Wine Education Archives

Wines of Portugal Annual Tasting [London] March 29th, 2022

After almost 2 years without coming to the market as a group, Portuguese wine producers are eager to show what they’ve been working on these last few months.

Portuguese wine exports have rocketed to a historical global level of 925 million euros in 2021 (+8.11% vs 2020). And there’s more good news, specifically for the UK, as 10.58% of all Portuguese wines exported come to this market, making it the 3rd biggest market for Portugal (after France and the US).

The Annual Tasting will take place on March 29th, at St Mary’s Church in Marylebone (London, W1H 1PQ), being the first Wines of Portugal tasting to take place worldwide. Historically, it is a very important tasting, reflecting the importance of the UK market for Portuguese wine exports and it happens the year the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance celebrates its 650th anniversary.

Presenting 70 producers, from 10 different wine regions, and more than 600 wines, the day will be an opportunity to get a sense of what’s new, trendy and what has been moving Portuguese winemakers, as well as to taste the new vintages. There will be a mixture of completely new wines and iconic wines that have built the reputation of Portuguese wines over the years.

Complementing this program, Wines of Portugal is organizing two masterclasses to show the diversity of Portuguese wines and why they are so suitable for the on-trade.

Registration: https://bit.ly/3tlUUBR

#masterclass #wine #winetasting #wineevent #LondonUK #port #uk #portuguesewines #portugal #winesofportugal #vinho #winelovers #vinhosdeportugal #douro #redwine #whitewine #instawine #winetourism #dourovalley #winetime #winetrade #winejournalist #wineeducation

Six Tips for Ordering Wine in Restaurants

Here’s a convenient list on why wines get marked up, and how to get the best deals and service when ordering. The list is compiled by EBT who interviewed some trade experts.

The highest-priced bottles have the lowest markups

If you are determined not to pay more than £25 for a bottle of wine, you might be missing a great deal, said Mark McDonald, chef and co-owner of Old Vibe Kitchen & Bar in Costa Mesa. “Sometimes it can take a year or more to sell 12 bottles of £150 wine,” he explained. “Typically, if I did a standard markup on that it wouldn’t be approachable, and it would be harder to sell. We want people to experience some of these wines that are a little more special, and that are a higher price point. So, we take less of a margin on those.”

Wine by the glass has the highest markups

The “I’m going to save money by having just one glass” plan doesn’t always work out as cost-effective. After all, many restaurants charge the same or nearly the same price for a glass as they would for the bottle. That’s because if they serve one glass and the rest of the bottle doesn’t sell in a week, it will not be at its best, unless they’re using a Coravin or similar, and therefore they’ll have to throw it out anyway.

The per-glass price of a bottle that’s £10 wholesale would be £12. Even if it’s only marked up double £20 when it’s sold by the bottle, you buy two glasses of wine, and you’re spending £24. Might as well buy the bottle and get four glasses for £20.

Lawry’s Restaurants solved that problem by narrowing down its by-the-glass selection. “We did some analysis on it. If you have the right amount of wine by the glass for the restaurant, it really doesn’t cost any more,” said Laura Ratner, director of service and training at Lawry’s Restaurants Inc. “It’s like, if I’m going to have a glass and a half, two glasses, as is my dining companion, then definitely get the bottle and yes, you’re more assured of a higher quality product, you know exactly how long it’s been open. It just makes more financial sense.”

The wine service you get at a restaurant can’t be replicated at home and that’s why you’re paying extra

It is a fact that most restaurant wines come directly from wineries or a trusted distributor or agent. Bottles don’t sit around at room temperature on supermarket shelves, or worse, out in the sun on a loading dock. They have been stored at the restaurant cellar, often in temperature-controlled areas, which is part of the restaurant’s footprint;
The selection is always going to be better than the average person could own or store themselves, sometimes with hundreds of bottles or more. Restaurants have well-trained staff, sommeliers and general managers on hand to answer any questions about the wine and to hear from you about what kinds of wines you like. Most good restaurants will have made sure their team attend wine tastings at work led by experts from distribution companies or wineries; and
The glassware must be sturdy. When fine dining rooms use fancy, fragile glasses, they could be losing a dozen a week. In most restaurants, when the wine list gets revamped, the glassware also receives an upgrade.

