Alison Smith Story’s Post

The erratic weather pattern of the past two Okanagan winters was a shot across the bow of the good ship known as the Okanagan wine region. And the motley crew of local vintners are justifiably panicked and in survival mode. Much has been written about our industry's plight lately, but nothing more compelling than Michael Kullman's 'Love Letter of Hard Truths.' His eloquent and thought-provoking piece in Wines & Vines  (https://lnkd.in/gNWHZiT) is a must-read for everyone who cares deeply about the wines from here. His winery, Osoyoos-Larose, is an excellent example of brand building in pursuing excellence. The owners, Bordeaux-based Groupe Taillan, realized early on (1998) that the Okanagan Valley is a relatively tiny growing area, making high-volume, entry-level wine production near impossible. Thus, the focus is, or ought to be, on distinctive, hand-crafted quality wines. There are only two markets for wine: those besotted by quality and those besotted by price. If you're only known for making cheap wine, you're always vulnerable to being beaten on price. Quality is harder to create, but consumers know quality when they taste it. The survival of our wine region depends on those wineries that can stay the course of excellence, those that, after overcoming a temporary setback, realize that the future of 'Brand Okanagan' is all about growing even better grapes and making even better wine. Easier said than done. Those who believe we have arrived fail to recognize that we're still emerging and must be better. Globally, we're more a curiosity than an establishment. And we will never amount to much unless we insist on authentic industry leadership without petty jealousies and self-serving business strategies. We accomplish this with excellent wines, with quiet confidence and humility, but also with justifiable pride. But not with iconographic edifices and displays of elitist arrogance. Let's hope we will emerge from this with a shared vision and a strategic plan to drive long-term growth. Our best is yet to come, and the Okanagan Valley will be the most extraordinary "Next World" region one day.

Louisiana is a perfect example of how the economic impact of wine isn’t only about production, but even more about consumption. In fact, the retail sector alone accounts for 93% of the jobs and 76% of the total economic output in the “Direct Impact” category, which includes winery, vineyard, wholesale, retail, and other subcategories. The state may have only 9 wine producers, but it has some of the world’s finest restaurants and a vibrant nightlife, making it a significant “wine state”. Read more about this state's profile here: https://lnkd.in/eTg9WDPd

Most importantly this is long tail rural economic development.

I recently attended a LinkedIn workshop and found it fascinating to explore and develop this social media and news platform. I work in the wine industry and have noticed very little effort from wineries and businesses in utilizing this platform for a number of years. I often feel puzzled about the lack of discussions surrounding business aspects, strategies, marketing, and decision-making in the industry. (which is extremely crowded) Each winery is a business and, as such, has to make decisions to grow or, at the very least, sustain itself. Even in winemaking. I'm starting to get annoyed when winemakers and marketers spin the tale of 'I don't do much in the cellar.' Are you making vinegar? Saturday rumbles: 01 #LinkedIn #wineries #business #wineindustry

California wineries - have you filed your CA Grape Crush report yet? They now offer an "EZ" version which is much simpler! Take a look at my post here to find out if your winery (or wine business) qualifies to use this EZ version of the report:

The Origins of Boxed Wine: A Journey from Australia to America 🍷 Boxed wine, a staple for many American college students and young adults, traces its origins back to 20th-century Australia. While the concept became popular in the United States during the 1980s, it initially took off in Australia a decade earlier. In the 1950s, the Sholle family in the U.S. developed the bag-in-box packaging system for battery acid, which inspired Thomas Angove of Angove Family Winemakers in South Australia to apply the concept to wine. Angove’s innovation addressed the fragility and spoilage issues associated with glass bottles, setting the stage for boxed wine’s evolution. 📦 The early iterations of boxed wine in Australia featured wine poured through a spout and sealed with a peg or paperclip. Recognising its potential, Penfolds, another Australian winery, collaborated with inventor Charles Malpas to develop a tap for the wine bag. Although initially stored in tins, the transition to the American bag-in-box method solidified the packaging we know today. By the 1970s, boxed wine had become a sensation in Australia, capturing a significant market share due to its affordability and convenience. 🍇 Boxed wine’s success in Australia paved the way for its introduction to the American market in the 1980s, where it quickly gained popularity. Despite fluctuations in its global appeal, boxed wine remains iconic in Australia, comprising a significant portion of the market. As the industry continues to innovate and adapt to modern tastes, boxed wine offers a cost-effective and versatile option for consumers, with its roots firmly planted in Australian ingenuity. #BoxedWine #WineIndustry #AustralianInnovation #WineHistory

