All the talk in the wine world these days (besides the imploding economy) centers around one Big Question: how to capture the love and loyalty of the 70-million Millennial generation?
Millennials (born between 1977 and 1998) are already wine drinkers. Data from the Wine Market Council shows that 40 percent of 21-and-over Millennials drink wine. Millennials are willing to try new things, they explore value regions around the world, and they aren't incredibly loyal to specific brands.
Which is why the wine world is falling all over itself trying to capture that loyalty, and in the Millennials' own medium: the Internet. Kim Crawford, the New Zealand winery famous for its zingy Sauvignon Blanc, is on Facebook with events, videos, and podcasts. California's Twisted Oak Winery has a (very popular) wine blog. Wineries from Chateau Haut-Brion, a grand cru in Bordeaux, to Iron Horse Vineyards, a sparkling wine producer in California, are Twittering (or is that Tweeting?).
The question is, are Millennials listening? Part of me thinks wineries have to embrace social media to stay alive, and part of me thinks that wineries embracing social media is about as cool as one's high school teacher dressing like he's still 16. What do you think? Vote in the poll below!
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