Don’t think you’re paying a sommelier’s salary

Starting in the late ’80s, the number of people getting sommelier-certified saw an uplift. Fine dining restaurants at the highest levels still might have somms, but most restaurants, even upscale chains, can’t afford to pay a somm full-time so that expense is not getting passed on to wine buyers. Most often restaurants require waiters and general managers to study wines served and/or get some sommelier training.

“We can’t afford to pay somebody hourly to come in just to open wine between six and nine o’clock, it doesn’t make sense,” said Lewis. “I’m like an acting GM. I do the wine service. I’ll open wine all day long.”

The most popular wines are sold at the lowest prices

Restaurants won’t excessively mark up a well-known wine. “Don’t forget, people now have their iPhones when they’re going to a restaurant,” said Tony Maalouf, restaurant manager at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside. “They have an idea what they’re buying and they know what the market price is for that wine,” he said.

Corkage fees: Remember the rules of engagement

Bringing your own wine has become more common in some venues aiming to keep overheads down, especially during and post-pandemic. But we often need to remember in these instances that wine is the only thing on the menu for which you can name your price. Remember, if you bring your own wine then it’s only courteous to show up with something that’s not already on the wine list, especially a bottle you’ve been saving for a special occasion. It’s also considered a nice gesture to offer the server a taste.

#wine #winelovers #winetasting #wine #instawine #winetips #winelist #winetime #sommelier #somm #restaurant #vino #vin #redwine #whitewine #rosewine #foodandwine #winegeek #winebar #winecellar

Sources:
Drinks Business
EBT

Cult Wines Americas – The Future of Fine Wine Investment [Part 1]

The “Silver Linings” are real when it comes to fine wine. Despite 2021 being an unprecedented year due to COVID lockdowns, volatile markets, and Brexit challenges, it has been a record-breaking year for fine wine investment.

Both Champagne and Burgundy have an excellent final quarter, with Champagne gaining 22.98%, according to the Liv-ex Champagne 50 index, and the Burgundy 150 posted a 11.19% quarterly gain in advance of the upcoming 2020 vintage en primeur releases. The fine wine market certainly shows encouraging signs that a brighter future is ahead.

According to the Liv-ex Bordeaux 500 Index, over the last 18 months, there has been a resurgence of interest not only from those who have been building their wine portfolios over the longer term but also from new investors.

There are some big investors looking into this alternative-asset class including Warren Buffett himself, so I thought it would be a good idea to investigate further. Cult Wines Investment came on top of my searches.

About Cult Wines Investment
Founders Tom and Phil Gearing launched the Cult Wines platform in London during 2007 with the idea to revolutionize the way fine wine investment works and make the asset class more accessible. Not only is Cult Wine Investment the global leader in fine wine collection and investment management, but they are also on a mission to make investing in wine as enjoyable and rewarding as the wine itself.  The leadership team have a deep-rooted passion for fine vintages, and close relationships with prestigious and respected growers, as well as market-leading investment expertise.

Enters “Cult Wines” Americas
Cult Wines enters the North American market in 2021 with headquarters in New York and Toronto, as one of the first wine investment platforms with a special focus on US and Canadian investors.

“The US is a big player in the auction and collectors’ market but historically has been underserved in the wine investment market,” describes Tom Gearing, the CEO and co-founder of Cult Wines.

“Historically, the wine investment category has been perceived as only for the wealthy, or those with considerable wine knowledge. We know that is not the case and are enabling more people to invest effectively while maintaining the client service, impeccable standards, and returns for which we are known,” said Atul Tiwari, CEO Cult Wines Americas.

Cult Wine Investments website: www.wineinvestment.com

Here is a list of the Americas leadership team and either wines they have really enjoyed or regions they love.

