wine blog
Wine Conundrum: Consumer vs. Industry
Do you purchase wine at the best possible price? Are you worried about the survival of small wine industry players? Can you do both?
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About this Site
ViralVines is a site focused on promoting the enjoyment of wine and the wine industry as a whole. We're here to talk up the grapes! For the wine consumer, we will try to point you towards great value and interesting discussions about wine and the wine industry.
But ViralVines is equally focused on helping those in the wine industry that make their passion and their living from wine, whether that be growers, vintners or those involved in bringing wine to market.
Issues such as shipping, current and proposed taxation, and particularly social media and marketing will be discussed. ViralVines is also offering a section of the site where wineries can self-promote their wines and their wineries.
Please feel free to suggest topics and discussions, and return frequently.
We are hoping that if you love wine....you will enjoy ViralVines!
Grape Talk!
How many grapes does it take??
75 grapes = 1 cluster and 1 grape cluster = 1 glass (187.5ML) 4 clusters = 1 bottle (750ML) and 40 clusters = 1 vine 1 vine = 10 bottles and 1200 clusters (30 vines)= 1 barrel 1 Barrel = 60 gallons and 60 gallons = 25 cases (300 bottles) 400 Vines = 1 acre = 4000 bottles = 16000 clusters = 1,200,000 grapes (WHOA...that's alot of grapes!) 1 acre = 5 tons and 5 tons = 332 cases
Courtesy of Longview Winery
Want a lot more details? A bit dated but still well worth the read! Bergman Euro-National
Featured Article
What Inflences the most: Scores or Labels?
Wine Scores? Wine Labels? Are these the best criteria when choosing a bottle of wine?
Myth of the Family Winery:Is there another Agenda?
When are “facts” true but somewhat misleading or at the very least, open to interpretation? In a new report by the Marine Institute, the Californian wine industry is depicted as fully owned and controlled by large, global alcohol focused corporations, debunking many hard working, dedicated, tax paying small family wineries, that yes…. do exist.
Wine tasting and scores: Flawed or useful?
There are countless reviewers and wine critics rating hundreds if not thousands of wines. Should these ratings be the basis by which you purchase wine or should you ignore them entirely?
Social Media
Survey results: Top 50 Wineries on Twitter Following a recent article that identified the top 50 wineries on Twitter as of July 28,2009 including data related to those rankings, a survey was sent to these wineries to gather more insight. Here are the results! (UPDATED: New updated results based on 68% Response Rate)
Wineries on Twitter? How Tweet it is! Talkin up the grapes via “tweets” by wineries is happening every day. There are over 172 wineries using Twitter to help identify, connect and dialogue with their customers.
Social Media Engagement: Worth the Investment? Although many still trying to correlate revenue and profit with social media investment, some are finding the engagement good for the business and the bottom line.
Wine Issues
Pinot Noir AKA the “Heartbreak Grape” Pinot Noir is known as the “Heartbreak Grape” for good reason. Disappointment is not uncommon. Diamond Hill Vineyards felt it first hand having lost its 2009 harvest.
To Lock or Not Interlock: That is the Question Should ingnition interlocks be mandated in all 50 US States?
Double Taxation: The Boston “Wine” Party As expected, many states will be enacting legislation to raise taxes on alcohol including wine and beer. The tax man cometh .. and I don’t think he is going any time soon.
Wine Shipping & Distribution
Amazon: No Online Offering LikelyWhat do state regulators, control state executives, public health advocates, anti-alcohol organizations and wholesalers have in common? They all have a vested interest in keeping the status quo.
Guns safer than wine?It never ceases to amaze me! Someone in government comes up with a good idea that will promote local industry and increase local revenues only to be opposed by a group determined to keep the status quo… even if it may be good for their business.
Another Not So Grape Decision!Someone help me here: In regards to the shipment of wine by a winery or retailer, how can a court rule that one is constitutional and the other isn’t? Something smell rotten in NY?
Wine Tasting
Cameron Hughes: A Californian Négociant A Californian Négociant taking full advantage of a an on-going recession and a desire for quality value-priced wines.
Great wine, Great grapes, Great tasting! Last evening I was fortunate to attend a tasting of Paso Robles wines from Four Vines and J. Dusi Wines in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Bill Grant of Four Vines and Janelle Dusi (wine makers) presented their wines, provided some history and anecdotes about their wines and wineries, and generally interacted very well with an appreciative crowd [...]
