Published: 06 January, 2015
As someone who has been working in the Chinese wine industry for quite some time, it is not uncommon to meet winery owner/export manager/brand manager who are desperately talking about trying to enter Chinese market and get on track with this fast growing industry. But like the old saying, it is always easier saying(in this case, planning) than doing. Chinese market is more sophisticated than other market in many ways, and spending days reading marketing research material simply won't cut it. I would like a share some Chinese insight into entering the Chinese market which many wineries might neglect one thing or two.
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Published: 05 January, 2015
Over the next two weeks I will not only be visiting numerous wineries or farms as they call them here but cooking at two prestigious pop up events. The first is on Friday January 9 at The Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town, where 80 guests will be served a six course dinner matched with 12 premium wines blind from Australia and South Africa. The second dinner will be held at 96 Winery Road, in the company of Mr Chenin; Ken Forrester. Prior to that I have organised a tasting of South African sparkling wines, with one of England's top Fizz, Sugrue Pierre, thrown into the mix, bringing together some of the Cape's top tasters and sparkling wines.
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Published: 04 January, 2015
Michael Karam, acclaimed journalist, ambassador for Lebanese wine and author of Wines of Lebanon remembers, Serge Hochar, the charismatic and buccaneering owner of Lebanon's Château Musar, who died at the age of 74, while on holiday with his family in Mexico over the new year.
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Published: 02 January, 2015
Nick Oakley of Oakley Wine Agencies on the growth of Portuguese wines in 2014, and how he'd like to sell more to independent merchants.
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Published: 02 January, 2015
Outspoken independent merchant and Harpers' blogger Stephen Forward of Essentially Wine picks out Naked Wines, Oddbins and Borough Wines as ones to watch in 2015.
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Published: 01 January, 2015
Matthew Hennings of Hennings Wine Merchants, says the trade must continue to fight against those intent on 'dumbing down' wine to the consumer with 'whopping discounts and lousy wine'.
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Published: 01 January, 2015
Anita Jackson, UK director for Wines of Chile, says 2014 got off to a tough start, and tips Chile for further organic and sustainable innovations for 2015.
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Published: 31 December, 2014
David Frost, Scotch Whisky Association chief executive, reflects on the Scottish referendum and the increased investment in the sector, while hoping for an improvement in sales in 2015.
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Published: 31 December, 2014
Ted Sandbach, managing director of independent wine merchant the Oxford Wine Company, talks about plans to open a new wine bar in 2015, and how deep supermarket discounting is still a serious challenge for independents.
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Published: 31 December, 2014
Jerry Lockspeiser, chairman of Off Piste Wines and serial wine industry entrepreneur as well as Harpers columnist, gives his thoughts on why 2015 may be a "crossroads year" for the retail trade, and how we are still "failing to inspire" wine drinkers.
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Published: 30 December, 2014
Doug Wood, owner of Scottish independent merchant WoodWinters, lets off steam about supermarkets, credit control and 'parasitic internet-only' retailers, while looking forward to lots of Christmas presents from staff.
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Published: 30 December, 2014
John McLaren, UK director of the Wine Institute of California, on how the UK has changed to become a fresh land of opportunity for Californian producers, how it's in a 'holding pattern' with grocers, and why he 'may scream' if he's told to 'engage with consumers' again.
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Published: 29 December, 2014
Neil Anderson, marketing director at Kingsland, considers how and why brands need to think more about consumers for the year ahead, and reckons companies should be looking to those outside the category for inspiration.
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Published: 29 December, 2014
Giles James, UK business development manager for New Zealand's Mission Estate, talks about Kim Kardashian breaking the internet, why provenance is a major opportunity, and why Noble Inns is one to watch.
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Published: 26 December, 2014
Hal Wilson, managing director of independent merchant Cambridge Wine Company, gives us the low-down on opening a new wine bar, Cahors wines making a comeback and why he's watching this space with Philglas & Swiggot.
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Published: 26 December, 2014
John Osborne, managing director of the PLB trading division at Bibendum PLB, talks about the 'year of transformation', how retailers must adapt to the changes in how consumers shop and further supplier consolidation into next year.
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Published: 26 December, 2014
Julian Dyer, general manager for UK & Europe at Australian Vintage, talks about McGuigan breaking into the Top 5 global wine brands in the UK, consolidation in the supply sector, and why he's back the WSTA's Drop the Duty campaign.
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Published: 25 December, 2014
The new wine 'face' of BBC's Food & Drink programme Joe Wadsack fills us in on Balkan wines, presenting on the Beeb and why London's on-trade margins are 'taking the mick'.
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Published: 25 December, 2014
Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine & Spirits Trade Association, says the industry's progress against the Responsibility Deal is something to shout about. Meanwhile he's gearing up the pre-Budget Drop the Duty campaign and planning to engage with government after 2015's General Election.
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Published: 25 December, 2014
Pierpaolo Petrassi MW, head of beers, wines and spirits at Waitrose shares his thoughts on grocery retail's decline, his inspiration from the team at Waitrose and why we should all be watching Amazon.
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