Wine Market Research Articles

Reputational effects on third-party agents: A study of the market for fine and rare wines

We examine the effectiveness of a quality assurance mechanism that relies on a third-party's reputation. We focus on the market for fine and rare wines where auction houses intermediating between sellers and buyers have also claimed expertise to assess product authenticity. An auction house's reputation can sustain product quality in this market only if consumers absorb relevant information and reduce demand through houses who fail at screening out counterfeits. We test the existence of such reputational effects by studying the market responses to a major disclosure from 2012 of three auction houses having auctioned thousands of bottles of fake wine. We find that these houses did suffer reputational losses. These losses are demonstrated over the following year by a decrease in equilibrium sales prices of all wines, and a decrease in sales quantities of older wines, relative to other houses.

Dealcoholised wine: exploring the purchasing considerations of South African Generation Y consumers

PurposeThis study contributes to the scant research on dealcoholised wine from a consumer behaviour perspective by providing insight and reporting on the attributes that South African Generation Y consumers prefer when purchasing dealcoholised wine.Design/methodology/approachA two-phased research approach was adopted, involving a main quantitative phase, preceded by a qualitative phase. Data were gathered from 626 South African Generation Y respondents by means of a questionnaire. The best–worst scaling method was applied to 13 selected dealcoholised wine attributes, to measure the level of importance of each attribute. To gain more insight on the data, the best-worst scaling scores were further standardised to a probabilistic ratio scale.Findings“Taste”, “price” and “I have tried it before” were the most important attributes that respondents considered when purchasing dealcoholised wine. Furthermore, “taste” was by far the most important of all the attributes. The attributes of “back label”, “attractive front label” and “brand name” were identified as the least important by the respondents, suggesting that they did not consider the visual elements of a bottle of dealcoholised wine as particularly important in their purchasing decision.Originality/valueThe findings of this pioneering study contribute to the lack of knowledge about dealcoholised wine from a consumer behaviour and marketing perspective, and provide insights and strategies that can be used by stakeholders to enhance the dealcoholised wine market in South Africa.

Impact of Non-Saccharomyces Yeast Fermentation in Madeira Wine Chemical Composition

Madeira wine is produced via spontaneous alcoholic fermentation arrested by ethanol addition. The increasing demand of the wine market has led to the need to standardize the winemaking process. This study focuses on identifying the microbiota of indigenous yeasts present during Madeira wine fermentation and then evaluates the impact of selected indigenous non-Saccharomyces as pure starter culture (Hanseniaspora uvarum, Starmerella bacillaris, Pichia terricola, Pichia fermentans, and Pichia kluyveri) in the chemical and phenolic characterization of Madeira wine production. Results showed that the polyphenol content of the wines was influenced by yeast species, with higher levels found in wines produced by Pichia spp. (ranging from 356.85 to 367.68 mg GAE/L in total polyphenols and 50.52 to 51.50 mg/L in total individual polyphenols through HPLC methods). Antioxidant potential was higher in wines produced with Hanseniaspora uvarum (133.60 mg Trolox/L) and Starmerella bacillaris (137.61 mg Trolox/L). Additionally, Starmerella bacillaris stands out due to its sugar consumption during fermentation (the totality of fructose and 43% of glucose) and 15.80 g/L of total organic acids compared to 9.23 g/L (on average) for the other yeasts. This knowledge can be advantageous to standardizing the winemaking process and increasing the bioactive compounds, resulting in the production of high-quality wines.

Price Quality Cues in Organic Wine Market: Is There a Veblen Effect?

Italian wine consumers show a progressive shift in favor of organic wine. Sustainability is an important driver for the emerging consumers who tend to adopt eco-friendly behaviors, avoiding food waste and respecting the environment. In this scenario, it is of interest to understand the profile of organic wine consumer, the cues that are used in the process and their impact on purchasing choice. The results from a regression on data from a sample survey showed that price is an important factor driving perceptions of organic wine quality. We found an asymmetry in the impact of price as a quality cue: while high prices may be in fact able to elicit a positive perception, low prices do not lead to non-positive perception necessarily. In addition, consumers who value sustainable consumption, have a vegan lifestyle, purchase their wine directly from wineries are more likely to have a positive perception of organic wine. Similarly, elder, educated consumers could have a higher probability to exhibit a positive perception of organic wine. This research shows that the Veblen effect can also exists for food markets in particular with the product with the greatest evocative charge, such as in the wine market.