Tom Gearing, Global CEO

Tom Gearing oversees the company’s overall strategy, global operations, and technology innovation. Tom has grown this start-up to an award-winning global company with $390 million assets under management (AUM) and 80+ employees in six offices including: United Kingdom, North America, and Asia Pacific.

Tom has been regularly quoted in the New York Times, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and Forbes. As well as being the recipient of numerous awards, he has received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade and the Spear’s 500. He also holds a WSET Level 3.

Tom’s Favorite Wines:

Tom enjoys chardonnay and pinot noir, and at the same time, he likes to try as many different styles and grape varieties as possible. His most memorable vinous experiences to date are Petrus ’61 en Magnum, Liger Belair La Romanee ’09 and Domaine Leroy, Richebourg ’03.

Atul Tiwari, CEO, Americas

Atul Tiwari leads the team and is responsible for the overall strategy and development of Cult Wines Americas. Hailed by Investment Executive as ‘having a knack for knowing what’s next.’

As former CEO of Vanguard Canada, Atul and his team helped pioneer ETF investing in Canada and grew the company to $30 billion in assets over 7.5 years. Prior to Vanguard, he was the founding President of BMO Exchange Traded Funds. In 2018 he received the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce award for Corporate Executive of the Year and has twice been named to Wealth Professional’s annual list of People to Watch in the industry. Atul is a member of the Independent Review Committee for Mackenzie Funds, a Director of the D.D. Foundation, Atul is also a member of the Advisory Council for the CFA Society of Toronto and an Honorary Trustee of the Royal Ontario Museum.

Atul has previously managed a 4,000-bottle cellar of Bourgogne for Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin (Toronto). It’s interesting to note that he also has a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and has practiced in both London (UK) and Toronto before transitioning to finance.

Atul’s Favorite Wines:

Atul has a passion and is very knowledgeable on Bourgogne, in addition he enjoys Bordeaux and Italian wines.

Carrie Tuck, CMO, Americas

Carrie has spent nearly two decades working in public relations and marketing for multimillion-dollar brands and start-ups within the financial services industry.

Prior to joining Cult Wines Americas as Chief Marketing Officer, Carrie was the Head of Marketing for Vanguard, Canada and was instrumental in building the brand in the region. Throughout her career, Carrie has held various senior positions at asset management and fund companies, where she ran marketing, product and client service. Carrie also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Concordia University.

Favorite Wines:

Carrie likes to experiment with wine, so she seizes opportunities to try new wines whenever she can.

Jonathan Stevenson, EVP, Americas

Jonathan brings over ten years and extensive experience in the alternative investment sector of fine wine to his role of Executive Vice President at Cult Wines. In 2021, he was appointed to oversee Cult Wines’ global expansion into the Americas and is responsible for growing the client base.

Previously, Jonathan was the Sales Manager for the UK sales team. He began his career at Cult Wines as a Portfolio Manager after graduating from Newcastle University (UK) with a degree in Marketing and Management.

Favorite Wine:
Vega Sicilia Unico

– Up Next –

Cult Wines Americas – The Future of Fine Wine Investment [Part 2]

I will explore and do a deeper dive into this growing alternative-asset class, and explore Cult Wine’s new investment platform how it makes investing in fine wine more accessible!

#wine #finewine #wineinvestment #alternativeinvestment #winenews #winelovers #winecollectors #champagne #bordeaux #burgundy #finewinelovers #wineindustry #winebusiness #winetrade #winetrends #vin #frenchwine #winemarket #winenews #wineeconomics #vintagewine #wineinvestors #cultwines #cultwinesamericas #cultwinesUSA #cultwinescanada #cultcru #bourgogne #mycultcollection #winewednesday

Disclaimer

Past performance is not indicative of future success; the performance was calculated in GBP and will vary in other currencies. Any investment involves risk of partial or full loss of capital. The Cult Wines Index is a hypothetical tool. The results depicted here are not based on actual trading and do not account for the annual management fees that may be charged to a Cult Wines customer which ranges from 2.95% to 2.25% depending on the size of the portfolio, and there is no guarantee of similar performance with an investor’s particular portfolio.

Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris is set to open February 14th

Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris confirms it will take place February 14 – 16 2022 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and is all-set to greet the international wine and spirits industry in the best possible conditions.

The Vinexposium group’s flagship event will be the first major international gathering of the year. Highly awaited by the wine and spirits industry, which has been unable to meet up in Paris for nearly two years, Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris will welcome 2,800 exhibitors from 32 countries over three days. France will be widely represented with ramped up attendance by every region, all of which support this major export-focused exhibition and have jointly decided to go ahead with it as scheduled in February. Stakeholders across-the-board are very involved in the final preparation stages leading up to Paris next month and the teams at Vinexposium are redoubling their efforts to make Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris a highly effective tool for promoting market recovery.

“Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris has rapidly become an unmissable event that we are very much looking forward to! We are delighted to be able to take part in this major wine gathering in Paris next month, to meet up with our customers again and to boost our business in export markets”, is the reaction from Philippe Guigal, CEO of E. GUIGAL.

“February 14 this year is a long-awaited date in my diary, not for Saint Valentine but the return of a great European wine fair in Paris. Sorely missed last year, I eagerly await reconnecting with dear friends and suppliers and hunting out new great wines and relationships to build on for the year ahead. With an enormous array of excellent wine on show my only reservation is three days isn’t long enough”, comments John Chapman, Managing Director of The Oxford Wine Company.

Ongoing safety arrangements will be executed with utmost rigour to ensure the event runs seamlessly while providing the comfort and conviviality expected by attendees. Measures include a valid health pass (or vaccination pass depending on current regulations) which will be essential for accessing the event, along with mandatory face coverings. Digital access badges (e-badge) will be favoured and an enhanced cleaning process will be used in every area throughout the three-day event.

These conditions will enable all attendees to fully benefit from the extensive range of features at the 2022 exhibition, which will be punctuated by key areas and headline events. The programme has been designed to offer all industry members an optimised in-person experience with numerous masterclasses and tastings, multi-format talks by experts and inspiring personalities and popular themed areas – Be Spirits will honour spirits and mixology, Wine Tech Perspectives will allow attendees to dive deep into the heart of innovation and digitalisation in the industry and La Nouvelle Vague will highlight young winemakers and talents.

Vinexposium’s teams have a good handle on the development of the health situation and government regulations to ensure the event is a success.

For more information: wineparis-vinexpo.com

#vinexposiumconnect #vinexposium40 #celebration #globalevents #winesandspirits #winetrade
#wineevent #wine #winelovers #winetasting #wineparis #VinexpoParis #Paris #Parisevent #winelover #winelovers #instawine #winetime #vin #winestragram #winery #winebusiness #winefair #winepassion #whitewine #redwine #igersfrance #igersparis

OnePoll Survey: Only 17% of Wine Drinkers Consume Wine the Right Way

When ordering a bottle of wine in a restaurant, it’s customary to receive some sort of presentation as well as a “first sniff, swirl, and sip” to make sure it’s to your liking. According to a new survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Woodbridge Wines, only 17 % of wine drinkers swirl and sniff the beverage before drinking it.

To obtain the results of this research, researchers polled over 2,000 United States respondents over the age of 21. Researchers found that 67 % of people believe that there are right and wrong ways to drink wine, but only 22 % believe proper wine etiquette greatly enhances their drinking experience.

“Just like everything in life, there are so many old-school, traditional rules in wine culture that people feel like they need to follow—swirling, sniffing, pairing,” says Serena Shrivastava, brand director for Woodbridge Wines. “We encourage everyone to play by their own rules instead and leave any judgement behind.”

Further studies concluded seven out of 10 respondents said they drink wine more than any other type of alcohol during the winter months, and perhaps surprisingly, 62% of men and 50% of women said they would choose wine over beer while watching sports.

#wine #winetrends #winelovers #winenews #wineresearch #instawine #winetasting #winetime
#mondaymood #mondayvibes #winerules