Les Dames d'Escoffier International’s Post

I received a WSET Alumni email earlier today saying that 2024 saw a record number of Wine Diploma graduates. Great news if you ask me. However, there has been a lot of discussion here on LinkedIn lately regarding whether or not the wine business needs more WSET or otherwise wine-educated people. The point emphasized is that there is no lack of wine knowledge in the industry and that what the industry needs is not more educators, but more consumer understanding, more marketing and communication skills. I wholeheartedly agree that it's high time the wine business started taking marketing seriously and even prioritizing it at the same level as the product quality and state-of-the-artedness of the equipment. However, it does not seem right to oppose one over the other. People who come to WSET typically do not do it the first day after leaving secondary school with the idea of becoming wine educators. More often than not you see at any WSET (or other) course people who are professionals already in sales, marketing, and/or management. They come for more knowledge and a personal challenge. In any case, it cannot possibly hurt the industry to have its professionals educated about the subject of the industry. What do you think? #drinks #drinksindustry #wine #winebusiness #wineeducation #wset #dipwset

Burgundy is a fascinating region in terms of wine growing and investment, for many reasons. Principally the sheer number of producers and appellations crammed into such a small area. Try as I might, learning all the appellations is still a work-in-progress. The region can be split more broadly into the following: - Chablis – “shab-lee” - Côte de Nuits – the night slope - Côte de Beaune – the slope of Beaune - Côte Chalonnaise – the Chalon slope - Mâconnais – the region of Mâcon Of these, the first 3 are home to many of the worlds most famous investment-grade wines. Domaine Romanee Conti, Leroy, Domaine Dujac to name a few. You might be interested to know that over the last 10 years - based on Liv-ex market prices - Chablis has significantly outperformed the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune. Further to that, white wines from Burgundy in general have significantly out performed reds over the last 3 years! When you think of wine investment, or even fine wine, your mind is likely to picture a red but there is serious demand for top-notch whites, especially in a supply restricted region like Burgundy. This is not investment advice and capital is at risk. Raw data from the Liv-ex.

🍷🌍 Curious about the wine industry's global impact on tourism, education, hospitality, and job creation? I stumbled upon this insightful report from Uncork Ontario, shedding light on their strategic plans to elevate the Ontario wine industry to new heights. Having previously worked and studied in Niagara, this new strategy is something I'm sure many in the region are looking forward to. P.S. I'll make sure to delve into their report in a future post, but in the meantime, here is the link: https://lnkd.in/gj92_7SZ #WineIndustry #wine #winebusiness #WineOntario

Why are wineries around the world seeking #BCorp Certification? 🍇 While organic and biodynamic certifications have long been valued in the winery scene, there's been a glaring blind spot when it comes to how workers are treated. But that’s changing. Wineries around Europe and the world are recognizing the importance of #SocialSustainability, seeking B Corp Certification to signal their commitment to people and the planet. “B Corp seemed the most complete and exhaustive commitment to our environmental and social goals.” - Saskia D., Chief Executive of French B Corp Les Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite. In his latest article for The New York Times, Eric Asimov explores how B Corp-certified wineries are reshaping the narrative of what it means to produce exceptional wines responsibly. 👉 Uncork the full story here: https://nyti.ms/3x0mN8o 💡 FACT: There are 35 B Corps in the wine industry in Europe (excluding the UK). European B Corps mentioned in the article: Champagne Bollinger, Piper-Heidsieck, Charles Heidsieck & Rare Champagne, Avignonesi, and Les Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite.

Embarking on a new adventure with Capstone California Educational Program. Somehow California (and all US wines in general) always made me humble. The market is different, the classification system is confusing, the regulations differ from the EU, the marketing methods are curious Even with the WSET Diploma, I can’t say I know it all. Level 1 is done. Can’t wait for the next one #CaliforniaWines #WineEducation #WineKnowledge #NeverStopLearning

🌟🍷 Refresh & upskill your wine knowledge 🍷🌟 Are you passionate about wine? Looking to break into the wine industry, enhance your hobby, or upskill for your current job in wine? We've got the perfect opportunity for you! Introducing our 15 comprehensive short courses, designed to cater to all levels of interest and expertise (swipe to see the available courses) 📚 Course Delivery: Semester 1: September - January Semester 2: January - May Both Semesters: September - May (See full course information) Whether you're diving into the world of wine for the first time or looking to expand your professional skills, our courses are crafted to provide you with the knowledge and hands-on experience you need. 🍇🌍 From exploring global wine business and marketing strategies to understanding the intricacies of wine science and production, our modules cover it all. 👉 Sign up today and take the first step towards mastering the art and business of wine. 💰 Fees: £1,250 per semester + £110 material fees #WineCourses #WineEducation #SpecialistShortCourses #WineProduction #CPD #WineLovers #WineIndustry #WineScience #UpskillWithWine

