Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Expand the wine market...but not THAT way!?

It is common knowledge that perception varies from one person to the next. So why then do so many people get so hysterical when research is conducted to quantify what the differences are, and how to use the findings of the research to expand consumption?

One of the problems is mistatements, especially in news headlines. Dr. Utermohlen and I assert sweet wine drinkers are more sensitive tasters, and that this is not necessarily a good thing at all! The headlines for Wine Business and other postings of the press release declare: Study Shows Sweet Wine Drinkers Better Tasters. No, not BETTER - just different and more sensitive.

Here are links to two of the most active blogs:
Rants: http://www.steveheimoff.com/index.php/2010/10/25/white-zin-has-its-place-but-its-not-great-wine/
Raves: http://www.1winedude.com/

Background and research at www.timhanni.com
NEW: check out the new www.yumyuk.com site! Still under development bu coming right along and there are great wine recommendations now in each flavor category, along with recommended sites and expert mavens to consult for Sweet, Hyper-sensitive, Sensitive and Tolerant tasters.

3 comments:

Donniella Winchell said...

Different is good -- as a community of winemakers, we all to build the base of comsumption and starting by ending the bashing of sweet wine drinkers is one way to help that happen -- just ask the Ohio Wineries who have been so overwhelemed these fall weekends, they have not been able to keep up with the traffic!

There is no recession in Ohio Wine Country --

Our wineries' customers largely started with sweeet reds and whites and are progresssing toward drier and drier wines with every visit --they wineries are selling lots more cab francs, pinot gris', dry rieslings, pinot noirs and chardonnays to former beer drinkers than they themselves would have ever predicted even 5 years ago

we will all win big time when per capita consumption reaches even 6 or 7% -- and that will meager level not happen if we as an industry insist that everyone 'enjoy' big complex cabs at their first tasting event

Donniella Winchell, Ohio Wines

Donniella Winchell said...

oh! the typos that occur when i hit submit before proofing my comments -- sorry ........

Tim Hanni MW said...

Hi Donniella - thanks for sharing. It is so great to see the progress of new growing regions like Ohio!