Sid Patel’s Post

Vintage Vigilance: Navigating the Pour – Deciphering Wine Prices: Sticker shock when you read the bar or restaurant wine list prices? Have you wondered how much that bottle of wine you're ordering is marked up? SOURCE: Vintage Vigilance: Navigating the Pour – Deciphering Wine Prices BY: eTurboNews | eTN #travelnews

For wine brands looking to grow their on-premise presence in the USA, get the Super Early Bird price by registering online. Enter Your Wines By October 31 and Save $40 per Wine. Don’t miss this opportunity for your wines to be recognized by the leading restaurant wine buyers and master sommeliers. Give a boost to your brands and get back in the growth mode as the US opens up. The goal of the Sommeliers Choice Awards is simple: to provide on-premise buyers and sommeliers a valuable benchmark for understanding which wines would make a compelling addition to a wine list.

For wine brands looking to grow their on-premise presence in the USA, get the Super Early Bird price by registering online. Enter Your Wines By October 31 and Save $40 per Wine. Don’t miss this opportunity for your wines to be recognized by the leading restaurant wine buyers and master sommeliers. Give a boost to your brands and get back in the growth mode as the US opens up. The goal of the Sommeliers Choice Awards is simple: to provide on-premise buyers and sommeliers a valuable benchmark for understanding which wines would make a compelling addition to a wine list.

April 15, 2024 Drinks Business article by Patrick Schmitt "Why a fine de-alcoholised wine starts with an ‘undrinkable’ base" Schmitt's article describes the reasoning why French Non-Alc (NA) sparkling wine company French Bloom came out with the highest priced NA wine at £109,00 for their vintage-dated sparkling wine called La Cuvée which is meant to have the taste profile of a 10-15yr old aged Champagne/sparkling wine. Schmitt interviews French Bloom winemaker, Rodolphe Frèrejean-Taittinger and Tattinger mentions some of the production methods used, why they used Chardonnay from Languedoc and took over four years of R&D to perfect their "aged" sparkling La Cuvée. They produced 17,000 bottles (~1417 CEs) and targeting upscale retailers like Harrod's and higher-end restaurants. I'm curious if they will succeed in establishing an ultra-premium NA wine sector as their shelf price is about 4-5 times more than what the usual NA wine consumer will pay for a NA wine in most markets. From a business standpoint, I hope in the coming years we do see higher price points thriving in the NA wine space, and just worried that French Bloom might be a bit too early with coming out with this based on what we/ProofNoMore are seeing with NA wines in NYC where we do distribution to many high-end/fine dining/Michelin starred restaurants & some of the top cocktail bars where typical by the glass pricing of NA wines is $12-16 so a max wholesale of about $12-13 per bottle. I personally can see $20-28 /bottle if the quality is there and where an educated wine person can identify the grape & region so one could distinguish a Pinot Noir NA wine and identify it was from Burgundy, Sonoma, Yarra Valley, Willamette Valley etc... Hope we can get to this point with NA wines where the sense of terroir is apparent.

Here's the story on Forbes about the 'world's best wines according to top sommeliers, master sommeliers and wine directors. These wines are great for restaurants, they offer great value. If you are a sommelier: please check these wines and try them for your wine program. If you are a wine drinker: Please try and ask these wines to your sommelier when you visit your restaurant next. Sommeliers Choice Awards Forbes

Offering your support to help sell more wines to your restaurant customers is the best way to grow wine sales. Here’s what you can do.

In this article, we share with you top Malbec wines that offer excellent quality at the price and have a great package that judges picked at the USA Wine Ratings. (USA Ratings) 🍷 #malbec

Impress your client with Cabernet Sauvignon Selecting the perfect bottle of wine for a client or potential client can be a daunting task, especially for those who may not be regular wine enthusiasts. Cabernet Sauvignon is a widely beloved red wine, well-recognized for its global popularity, often blended with Merlot. It exhibits a rich profile characterized by elevated alcohol content and most of the times have robust tannins. The wine boasts a diverse array of berry flavours, ranging from the brightness of red berries to the depth of dark berries. Older wines develop an extraordinary and sophisticated profile. The evolution of flavours, aromas from vibrant fruitiness to mature notes (savoury, leather, meaty, dry berries) enhances the overall drinking experience, this of course contributes to the market value. The wines to look for in the wine menu: -Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion, but also I found fantastic Cabernets from Southern France. -USA – Napa Valley. Rutherford and Oakville offering Premium wines. -Australia – Coonawarra and Margaret River. -South Africa – Stellenbosch, strong character! -Chile – Maipo Valley, Colchagua and Cachapoal. -Argentina – Mendoza. Pairings: Always red meats/ charcuterie. Mains high in protein and robust. Ultimately, the key is to choose wines that align with your taste preferences and if you are not sure, do not hesitate to seek guidance from the sommelier or the restaurant’s staff member. Susana Hotel & Wine Consultant #wineconsultant #cabernetsauvignon www.foodwithsusi.com

🍷 Wine Pairing Review at a Michelin-starred BBQ in Singapore 🍷 I recently experienced the full wine pairing at a Michelin-starred BBQ in Singapore, priced at $185++ per head. While the wines and sake were well-paired with the dishes, I must say I was quite disappointed with the overall value and experience. - **Wines and Beverages List**: - 🍾 Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve - 🍇 Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 - 🍷 Tolpuddle Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021 or Paringa Estate Pinot Noir 2019 - 🍷 Yalumba Barossa Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 - 🍶 And a sake whose name I can't recall... The wines were good but not exceptional. The timing of the pairings felt off, and by the time we reached dessert, there was no wine or sweet digestif to complement it. I was hoping for a surprise ending to elevate the experience, but it fell flat. I'm willing to pay for a wine pairing with lower-priced wines if the experience makes me say, "Wow, what a find!" But this was not the case here. My advice? Opt for a good bottle of wine that you can choose yourself. For 432 SGD, you will surely find a beautiful bottle on the wine list. The wines were good but didn't justify the cost. If you're considering the wine pairing at this Michelin-starred BBQ, my advice would be to think twice. It didn't meet my expectations and certainly didn't justify the experience. To the professionals and sommeliers out there: Is it really worth opting for the wine pairing at restaurants? What do you think? #WinePairing #MichelinStar #BBQ #WineReview #Foodie #Disappointment #ValueForMoney

💫 From the Judge's Table: Rachael Lowe, Director of Beverage Operations at Levy Restaurants! We chat with Rachel Lowe, a renowned beverage expert, about her experience on judging wines and the importance of Sommeliers Choice Awards for wineries. Here's a quick excerpt of what she had to say: "With the Sommeliers Choice Awards inviting brands to showcase their wines, Lowe emphasizes the competition's unique approach to judging, which aligns closely with the expectations of today's trade and consumers. The diversity and caliber of judges, representing the industry's best on a national level, ensure a comprehensive and fair evaluation of entries. The awards offer a platform for wines to be assessed not just for their quality and typicity but also for value, packaging, and marketability, reflecting the multifaceted criteria modern consumers consider. Lowe's experience as a judge has given her insights into emerging trends shaping the wine landscape. The rise of high-quality canned wines, a shift back to classic varietals, and the exploration of fun varietals from unexpected regions indicate a dynamic industry that's continually evolving. These trends not only reflect changing consumer preferences but also hint at the industry's readiness to innovate and adapt." Read the complete article - https://lnkd.in/gGkXgUAp #sca #sommelierschoiceawards #wine #wineindustry #judging #competition Sid Patel I Beverage Trade Network