Great to have Stephen Flory from Amps Wine Mechants visit us Thetford Farm Barn. The support they have given in the last decade is a true reflection of their passion, dedication and knowledge. Its no wonder they have so many awards under their belt. 🍷 😍 But I can't imagine it has been an easy ride of late with the struggles the hopsitality industry have faced, and are yet to. The #budget2024 in March is looming, and the road ahead has become even more arduous for restaurants, hotels, bars, and other establishments. These changes add layers of complexity at a time when many are already facing unprecedented challenges. THE WINE AND SPIRIT TRADE ASSOCIATION has provided insights into the upcoming legislative changes affecting our industry, and offers a roadmap for championing key initiatives, such as reducing wine duty and advocating for the permanence of temporary easements. ##HospitalitySector #WineAndSpirits #WineCommunity #WineLovers #HospitalityIndustry #WineDuty #GovernmentPolicy #WineAdvocacy #WineTrends #sme

The key takeaway from yesterday's quarterly Craft Wine Association's Advocacy Group meeting: How easy does your winery make it for the media to write about you? Our speaker, Carl Giavanti, a winery publicist, provided valuable insights into achieving media success for wineries. My takeaways included: ▪️ Having a dedicated trade and media page on your website. ▪️ Providing a compelling story about your brand, along with background information and owner bios. ▪️ Ensuring contact details for a publicity manager are available on your website, and that this person is responsive to emails. ▪️ Building trust through consistent responsiveness and maintaining a public presence. This raises the question for all producers: Are you making it easy for your winery to be featured in the media? Do you have bottle shots, background information, trade information, and a person in charge of publicity? During the meeting, following Carl's insightful talk, Sean O'Leary, Irish Liquor Lawyer, provided an update on the Chevron Deference and Total Wines Case. Advocacy Group Chair, Steven Harrison, also shared updates on the continued support and distribution of the National Direct Shipping Bill of Rights. The CWA's next Advocacy meeting will be held in October. Please be on the lookout for the RSVP link. If you would like to join the CWA, or you are curious about what legislation we are tracking, please visit the website -

https://lnkd.in/gHh8Wukj If you've ever pondered a trip to Prince Edward County (PEC) for a wine excursion, I am sure reading this will convince you to start the car and go. Here's my latest article, in Good Food Revolution, about my time at Élevage in PEC

My first day in the USA (starting my Great Wine Capitals bursary) was lunch with friend and guru of Australian wine Chuck Hayward. If you don't know Chuck then checkout his website (www.vinroads.com). After four hours of eating, drinking, talking and listening (at the Bell Tower in San Francisco (thanks Barbie for great afternoon)), I came away a little wiser re the challenges ahead for any Australian winemaker wanting to sell wine in the biggest wine market on the planet. One key point that kept resonating with me throughout an afternoon of margaritas, pulled pork nachos and a bottle of 2001 Birchwood McLaren Vale Shiraz (which was amazing and I brought from home) was the importance of building regional stories and investing time telling them to the world (which means travelling). While the Riverland (and other regions) grapple with significant structural changes, it's important not to lose sight as to what influences the buying behaviour of customers. It is far more than just price. While there are many, including ourselves, who have created interesting stories, I feel the 'Riverland Up Rising' project, developed by Riverland Wine, is one example of how to begin the re-engagement of Australian wines with customers in the USA. Such a project may seem irrelevant to many grape growers and winemakers in the Riverland (for various reasons). But if we can't reflect and reinvent who we are, what we have, what we do and ultimately what we want, then our density is set in stone. The only way to build more compelling stories, hence create more customer interest (at home and abroad) is to encourage the next generation (internal & external) of grape growers, winemakers and marketer to invest in the Riverland (this includes more brands, cellar doors, tourism experiences and so on). This can only happen through leadership, support and vision from the local councils, industry bodies, corporate organisations and the community. They key missing ingredient to the successful future of the Riverland is profit (evidently lacking right now). Hence significant change is needed quickly! Note: as part of my Great Wine Capitals bursary conditions, I need to report on my experiences and findings via a final report and a blog. I'm using LinkIn as the medium to share what I learn rather than a blog (I'm not sure how many people will read a blog). I'm also happy to take questions.