city of Muscat located on the coast of the Gulf of Oman. There are at least 14 main Muscat offspring and the grape can be made sweet, dry and sparkling, as well as fortified with spirit for long lived desert wines or even Tawny Port, as done in Australia. Available at www.windyoaksestate.com

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Great article here on what we can do as an industry to make consumers more comfortable and confident in choosing wine as a beverage.

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To decant or not to decant....that is the question (which is answered in this article on Best Practices!!) #decant #wine #winetips #winelovers #winetime

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Wine consumption- U.S. Per Capita Wine Based Ready-to-Drink Consumption, 2022 #wine #wines #winebusiness #wineconsumption #drinks #wineindustry

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Essential Insights for Sommeliers, Importers, and Distributors to Optimize Wine-by-the-Glass Programs now available on Sommelier Business online magazine. Wine by-the-glass (BTG) programs form an essential component of restaurant and wine bar sales. If properly implemented, BTG sales can be highly profitable, lead to return business and result in larger-ticket bottle sales. Sommelier Business has collected a wealth of information, facts, and professional advice on BTG programs, also highlighting and explaining how BTG fits into an overall wine program. These articles will be of substantial use to restaurant owners, floor sommeliers, and wine directors. Wine importers and distributors should also understand how BTG programs work and which wines in their portfolio will perform well in their clients’ restaurants. So, a great place to start is the article on Wine Pricing: Strategy, Profitability, and Adjustments. “When it comes to wine by the glass, there are industry standards for developing a pricing strategy.” Learn about them here and how BTG fits into overall wine pricing. You can then take a deeper look at BTG with the article Your Wine By the Glass Program: Selections, Pricing and Merchandising and The Economics Of Wine-By-The-Glass Programs. Learn how, “in today’s competitive market, a well-executed wine-by-the-glass program can significantly enhance a restaurant's appeal and profitability.” These Sommelier Business articles explain how through operational aspects and best practices, “sommeliers and restaurant managers can create a dynamic, profitable, and customer-focused wine program.”

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Maximizing Sales and Customer Satisfaction with the Best Pinot Noirs of 2024. From a revenue perspective, a strong Pinot Noir selection will boost sales. By offering a range of Pinot price points and styles restaurants will appeal to different customer segments, encouraging both casual and celebratory purchases. We survey the best Pinot Noirs of 2024 for restaurant wine programs. Including a good selection of Pinot Noir on a restaurant's wine list is crucial due to its versatility and appeal across a wide range of diners. We have, therefore, curated eight top Pinot Noirs for 2024 wine lists based on judging at the London Wine Competition. London Competitions

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