Long-Term Trends of Global Wine Market

The major factors of wine trade have been showing distinct patterns of temporal trends worldwide in past decades. Wine consumption, production, imports, and exports differ according to their location and classification to Old World and New World wine markets. Using datasets from various sources, this work focused on quantifying long-term trends (1995–2021) of these wine industry factors for each country, including long-term means and temporal trends, using the Mann-Kendall trend test, and resulting in Z-scores. The temporal relationships between these global factors were quantified by applying Pearson correlation to the original values, as well as by correlating the Z-scores. Our findings show that Old World wine consumers and producers (e.g., Spain, France, and Italy) have been experiencing gradual decreasing trends of wine consumption and production. In New World countries, some of the largest wine-consuming countries were found to have strong, significant increases in wine consumption and new wine production markets show rapid growth trends. About 80% of the countries demonstrated increasing trends of wine imports, signifying the impact of globalization on the wine market and the growing demand for foreign wine. Globally, consumption per capita was found to have significantly decreased. Wine production showed a strong, significant, and lagged dependence on wine consumption, which was also related to the temporal trends of wine imports and exports. The major forces driving the wine market are possibly economic growth and wider competition, with climate change acting as a disruptive force.

Wine and France: A Brief History

The earliest archaeological evidence of wine making in Southern France is dated 425 bce. Viticulture was present along the Mediterranean coast of France when the Romans arrived (second century bce) and flourished everywhere by the time they left (fifth century ce). For several centuries, long-distance trade virtually disappeared and the infrastructure fell apart. Profitable viticulture remained mostly local and was concentrated in the hands of the wealthy nobility and the Church. After the turn of the first Millennium, towns became cities and a middle-class emerged. In the twelfth century, the wine trade with England gained importance. Wines were shipped from Rouen, Nantes, La Rochelle, and later Bordeaux. Monastic orders controlled the most fertile land, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. In the thirteenth century, the Languedoc became a part of France. During the Avignon papacy, new vineyards were planted, in particular Châteauneuf-du-Pape. After the Renaissance, scientific studies gradually improved viticulture and wine-making. Ultimately, fermentation was understood. The Dutch greatly expanded the wine trade. Then, the first intentionally bubbly wines, distilled wines, and noble-rot wines were made. Informal rankings of Bordeaux wines led to the famous 1855 classification. In the late nineteenth century, nature-made catastrophes, especially phylloxera, transformed France into the largest wine-importing country in the world. Sub-standard and blended wines became common, hurting the reputation of all French wines. The two world wars, the Great Depression and Prohibition shrunk the market for wines. The way out involved strict quality-control measures and hard work. The next problem could well be global warming.

Features of the Organized Wine Distribution: The Foreign and Domestic Experience

The formation of a wine distribution system in each country has its own specifics and depends on many internal and external factors that require a quick response to maintain continuous deliveries and sales. Therefore, there is a need to compare the peculiarities of the wine market formation in the countries under study, since these countries have different distribution systems. The article expands and provides examples of the functioning and principles of distribution in various world markets – in countries that occupy leading positions in the wine industry, and in countries that do not produce wine or produce mainly for domestic consumption, but are viewed as promising export markets at present or have great potential in the future. Our choice fell on the wine markets of countries such as South Korea, the USA, India and Norway. The purpose of writing the article is to study the approaches to the formation of the wine distribution system and the activities of its subjects in various world markets in a global changing environment. It is proven that wine and alcoholic beverage producers, as well as wine market operators, must adapt to the changes taking place in the global market in order to increase competitiveness and strengthen their brands and image. In addition, they must clearly respond to changes related to wine distribution systems in both off-trade and on-trade segments, comply with local regulations and trademark protection systems, which will also contribute to success and development in new markets. Attention is paid to the study of the main reasons for the decline in wine production and consumption in Ukraine. The analysis of the distribution system and its features in the world countries plays an important role for the further possible development and improvement of such a system in Ukraine. Consideration of various examples of the functioning of wine markets of the countries over the world makes it possible to separate those business examples that could increase the efficiency and profitability of the domestic wine market. It is defined that one of the specific channels of wine distribution in Ukraine before the war was wine and gastronomic tourism, which was actively popularized both in Ukraine and in the EU countries. It is proved that this is the most promising instrument that will contribute to the development of the wine industry in Ukraine and increase the consumption of Ukrainian wine.

User-generated content and relevance of sustainability dimensions in the wine market

This study explores the intersection of increasing environmental concerns in the wine industry and the influence of user-generated content (UGC) in shaping trends and attitudes towards sustainable practices. Consumers and businesses are highly interested in sustainable, eco-friendly, and organic wines and processes. With the exponential rise of UGC across various internet platforms, there lies an opportunity to analyze different behaviours and trends related to wine markets and consumption. This research aims to collect and scrutinize UGC on social media platforms, explicitly focusing on discussions related to sustainability in the wine industry. Furthermore, the study seeks to complement existing methodologies by analyzing these social conversations, providing valuable insights to wine producers on influential sustainability trends. In essence, this research leverages digital content ecosystems to understand better and predict future trends in wine markets.

