July 6 2007
Or, the headline could read, “Screwcaps gain mass acceptance,” according to a proprietary Good Grape online poll. Though, it could’ve been, “1 in 5 polled are Concerned about Franken-Wine.” Or, if I wanted to be sensational, “Wine Industry poll indicates a lack of concern for labor issues.” It depends on how you look at it.
To paraphrase Mark Twain, “there are lies, damned lies and polls.” In utterly unscientific fashion, the poll on the front page of this site ran for enough time to gather 25 responses. It’s still relevant, however, based as much for what it says as what it doesn’t say.
The question was: What is the Most Important Issue Facing the Wine Industry?
The results are as follows, based on a closed response format:
Closures – 0%
Manipulation – 20%
TCA/Cork Taint – 8%
Labor Issues – 8%
Terroir – 4%
Wine Shipping – 56%
Other – 4%
The results are not at all surprising, if anything, online wine bloggers and those that read blogs are in tune with small brands of wine and on the cutting edge of having wine shipped to their door—so the wine shipping and wine manipulation responses, as the greatest percentage of respondent answers are to be expected. And, as a matter of collateral poll pick-up, a respondent having no concern about closures is expected because most wines sold online, by price point, from smaller wineries are probably finished with cork. Or, at least that’s my best guess.
But, what is surprising to me is that labor issues didn’t register a higher response rate or that “terroir,” or, more specifically, a wine continuing to cultivate a sense of place wasn’t more important, particularly for a very savvy and enthusiast-oriented online audience.
Check out the new poll. Please feel free to vote.
Posted in, Wine: A Business Doing Pleasure. Permalink | Comments (4) |
Restrictive shipping laws makes for limited consumer choice. Limiting consumer choice is terrible for wine drinkers and wineries alike. Efforts from organizations like FreeTheGrapes.org and others can make a difference - with enough support from all interested parties. Speak up, consumers! Speak up, wineries! Speak up, retailers! Contact your state lawmakers now…
And it boils my blood to hear of budget cuts to libraries because in these sucky economic times more and more people need the library’s services. That’s why I try to support my library because if the powers-that-be see people using them then maybe they won’t cut their funding.
Shipping issues are definitely a problem in the wine industry. There are many cases to be heard, but overall things just are no good for the consumer, winery, or distributor. The past couple of years have been the same too, even the economy cannot make a difference one way or another.
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WHICH shipping problem?! There are so many I don’t even know where to begin. Not that it’s of any consolation but this is as irritating as area for a wine retailer as it is for the consumers.