In the ever-evolving world of wine, tasting rooms have long been sacred spaces for sampling vintages and educating consumers about winemaking. But recently, the definition of what belongs in a tasting room has expanded beyond the conventional pour. Enter the world of alternative beverages—non-alcoholic wines, wine-based cocktails like Frosé, and low-alcohol spritzers. These trends are carving out significant space, appealing to younger generations, health-conscious consumers, and a broader range of visitors. The rise of alternative beverages in tasting rooms isn’t just a fleeting fad—it’s a response to shifting consumer preferences and lifestyle trends. The adaptability of tasting rooms to these new offerings is a testament to the industry’s resilience. The question now isn’t whether tasting rooms should adapt, but how they can complement the core identity of wine while capturing the attention of a broader audience. Changing Consumer Preferen

Afternoon Brief: LVMH's MoÃÆ’Æ’«t Hennessy to Cut Workforce by 10%

New executives at LVMH's wine and spirits division aim to cut around 1,200 jobs from a current headcount of 9,400...

Afternoon Brief: The Annual SVB State of the Industry Survey Is Closing

These are the final days to participate in the 2024 State of the Industry Survey. We have a soft close scheduled for Friday the 18th but have decided to leave the survey open for stragglers through the weekend...

Afternoon Brief: Seaport Strike Could Spike NYC Wine Prices, Leave Produce Rotting Offshore, Experts Warn

A looming longshoremen's strike at seaports across the East Coast is slated to hammer New York City's supply chains -- and experts said the labor action could lead to a spike in wine prices, in addition to hundreds of tons of fruit going bad on ships stuck outside the harbor with no place to dock...

Zurich, June 3 - Amcor Capsules – the market leader specializing in the design and manufacture of capsules, closures, and eco-responsible foils for still wines, sparkling wines, and spirits – is preparing to launch ESSENTIELLE, a plastic-free foil made of aluminium and paper, in October 2024. With more than 280 years of history, Moët & Chandon, owned by LVMH, manages the largest vineyard in Champagne, with nearly 1,300 hectares of vines. The brand intends to continue its movement towards more sustainable packaging and is working with Amcor Capsules on the development and launch of its plastic-free foil. AN INNOVATIVE AND ECO-RESPONSIBLE CREATION The ESSENTIELLE foil is created using paper made in Europe, a material that has a lower carbon impact than other solutions made of plastic on the market. Indeed, by replacing plastic by paper the carbon footprint of this product is 31%1 lower compared to standard polylaminate foils. In addition, ESS

Afternoon Brief, July 31st

DTC Market Trends Toward a Re-Balanced Standard: The direct-to-consumer wine market is still trying to figure out what the new normal looks like. Is it the pandemic’s hyper growth? Is it the pre-pandemic’s pretty good growth? Or is it something else entirely?

Afternoon Brief, July 25th

Alexandre de Lur Saluces, Longtime Proprietor at Bordeaux’s Château d’Yquem, Dies at 89: The aristocrat was a global ambassador for the Sauternes icon, then waged a bitter battle to prevent LVMH’s takeover...

Afternoon Brief, July 5

Phelps Sale Shows Fine Wine Still Hot: If you want a statement about the strength of the luxury wine market, look no further than last week's purchase of Napa Valley's Joseph Phelps Vineyards by the French luxury company LVMH...

Bronwyn Dickson Ney is the founder of Bronwyn Ney Consulting, a marketing consulting firm focused on helping clients in wine, luxury, food, and hospitality. She is an expert in customer relationship marketing and has helped wineries drive significant growth over the years. We spoke with Bronwyn recently about luxury brands, stories, and connecting with the customer. Oh, and bacon. Listen to the full interview here or read along below:  Milton Cornwell: I’m excited to share another installment in our expert series for the wine industry. Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Bronwyn Ney, who has a fabulous background starting in luxury goods marketing with Sephora. She spent time with Clorox and ultimately held the Director of Marketing position with Hall Winery, and VP of Marketing and Direct with Knights Bridge. She now has her own consulting firm appropriately named Bronwyn Ney Marketing, which helps clients navigate the current marketing landscape. Her core focus on