Changes in the phenolic complex of red aboriginal grape varieties in the system “grapes – base wine sparkling wine”

Due to the increased consumer interest in domestic wine products, winemaking enterprises are paying special attention to the use of aboriginal grape varieties now, in order to give products with distinctive characteristics, enabling to take the rightful place in wine market. However, there is no sufficient information about changes in the phenolic complex of grapes in the process of producing sparkling wines from red aboriginal varieties. The phenolic complex of grapes, base wines and sparkling wines produced from them was assessed, followed by the correlation established between the content of total phenolic, including coloring, substances in base wines and sparkling wines with their initial content and macerating (extracting) ability of these grape components, with corresponding correlation coefficients, which can be used for targeted regulation of accumulating these components.

The wine market in Poland and the main determinants of its development – selected aspects

The wine market in Poland and the main determinants of its development – selected aspects

Special characteristics of technological indicators of white aboriginal grape varieties

Sparkling wines are high in demand, and they firmly occupy their strong position in wine market. In recent years, there was a reorientation of consumers from the low-price segment of sparkling wines to the mid-price and premium ones, motivating the manufacturer to be searching for new solutions for the unique high-quality wine production. One of the ways of its producing is the use of aboriginal grape varieties. At the same time, there is insufficient information about the distinctive technological characteristics of aboriginal grape varieties, which makes it difficult to release a product of high-quality. As a research result, significant indicators were established (the mass concentrations of titratable acids, proteins, polysaccharides, the content of phenolic substances in the must without contact with the pulp, the content of phenolic substances in the must after extraction of the pulp for 4 hours, the technological stock of phenolic substances) to differentiate grapes in accordance with the origin, and characterize their technological potential. A comparative analysis of aboriginal grape varieties with classical cultivars traditionally used in sparkling wine production was carried out. Deviations in the criterion technological indicators of aboriginal grape varieties were established to be taken into account when selecting grape processing technology for high-quality sparkling wine production.

Determinants of frequency of wine consumption in Croatia

Purpose: In the last 10 years, wine consumption in Croatia has increased and consumer habits and expectations have changed. Understanding consumer behavior in relation to wine consumption is important for wine-producing countries where wine is an important component of economy. The aim of this study is to identify the factors that influence the frequency of wine consumption in Croatia, where wine production is an important agricultural activity in terms of the number of people employed in the sector and an important factor in the development of tourism.Methodology: Empirical research was conducted by means of a questionnaire filled out by 169 wine consumers who visited a wine fair in the Croatian Adriatic region. Based on the collected data, we developed and estimated a multinomial logit model. Results: The results indicate that wine is consumed more frequently by men, married people, people in long-term relationships, and older people. In addition, people with high levels of education tend to drink wine less frequently. The paper explains the reasons for somewhat puzzling results and suggests future avenues of research.Conclusion: Behavioral differences were confirmed in this study between subsample groups in accordance with four demographic characteristics, i.e., gender, age, marital status, and education criteria. Our analysis showed that males are more likely to consume wine than women, older than younger and less educated than more educated participants. Our results help wine marketers to segment and target wine consumers.

Protecting wine names online: Securing first rights over .vin and .wine domain extensions

The Internet (along with the mobile apps and social media it has fostered) has greatly benefited the wine sector, changing the way winemakers sell their products and how wine drinkers decipher which bottles to enjoy. In 2021, the global online wine market estimated value was USD 417.9 billion, and it is expected to grow 43% by 2028.1 But, the governance of the Internet has been a major issue over the years for the wine industry. This was particularly apparent back in 2014 when the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) was set to release the new domain extensions .wine and .vin.

The connected consumer: New purchase triggers that are transforming the wine market?

This review examines the changes in wine consumer purchasing habits caused by the emergence of digital technologies. The authors discuss new purchase triggers such as mobile apps, social networks, and online sales sites and their impact on consumers' perception and selection of wines. The review also examines the implications of these changes for wine producers, distributors, and retailers, particularly in terms of marketing, data management, and logistics. The authors emphasise that the digital transformation of the wine industry is creating new challenges for traditional industry players, but also new opportunities for innovative actors and startups. The review concludes that digital technologies have significantly altered wine consumers' purchasing habits and are transforming the wine industry. The authors stress that industry players must adapt to these changes by developing new marketing and distribution strategies, using data to better understand consumer preferences, and exploring new online sales channels.

Sensory analysis of wines made with minority varieties found in Spain

This study evaluates the organoleptic potential of 205 monovarietal wines made with 51 minority varieties found in Spain. The sensory analysis of 90 white, 6 rosé and 109 red wines produced during the 2019, 2020, and 2021 harvests has been carried out by means of an accredited tasting panel (UNE-EN ISO 10725:2017). These wines have been characterized by a total of 67 sensory descriptors (quantitative and qualitative). The goal of the work has been to study the oenological potential for the production of quality wines from varieties with a small area of cultivation, which could be more resistant to drought and certain fungal diseases because they are adapted to each climate zone. These features may be interesting to mitigate the effects of climate change and diversify the wine market that currently exists. The results have made it possible to analyse the sensory descriptors that define the main attributes of each variety, and to check the relationship between the sensory profile and the adaptation of the crop in each wine region.

