HAVE YOU BEEN HAD BY WINE MARKETING?

Don't worry we all have at some stage!

So how is it that so many of us get taken in? Well here are some examples which feature some of the most well known brands.

Blue Nun.

Was created by German company H. Sichel Sohne in 1923. I was the worlds first mass marketed wine and at it's peak in the 1980's sold 1.25 million cases in the US alone!

Take a look at the picture above. It leads the unwary wine drinker to believe so much without putting anything into print. So what do we see? First of all we see a Nun. Everybody trusts a Nun! We see her carrying a basket of grapes in a vineyard. This infers that that the grapes are hand picked in small quantities by hand in a vineyard! Not only that but this back breaking labour of love is being carried out by a Nun! All of this conveys quality and trust.

But it couldn't be further from the truth. It wont surprise you to know that a no stage has there ever been a Nun involved in the production of this wine. The grapes used are mass harvested by machine from huge vineyard's all over Germany and the wine is produced factory style. How else could they keep up with such huge demand? Now if all that was depicted on the label would you still by it? No one is saying that the over all standard of the wine is below par it's just that the quality is very subtly over stated.

Here's another good one. Matues Rose.

Another one of the worlds first and biggest mass marketed wines.

Once again look a the label. The picture of this grand palace infers by association that the building sits on the vineyards where the wine is made rather like the grand Chateau of Bordeaux. But no. This is the Palace Mateus. There is a connection but as with Blue Nun the wine is mass produced factory style.

The flagon shaped bottle is another clever ploy. There is an joke in the wine business that says when everybody had a bed side lamp sales of Mateus Rose went down by 50% in the UK!

Do you see a recurring them here? All of the truly great wines of the world have a long and proud tradition. Most are made in relatively small quantities in an unmechanised way. Many of the grapes are still picked by hand and there is much human intervention especially in France and Italy. Now when you invent a wine with the sole intent of mass production you don't have any of that legacy to help sell your product and it would be illegal to make it up! But by using clever imagery you can infer all of these things.

First of all there needs to be a sense of History because in our minds history gives us a sense of tradition and that in turn creates trust and quality in our minds.

'Small' and 'limited quantity are real triggers for giving us a feeling of quality.That we are buying something special. A picture of someone picking grapes by hand and putting them in a wicker basket conveys all of this without saying a word.

Remember all of the big branded wines rely totally on huge marketing budgets to sell them and this cost comes directly out of the cost of each bottle.

Last but not least Piat D'or.

Remember the very famous TV adverts in which they state very proudly 'The French adore

Le Piat D'or' Well it might surprise you to learn that most of France has never heard of Piat D'or!

Once again mass marketed and aimed almost exclusively at the UK market.

Take a look at the advert from 1986 on YOUTUBE. No matter what you think of the wine the marketing is brilliant!

So the next time you are out buying wine beware! Things are often no what they seem?

Exclusive Red's from the Rhone

I am are delighted to announce that Maison du Vin is now the official UK stockists for the superlative reds form the Rhone valley produced by top growers Ravoir et Fils


http://www.ravoir-fils.com/ . The family business which was started in 1987. Is based in the Luberon gateway to the Rhone valley. The focus is on producing regional wines of the highest quality.


These include wines from areas as Gigondas, Cote du Rhone Village, Vacqueyras and the Luberon to name but a few.

Roger Ravoir

Sherry Master Class

As a prelude to our Spanish fest in October we are holding a Sherry Master Class at Maison du Vin on September 21st at 7.30 pm. We are co-hosting the event with legendary Sherry producer Gonzalez Byass. There will be a tutored tasting of six fascinating different sherries all served with a selection of tapas.

Even if you no nothing about Sherry. In fact especially if you know nothing about Sherry. This will be a fascinating evening and a real insight into one of the worlds oldest and most misunderstood beverages!

Places are limited and must be booked in advance. To book email kvgriffin@aol.com

WINE SCHOOL RETURNS

Our ever popular wine school evenings return to Maison du Vin on the 16th of September.

These events are a great way to learn more about wine in a relaxed light hearted and informative manner.

There is a nominal charge of £10 per head which includes a tutored tasting of up to eight wines and a simple supper after the tasting.

Our theme for this forthcoming event will be the wines of 'I VERONI' an artisan grower based in Chianti.

You can book a place by emailing me at kvgriffin@aol.com

Five a day?

Given that grapes are a fruit and that wine is made from the fermented juice of grapes.

Would it be logical to assume that a glass of wine,or two, counts towards your 5 a day?

Bloody hope so!

Cote de Provence Rose. Nectar of the Gods!

Kevin Griffin, owner of Maison Du Vin - Kent's wine specialists, discusses the virtues of one of the best summer wines.

“Being in the wine trade I am fortunate enough to get to drink
many of the world’s most expensive wines. But on a lovely hot day
dining alfresco or just sitting in the shade all I desire is a chilled
bottle of Provence Rosé. Then I am quite happy to kiss the rest of
the day goodbye! Rosé for me has to be dry, with rich fruit but very
pale in colour, and without a hint of sweetness. I want two lines of
fruit with a line of alcohol running down the middle. It has to hit
the spot, if you know what I mean. I find a good Provence Rosé
superb with a wide variety of summer foods. It can cope with
heavily dressed salads, dips, olives, grilled meats, sauces and pickles.
It also evokes memories of long lunches taken in sleepy French
Villages where, at lunch time the only sign of life on the street is a
dog sleeping in the shade. It also brings back memories of steaming
bowls of Soup de Poissons, on the Cote de Azur. But let’s not
forget those lovely lunches here in the Weald, alfresco, surrounded
by friends and family, the perfect summer day with the perfect
summer wine.”

Chateau Pigoudet Cotes de Provence £8.99 per
bottle, available from Maison du Vin. Free delivery
to Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas.
Maison Du Vin sells wines, cognacs, champagnes
and armagnacs from small, quality-driven,
independent growers.
Open Mon-Sat from 10am. Closed 4pm Mon,
8pmTue and Thurs, 5pm Fri and 6pm Sat.
Closed all day Wed & Sun.
For more details tel 01580 753487
Real Wine, Real Places, Real People

WINE SCHOOL RETURNS

Great News! After many requests our popular wine schools return on September the 16th.

Maison du Vin Wine Schools are a great way to learn more about wine in a very relaxed and informal evening. They are also great social events.

We will announce the theme in the next few days. However I can tell you now that there will be a tutored tasting of at least six different wines followed by a light supper. There is a nominal cost of just £10.00 per head.

Too book a place or find out more please phone Kevin on 01580753487 or email kvgriffin@aol.com