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.