Category: Wine Marketing

Assouline Releases Wine & Travel United States of America – A Strategic Lens on American Wine Tourism and Cultural Branding

I’m thrilled to receive a copy of Assouline’s Wine & Travel United States of America – fresh off the press!

With a quick overview, this latest publication from Assouline offers a timely exploration of the American wine industry through the dual lenses of culture and tourism. Authored by Enrico Bernardo, World’s Best Sommelier (2004), the book reveals how America’s wine regions are shaping both consumer tastes and the nation’s global identity for premium wine tourism, presenting these regions not only as destinations but also as cultural expressions of land, climate, and community.

Bernardo takes readers from California’s Santa Barbara, where Rhône varietals thrive in the Pacific breeze, to Oregon’s Willamette Valley, globally recognized for its refined Pinot Noir. Along the way, he highlights the distinct terroirs of Washington’s Walla Walla Valley, the pioneering sustainability of Sonoma and Mendocino, and the charm of New York’s Finger Lakes. Each chapter underscores how geography, climate, and human vision intersect to create wines that reflect a nation’s spirit of innovation and tradition.

Beyond viticulture, Wine & Travel: USA celebrates the art of hospitality and the culinary traditions that define American wine culture. From Michelin-starred dining in Napa to the approachable tasting rooms of emerging regions, Bernardo further illustrates how wine tourism is a key driver of regional economies and as a catalyst for cross-sector growth in gastronomy, hospitality, and cultural heritage.

A celebrated figure in gastronomy, Bernardo was named Best Sommelier in the World in 2004. His career includes helming Michelin-starred restaurants, global consulting, and authoring seminal works such as The Impossible Collection of Wine and The Impossible Collection of Champagne. With Wine & Travel: USA, he offers both oenophiles and travelers an immersive journey across vineyards, valleys, and coastlines, positioning American wine as a cultural treasure on the world stage.

For wine tourism professionals, the publication reinforces the importance of storytelling, hospitality innovation, and sustainability in strengthening regional identity. It provides not only inspiration but also strategic insight into how American wine destinations can continue to expand market share and cultural resonance on the global stage.

I’m looking forward to digging in and reading this thoughtful study of how American wine regions are redefining global wine tourism!

Great Wine Capitals 2026 Best of Wine Tourism Regional Awards Announces Napa Valley Winners

The regional Napa Valley delegation for the Great Wine Capitals, which includes the County of Napa, Napa Valley Vintners, and Visit Napa Valley, has announced the winners of the 2026 Best of Wine Tourism Regional Awards.

The annual Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Awards celebrate innovation and excellence in wine tourism across the world’s leading wine regions. Napa Valley is among 11 global regions recognized internationally by the Great Wine Capitals Network for delivering exceptional wine tourism experiences.

Tourism and hospitality businesses in Napa Valley were invited to self-nominate in one of seven categories during August. Submissions were reviewed and winners selected by a judging panel that included representatives from the County of Napa, Napa Valley Vintners, and Visit Napa Valley.

The Great Wine Capitals 2026 Best of Wine Tourism Regional Award winners, by category, are:

  • Accommodation –  The George
  • Architecture & Landscapes – Cuvaison Winery
  • Art & Culture – Boisset Collection 
  • Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences – Sterling Vineyards 
  • Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices – CHANDON 
  • Culinary Experiences – Clif Family Winery 
  • Wine Tourism Services – Festival Napa Valley 

Last year’s (2025) Napa Valley Regional Award winners included: Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs (Accommodation), Signorello Estate (Architecture & Landscapes),  Rail Arts District (RAD) Napa (Art & Culture), Olabisi Winery (Vine Trail Adventures)  (Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences), Pine Ridge Vineyards (Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices), Oxbow Public Market (Culinary Experiences), Napa Valley Wine Train (Wine Tourism Services). Napa Valley Wine Train went on to receive global recognition as the 2025 Global Winner in the  Wine Tourism Services category.

In addition to being recognized in front of an audience of industry peers, the 2026 regional award winners are now in consideration for the Global Best of Wine Tourism Awards. Global winners will be announced at the Great Wine Capitals Annual General Meeting held in Bordeaux, France, in November 2025.

