Wine bars aren’t restaurants pretending to care about wine. They’re the inverse: wines that happen to have a kitchen attached. I’ve spent decades hunting them across continents, not because I’m chasing Michelin stars or Instagram moments, but because wine bars are where the conversation between terroir and table gets honest. No sommelier theater. No $300 … Read more
Virgin Wines is betting that “taste” can be modeled. And doing that will make wine buying feel less like wandering an endless aisle and more like having a trusted merchant who already knows your palate. The company is partnering with Preferabli and its “sensorial AI” to break down wines into sensory attributes (acid, sweetness, tannin, … Read more
When colleagues dismiss sophisticated AI implementations with phrases like “oh that’s just your AI,” they inadvertently expose their own technological illiteracy and psychological biases. This reductive commentary reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of modern AI capabilities and reveals deeper issues of workplace envy and resistance to innovation. The Knowledge Divide The “just AI” dismissal reveals a … Read more
Silicon Valley Bank has released its 2024 State of the Wine Industry Report, which highlights the challenges facing the wine industry. The report reveals that wine sales have been declining for the past three years, with volume sales expected to continue to decrease in 2024. The report also states that spirits sales are expected to … Read more
Recently, while in Budapest and then in Cagliari, I really got back into tea, which in turn led me to start to explore honey. You see, honey, in its splendid variety, offers a glimpse into the diverse landscapes and cultures of our world. From the floral fields of Europe to the diverse ecosystems of the … Read more
In another recent interview featured on the SoloSuit Blog, I shared practical tips on how to indulge in luxurious wine experiences without overspending. As the CEO of wineTOURia, I believe that luxury doesn’t have to break the bank, especially in wine tourism. Starting small is the key. You don’t need to travel far to enjoy … Read more
As the Covid-19 Pandemic continues, and as the world starts to reopen, the wine industry finds itself in a very different position than it has been experiencing over the past 15 months as businesses far and wide sort of are returning to normal. But with all the changes that the Corona virus caused to so … Read more
New York Times wine critic Eric Asimov gave an interesting interview on VinePair. When media leaders take the time to share their thoughts it's always a good interview to check out. Asimov, who may be the most populist style writer of wine critics talks about the trends in wine, the Natural Wine movement and supermarket … Read more
A new event is always a tricky endeavor. Take it from someone who has been involved in hundreds of events and thousands of event days through the years. But wine events, like a vintage is always full of unknowns. Will winemakers support the event? Will the trade buyers show up? Will the media care? How … Read more
The term "direct to consumer" or DTC is being bandied about the wine world more and more every day. Unfortunately, if you're not a winery shipping your wine directly to the consumer, you're not DTC. This means etailers, retailers, importers, wholesalers and brokers are not DTC as the whole idea behind direct marketing is to … Read more
