The pandemic has created huge uncertainty for the restaurant industry. Many that closed in March 2020 will never serve another customer. The ones that will eventually reopen will do so in a deeply-changed cultural, social and economic landscape.
We start to imagine the trends and levers of change that will allow restaurants to re-surface, and decrypt how they will affect the restaurants’ wine list.
It’s not news that the pandemic is changing the way the wine trade does business, including accelerating the move to online selling. According to Jamie Ritchie, the Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Wine at Sotheby’s auction house, the pandemic is shaking up the wine auction market as well.
The world of wine is not just complex, it can be baffling and difficult to enter. There are many and diverse barriers to entry – recent weeks have shown just how high those barriers remain. Given this, how can we share knowledge and the access to the people, places and wines needed to build a career?
German-born Marc Almert, ASI Best Sommelier in the World 2019, to discuss the Future of Hospitality and its Leadership. From reinventing guest experiences in a Covid-19 world to creating a truly inclusive environment, and inspiring staff and customers alike, Marc articulates a refreshing vision of the role of sommelier.
What does the future hold for wine education?
A conversation to understand what it will take to create inclusive and enlightening learning experiences in today’s atomised and online world.
Two leading voices discuss curiosity and sense of responsibility when it comes to how we communicate around the complex topic of wine. Does language provide or hinder access to wine information? How does it relate to the assessment of wine and to regionalism, fundamental to traditional wine producing areas? Should there be a universal language in wine?
With Erin Gore and Karli Warner, founders of The Garden Society, we explore the growing world of Cannabis. As we explore their strong ethos – to become the most positive and trusted cannabis brand for women, turning down the daily chaos and turning up the joy – we draw many parallel between their world and the Fine Wine Ecosystem, discussing millennials, language, terroir & provenance, and responsibility.
With Shanika Hillocks, food & wine digital strategist, published writer and active speaker, we talk digital strategy, influencer marketing and brand engagement. As we re-assess the weight of words and the power of pictures in a deeply shaken and polarised world, we also explore good practices for Fine Wine estates and brands.
A conversation to assess the best way for Fine Wine actors to cut through the online noise, build meaningful relationships with trade and consumers and embrace their responsibilities.
In collaboration with The Real Business of Wine, we had a long chat with Margareth Henriquez, head of Krug, and discussed her PhD thesis on business, luxury and wine.
Nigel Greening, owner of the iconic Felton Road in New Zealand, and Elin McCoy, award winning journalist, explore the notion of luxury and the power of irreverence and rebellion.
On 21 April, our chair Nicole Rolet and executive director Pauline Vicard joined hosts Robert Joseph and Polly Hammond of The Real Business of Wine webcast, as well as guests Amber LeBeau of Spit Bucket and Francis Perrin of Washington’s Chateau Ste Michelle, for a virtual discussion on the changing wine consumer. Pauline presented part of ARENI’s research started in … Read More
The second part of our analysis of the current situation based on three weeks of Online Roundtables gathering 70+ Fine Minds from all over the world, enriched with audio and video content.
Do Fine Wine and luxury really mean different things?