For further information, visit: https://www.visitnapavalley.com/blog/post/2026-best-of-wine-tourism-award-winners/

Wine Tourism Review: Dimora Cottanera on the slopes of Etna

This is a retreat where Sicilian authenticity meets understated luxury – vineyard views, an infinity pool that spills into the landscape, and gardens perfumed with exotic flowers, lavender and citrus.

Lunch by the pool was all about simplicity and elegance: seasonal dishes paired with Cottanera’s Etna Bianco.

As the sun set, the Winter Restaurant revealed its magic. We savoured the essence of Sicilian cuisine – simple, elegant flavours paired with Cottanera wines, against a stunning backdrop of mountains with their vineyards glowing in the evening light and soft mountain breezes.

This one-night stay felt like entering a different rhythm of life – where time lingers, and every detail invited me to savour the moment… final article to follow on ……www.liz-palmer.com

For further details on Dimora Cottanera https://dimoracottanera.com/

Etna Days 2025: A Landmark Edition

This morning, I had the privilege of attending the Etna Days 2025 “Welcome Presentation” and “Technical Tasting” where an extraordinary lineup of Etna DOC wines and producers set the tone for what promises to be a landmark edition.

“The energy and diversity of wines from Mount Etna are simply remarkable.”  Liz Palmer

Etna Days 2025 takes place from September 18 to 20 with 90 wineries presenting over 500 labels to over 70 journalists, educators, and trade professionals to celebrate one of the world’s most dynamic terroirs: a living mosaic of lava-stone terraces, ungrafted vines, extreme altitudes, and endlessly shifting microclimates.

Promoted by the Consorzio di Tutela Vini Etna DOC, the event is designed to showcase the extraordinary identity of Etna wines, the very summit of Sicily’s qualitative pyramid.

Anchored at the Picciolo Golf Resort in Castiglione di Sicilia, the program unfolds with guided tours, immersive masterclasses, and a grand walk-around tasting featuring all 500 labels. This evening’s “Gala Dinner” will unite producers, winemakers, and international jurors of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, a testament to the denomination’s growing global prestige.

As Francesco Cambria, President of the Consorzio, emphasizes: “Etna Days is not only about wines—it is about the cultural and identity value of a collective heritage. Each bottle tells a story that intertwines resilience, memory, and vision.”

Etna is more than a vineyard. It is a living laboratory of biodiversity and sustainability, where indigenous varieties such as Nerello Mascalese and Carricante thrive on ancient terraces carved from volcanic stone. This heroic viticulture has become emblematic of Sicily’s ability to preserve tradition while forging an avant-garde path on the world stage.

With the collaboration of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and the presence of over 70 international journalists and educators, Etna Days 2025 confirms the denomination’s stature as a global benchmark. Beyond wine, the ambition is holistic: to weave together hospitality, gastronomy, and cultural heritage into a sustainable model of growth for the territory.
For further details: https://consorzioetnadoc.com/en-US/home

Wines of South Africa has just introduced its dynamic new global brand identity “There’s Sunshine Inside”

More than a slogan, this new positioning seeks to capture the essence of South African wine – radiant, resilient, and deeply rooted in cultural authenticity.

The campaign emphasizes the distinctive qualities that define South Africa as a wine-producing nation. Under the generous African sun and across an extraordinary mosaic of terroirs, producers are crafting wines that balance vivid fruit expression with remarkable freshness and structure. Beyond stylistic excellence, the brand encapsulates an industry renowned for its innovation, sustainability initiatives, and commitment to diversity and inclusivity.

The new visual identity is bold and contemporary, featuring an updated logo and vibrant design elements that echo the energy and optimism of the country’s wines. These will be integrated across international markets beginning in 2026, supported by trade activations, digital engagement, and consumer-facing campaigns.

By unveiling “There’s Sunshine Inside” at CapeWine, the country’s flagship trade showcase, WoSA underscores its ambition to reinforce South Africa’s reputation as a distinctive, world-class wine origin. As WoSA’s new brand video illustrates, each glass of South African wine carries not only the brightness of its climate but also the spirit of its people: generous, dynamic, and forward-looking.