Grapevine Resistant Cultivars: A Story Review and the Importance on the Related Wine Consumption Inclination

Pest and disease management in the grapevine sector has become difficult due to several instances (e.g., pathogen resistance, agrochemicals withdrawals). Therefore, viticulture switched to more environmentally friendly practices. On these bases, the most promising tool is the use of a resistant variety of grapes. Luckily, genetic and genomic selection have made great steps in accelerating plant breeding. In recent years, several resistant varieties of grape were created and the wine obtained began to grow. This allowed vine growers and wine makers to drastically reduce the chemical inputs in vineyards. However, this specific wine market faces trouble regarding the consumer attitude towards buying the related crafted wines. In order to make these innovations acceptable, we undertook a literature review of the history and creation methods of the hybrid grapevines. We investigated young wine drinkers across north-east Italy using specific questionaries to better analyse consumer perception of wine from resistant vines and the related environmentally friendly issues to understand if consumers are prone towards this product. Our results clearly indicate that consumer attitude towards this type of beverage pays great attention to the reduction in agrochemicals.

THE QUALITATIVE OENOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF THE WINE GRAPECULTIVARS FROM THE AMPELOGRAPHIC COLLECTION AT SCDVV DRĂGĂŞANI

Research was carried out during 2020-2022 period at SCDVV Drăgăşani and at the Wine Analysis Laboratory within Sâmbureşti Domains. The cultivars analyzed and studied were 'Negru vârtos', 'Novac', 'Cârlogancă' and 'Bikaver 13', from the national germplasm collection of the Drăgăşani unit. The first three cultivars are considered autochthonous and even local, the fourth is a Hungarian cultivar. These cultivars are valuable, which lend themselves best to the eco-pedological conditions of the wine-growing area. The qualities of the wines obtained from these cultivars were valued, through physical-chemical analyzes and statistical calculations, using indices such as mean, variance (s2), standard deviation (s) and the coefficient of variation (CV%), the aim being to obtain wines of the DOC type and GI and their promotion on the national and international wine market. Therefore, the wines from Drăgăşani continue their traditional performance even today, that of being present on the market with their famous and very good wines. Drăgăşani wines are known in the country and abroad, being appreciated among the best red and white wines.

Market shaping through controversial innovation

In this paper, we examine market-shaping literature that investigates how markets evolve over time. We focus on how controversial innovations gain acceptance as the result of the intentional strategies put into place by companies. We’ve carried a qualitative research based on secondary data collected from several online sources. Our study describes how a new packaging, can, had been introduced to the highly conservative market of wine in France. Our findings shed light on the opportunity for practitioners to implement controversial innovation in conservative markets and introduce a set of strategies to achieve such purpose.

Analysis of the Grape and Wine Market in Slovakia

Abstract The cultivation of grapes and the production of grape wine have a long tradition in Slovakia. In the paper, we deal with the analysis of the grape and wine market in Slovakia in the years 2011–2020. Vineyards have approximately 1% representation in agricultural land. The average area of vineyards in the monitored period was at the level of 11,485 ha, of which 80% were fruiting vineyards. Their acreage was mainly comprised of cider varieties (97%) and a small portion of table varieties (2%) and hybrids of all varieties (1%). The production of grapes showed a fluctuating trend, but on average 46,913 t of grapes were produced in Slovakia. The average yield was 5.3 t/ha. The territory of Slovakia is divided into 6 wine-growing regions, the largest being the Malokarpatský region, the average area of which was 4,930 ha, and the smallest region, Tokaj, with an average area of 1,091 ha. On average, 340,000 hl of wine were produced in Slovakia, of which 67% was white wine production. Imports exceeded exports of wine. The number of winemakers as well as traders with wine products is growing from year to year.

Changes in the international wine trade and policies for the promotion of moldovan wines

Abstract From an economic perspective, the COVID-19 crisis has been an exogenous shock to most local and international markets. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, physical separation (or social distancing) to prevent the spread of the virus has led to feelings of isolation and loneliness, increasing the prevalence of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorders, and insomnia in the population. However, during the lockdown, technological devices have provided a way for people to maintain social connections with friends, family, their social networks, and/or the wider community. This article analyzes the changes on the international wine market and estimates the exports of Moldovan wine, especially in the neighboring region, which includes Romania, Ukraine and Bulgaria to Nigeria, considered a new market and characterized by the lack of traditions in wine consumption.