My son finally arrived yesterday morning, which means that the OIV series will have to be put temporarily on hold. I do expect to make tomorrow’s talks on Winery Costs and Profitability, so check back then for info on building and financing inventory, size distribution and market niche and their affect on profitability, financing premium [...]

If you are in the Sonoma/Napa area, here are a couple upcoming wine events that are sure to be a great time. Pinot Noirs From Around the World July 24, 6:30pm Farmhouse Wine Director/ Sommelier Geoff Kruth will host and moderate the evening’s four-course dinner paired with pinot noirs from around the world prepared by [...]

Note: Yesterday was replete with big box retailer talk, information on category management, and other trends in supermarket retailing. While it was interesting to see the world through the supermarket retailer’s eyes, it just cemented in my mind that a luxury low volume producer has no business even contemplating developing relationships with them. Our price [...]

National distributors and small premium producers don’t mix. Due to consolidation in the market, even if you do actually get a national wholesaler to take on your brand for the amazingly low price of around half of your per bottle revenue, you’ll still have to incent the heck out of the distributor for your product [...]

The positioning of ultra premiums, luxury wines, cult wines, unobtainables – whatever you want to call them – was the focus of Hanzell Vineyards National Sales Manager Armen Khachaturian today. His was an interesting talk because of all the presenters so far, his advice on brand positioning and tactics were greeted with the most outright [...]