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, March 26th

President of Treasury Americas, Ben Dollard to Keynote 2024 Wine Sales Symposium: Wine Industry Network (WIN) has announced Ben Dollard, President of Treasury Americas, as the distinguished keynote speaker for the upcoming Wine Sales Symposium...

Afternoon Brief, January 11th

Southern Wine and Spirits Late Fees $5.5 Million Class Action Settlement: Southern Wine and Spirits agreed to pay $5.5 million to resolve a class action lawsuit claiming that it charged higher late fees than allowed by California law...

The Urban Grape Opens January 25 in Washington, D.C. 

America’s largest certified Black-owned beverage retailer is coming to Shaw WASHINGTON (January 11, 2024)–The Urban Grape, one of the country’s most successful independently-owned wine stores, will open in Washington, D.C. […]

Afternoon Brief, January 23rd

Selling a Younger Generation on Wine: The wine industry is failing to engage younger consumers, but what can it do to change that?...

Messina Hof Winery Wins Awards at 38th Lone Star International Wine Competition

The winery was recognized in three distinctive categories GRAPEVINE, TEXAS – (October 29, 2021) –Messina Hof Winery, with an urban wine tasting room in  Historic Grapevine, Texas, earned three prestigious awards at the 38th Lone Star International Wine  Competition (LSIWC) held on October 6 – 7 in Grapevine, Texas. LSIWC is the oldest and most  […]

Our world has changed in so many ways in just four weeks, as we all address the Coronavirus (COVID-19) challenge that has affected everyone throughout the world. We hope all our friends, clients, business associates and their families are safe – we are thinking of each and every one of you during this time. It is difficult discussing the marketplace given that it can seem insignificant compared to all that is going on around us. But as we work through the challenge at hand, we feel the need to develop a new sense of normalcy – so with that intent we wish to share with you what we are currently seeing on the world’s grape and bulk wine markets. The recurring theme from this month’s report is the extent to which business is continuing as close to normal as possible in the current circumstances. Pre-lockdown stockpiling at supermarkets and other offtrade channels throughout the world in March – from Australia and New Zealand to Europe and the US – at le