Anthony Valletta

From the Sommeliers Choice Awards Judge's Table: Here comes the insights from Ermoni Best Sommelier at The Inn at Mattei's Tavern. Ermoni Best, currently a sommelier at The Inn at Mattei's Tavern under Auberge Resorts Collection, brings an extensive background in the hospitality and beverage industry to the ever-evolving world of wine. With a resume that spans Michelin-starred establishments in both Chicago and Santa Barbara County, Best combines her expertise in sommelier certifications with a progressive approach toward sustainable business practices in wine. Her journey, which has now taken her to France to pursue an International Master's in Sustainable Business, underscores a commitment not just to understanding wine, but also to integrating sustainable business strategies within large wine corporations. Ermoni is participating as a judge in the 6th edition of the Sommeliers Choice Awards. Best’s approach to judging is deeply influenced by her understanding of sustainability and a broad palate honed through diverse gastronomic experiences. This extensive background equips her with the ability to identify and understand emerging trends, often revealed through selections offered "by the glass" in various establishments—a telltale sign of evolving consumer preferences that ripple through the industry. When judging wines, Best emphasizes the importance of balancing typicity, quality, value for money, and packaging. He notes that approachability is key; a wine must immediately appeal to consumers, suggesting that its complexity should be inviting rather than overwhelming. This balance is critical, especially in a competitive marketplace where the clarity of a wine's appeal can make or break its success on a wine list. The impact of winning a medal at the Sommeliers Choice Awards can be significant, particularly for smaller or emerging wineries. According to Best, such recognition serves as a "considerable recommendation letter" from sommeliers, breaking barriers and enhancing awareness not only of the wineries themselves but also of the grape varietals and regions they represent. This can catalyze new trends and shift market dynamics favorably for the awarded brands. A unique opportunity to present your wines to America's top sommeliers. The wine scores are benchmarked for on-premise channels by top sommeliers, master sommeliers, wine directors and restaurant wine buyers. Submission deadline is April 24.

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Wine consumption- U.S. Per Capita Wine Based Ready-to-Drink Consumption, 2022 #wine #wines #winebusiness #wineconsumption #drinks #wineindustry

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$125,000,000 in DTC revenue this year. Sounds nice, right? But, how? According to financial and operational guru Neha T. Kumar, COO of Full Glass Wine Co., success in the wine industry is about "running a wine business operationally efficiently." She explains "... you make sure that you can get the company to a place where it is profitable.... and this is the thing a lot of people have forgotten over the years - the company needs to make money" Neha is a competitor. Her brands could attract consumers away from yours. How might she do so? She appears to be heavily investing in 1) understanding and targeting each brand's unique consumer demographic, and 2) running capital efficient, profitable business which includes maximizing revenue and being smart with COGS. This is also what InnoVint preaches with our healthy wine business framework (linked in the comments) 🧢 My advice: Put your best operational and finance hat on and play ball like Neha. https://lnkd.in/ekJpgrFX

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"A well-executed wine-by-the-glass program can be a cornerstone of a restaurant's success, offering flexibility and variety that appeal to a wide range of customers. By strategically approaching pricing with models such as cost-plus, value-based, or dynamic pricing, businesses can maximize profitability"

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The cost of a winery visit is more than just the tasting room fee, according to MJ Dale, founder and CEO of Customer Vineyard. It includes expenses like hotel stays, wine purchases, and tips, leading to a significantly higher total cost in most regions. Dale also noted that LinkedIn is where most affluent customers can be found. Looking ahead, Rob McMillan predicts a "market correction in the number of wineries," indicating an improvement in numbers next year. Over the past two years, there has been a decline in wineries, mainly due to hobbyist wineries stepping back rather than consolidation. In 2024, the DTC wine market remains a serious arena, unsuitable for hobbyists. The evolving landscape suggests changes on the horizon, making strategic decisions crucial for wineries in the coming year.

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