Product News

by Wines & Vines staff

 

Winery and Vineyard Equipment

 

 

Hand truck with powered lift

 

 

Editor's Letter

by Jim Gordon

 

Academia and Industry Must Meet

 

 

The American Society for Enology and Viticulture has been promoting the wine industry’s health by supporting research and education for 64 years. That’s why this is our 64th annual Enology and Viticulture Issue, which coincides with the annual conference of the ASEV (see page 46 for more details about this month’s conference in Monterey, Calif.).

 

 

Inquiring Winemaker

by Steve Pessagno

 

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

 

 

If you exclude my one-year internship stint, 2012 marked my 30th harvest as a winemaker. I don’t have to tell my winemaking colleagues that this is the one profession that makes your non-winemaking friends envious. You are never bored, you make decisions on the spot every day, you drink great wines and eat well, you’re always learning something, and you meet the most interesting people—many of whom become good friends.

 

 

Wine Industry Data Center

by Jim Gordon

 

Fast-Growing Sales Accompany Lower Prices  

 

 

 

 

The premium wine category with the biggest price reduction enjoyed the biggest percentage gain in sales during the past 52 weeks, according to March data from the Symphony IRI Group (SIG). Domestic table wines priced at $20 and higher came down in price by $3.62 per case, yet they rang up sales of $238 million (a 15% increase).

 

 

Vineyard View

by Cliff Ohmart

 

How is Biodiversity Measured?  

 

 

Increasing biodiversity in and around vineyards is often touted as one of the goals of sustainable winegrowing, and it is frequently mentioned as an important component of other sustainable cropping systems.

 

 

Viewpoint

by Chris Appleby

 

Is There a Market for Sulfite-Free Wine?  

 

 

Consumers are increasingly seeking out natural food products, a trend that stems from a growing suspicion of additives and chemical preservatives. Because natural foods are commonly linked to good health and being better for the environment, products marketed in this way are often priced at a premium. Within the wine industry, these marketing campaigns are sometimes manifested through the fast-growing organic sector that, among other things, forgoes the use of added sulfites.

 

 

Marketing Matters

by Dixie Lee Huey

 

Managing Direct Consumer Sales  

 

 

There have been some particularly hot challenge topics in the industry during the past few years—distributor consolidation, price pressure, brand proliferation and, of course, the economy. These trends and the down part of the economic cycle are real, and in an acute way they necessitate a focus on marketing-driven sales strategies. Wishful thinking, status quo and avoidance do not sell wine. Thankfully, proactive measures do, especially when implemented on a consistent basis, measured and improved for maximum efficacy.

 

 

Wine East Opinion

by Hudson Cattell

 

Eastern Fruit Wines are 'Stealth' Wines  

 

 

I’ve seen the term “stealth” applied to wines that get little notice; that is, they “fly under the radar.” Fruit wines could be called stealth wines simply because in comparison with grape wines they get little attention in the wine world, even though increasingly more wineries are making them and many consumers like them. But they could also qualify as stealth wines because they are all too often the subjects of hidden discrimination that takes place without explanation.