Positive Growth in the Idaho Wine Industry: Exploring New Opportunities and Trends. Dr. Liz Thach, MW, Ashlee Struble, Eric Degerman, Earl Sullivan, #IdahoWine #WineIndustry #MarketGrowth #WineOpportunities #VineyardNews #WineTrends #BusinessInsights #WineLovers #IndustryGrowth #MarketTrends

CALIFORNIA WINE AND VINEYARDS ARE IN TROUBLE The statistics speak volumes: California is America’s number-one wine producer, producing 81 percent of U.S. wine sales. There are approximately 637,000 acres planted to wine grapes, making the Golden State the fourth-largest wine producer in the world. Not surprisingly, those endless rows of vines generate amazingly diverse wine tasting experiences—including everything from high-end pairings in the Napa Valley to neighborly barn tastings in Sonoma County to cave tours and winemaker chats from Mendocino County to Temecula. California Insider / Story by Siyamak Khorrami: California is home to some of the world’s most renowned wine regions, including Napa Valley, Sonoma, and Lodi, making it a top global wine producer. However, the state’s wine industry is facing a significant slowdown in sales. Wineries are filled with unsold inventory and grape growers are struggling to find buyers for their grapes, even at steep discounts. https://lnkd.in/ekRYzjaw

"Blue-chip California bottles will frequently command three, four or five-digit sums on the secondary market...To fully consider the state of California collectibles, we gathered secondary-market data on dozens of wines to deduce the most iconic California bottlings today." Kate Dingwall and Jim Gordon writing for Wine Enthusiast on the top 10 California wines to collect right now - read the full article here: https://hubs.li/Q02K2Crj0

WHY WORLD-CLASS WINEMAKERS ARE HEADED FOR THE FINGER LAKES For decades, Napa was the promised land for ambitious vintners eager to make a mark in the wine industry. But in recent years, a number of factors are sending winemakers to one of the most quietly beloved but stubbornly under-the-radar regions in the country: the Finger Lakes. Establishing a winery in Napa is now really only possible for the rich. Prime vineyard land alone runs between $300,000 and $400,000+ per acre in the Napa Valley, according to a cost assessment study conducted by UC Davis – and that’s just the land, without considering the costs of labor, the building out of a winery, or the purchase of any of the tools needed to farm, ferment, age and produce a single bottle of wine. In contrast, planting a vineyard and bringing it to production in the Finger Lakes, requires about $43,443, all in per acre, a study byCornell University found. This simple maths pushed wife and husband duo Ria D’Aversa and Michael Penn to put down a stake in the Finger Lakes with Ria’s Wines in 2022. Prior to discovering Finger Lakes, Penn was the head winemaker at Green and Red Vineyard in Napa, while D’Aversa managed Constellation Brands’ Napa vineyard, and the duo had also launched their own passion project, Pennrose. On paper, everything was rosy. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ewkSWXQn By Kathleen Willcox, The Drinks Business University of California, Davis Cornell University New York Wine & Grape Foundation USDA NielsenIQ Ria’s Wines www.rias-wines.com GREEN AND RED VINEYARD LLC Trestle Thirty One Neverstill Wines www.neverstillwines.com Usonia Wine www.usoniawine.com Red Newt Cellars Forge Cellars #fingerlakes #newyork #wine #wineries #vineyards #winemaking #wineregion