Wine Enthusiast did a lovely piece about what needs to change in the Wine Industry according to the Future 40 Tastemakers. All those selected made excellent points, and a few resonated, which we would like to spotlight here.
Conner Taylor: I’d love it if people felt less intimidated by wine and approached it with the same level of comfort that many have with beer and spirits.
We couldn’t agree more, Conner. Did you notice that today’s wine app does not bring in the wine novice? It starts with you having a bottle you like, so scan it, and we will show you other wines you will like based on similar profiles, but what if you need a wine to scan? What if you want to learn about an entirely new varietal? Wine apps want you to purchase wine; they don’t want to teach you about wine.
And then there is social media. TikTok doesn’t promote wines, and the demographic is below 25, which it really caters to. There are many wine influencers on Instagram, but anyone can post a bottle and discuss the tasting profile. Will that get the wine novice to seek out the wine and try it? Maybe? Though maybe there is another way! Winelikes is an all-encompassing wine app that doesn’t emphasize purchasing wine; it uses a blend of education, food, and videos/photos of your wine journey to discuss and share wine!
Ben Bell: For sake, we try to take as much jargon out of the conversation as possible. Anything that can de-mystify the category and let people know, “This is for you, too” is the best.
We couldn’t agree more, Ben. Winelikes was started by sommeliers who thought the jargon could be more precise and exciting for someone just learning about wine. We break down the jargon or vocabulary in fun trivia and quizzes users can take, but we limit posts to 250 characters to talk about how much you love the wine, not all about the terroir. Like you, we want people to talk about the wine and say, “This is for you!”
TJ Douglas: I still have yet to meet someone who knows what a gooseberry tastes like, yet consumers see that word referenced almost every day.
Neither do we! We even went to our local market and looked for gooseberries but couldn’t find them.
Alicia Towns Franken: We need a new way of engaging consumers. Meet them where they are at. Help them trust their palate. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to enjoying wine. Let’s talk about structure and textures instead of Eurocentric aromas and flavors that not everyone has had before. What were the flavors in your childhood kitchen?
Alicia, you are right! We love this quote because, on other social media apps, we don’t talk much about the wine journey; we talk about a bottle they love. What brought you to that bottle? Why did you pick it? We want to see your wine journey on the app, different from what the aromas are. This will bring the wine novices into wine.
Priyanka French: Wine has a place on every table, so talking about it in reference to a wider range of cuisines, flavors, aromas, and textures is vital for the future growth of this industry. We’ve stayed traditional to the aromatic wheel of wine for a long time, and it is time to reconsider our language and lexicon as the first step to creating access and inclusivity.
Yes! We are so bored with the current wine apps saying red meat, white meat, and fish. That is why, instead of just showing you wines that pair, we offer you what foods you are cooking in a range of cuisines and what varieties pair with that wine. Have you seen a wine app paired with Slow Cooker Ethiopian Spiced Chicken and Black Lentil Stew or Pork Souvlaki with Tzatziki or Lu Jitui (Braised Soy Sauce Chicken) or Turmeric Poached Eggs with Chive Biscuits and Lobster Gravy?
