WIN Expo Conference Dives Deep into Grape Harvest Data
By Dawn Dolan
In this North Coast Wine Industry Expo (WIN Expo) staple, Turrentine Brokerage offers a recap of the 2018 harvest and provides an update of the state of the grape and bulk wine markets, as well as case good sales trends, with emphasis on the North Coast and California-wide. Brian Clements, Vice President and Bryan Foster, National Sales Manager will be offering their expert and data-driven insights on what changes are currently happening in this market. Providing detail relevant to all levels of grape growers, small and large wineries, they are convinced that the information provided can help inform business decisions.
“Turrentine sees supply and demand trends before anyone else, because of the amount of wine that we broker through here,” says Clements. Their presentation will focus on supply and demand trends, and their overall experience from 2018, as well as projections for where this information is leading us into 2019.
Says Foster, “We want to discuss excess in the bulk market we may be seeing, new and upcoming market challenges, and retail channel activity. Another component is who are your end purchasers; the average wine drinker, and what they are spending.” A key component of this talk will be to discuss why the market challenges are different in the past 12 months than before, and where that may be leading.
“We are talking the 10,000-foot view,” says Clements. Their goal is to offer information that is valuable not only to larger players, but to grape growers, as well as small wineries that need to know what the supply and demand trends are occurring that might affect their DTC clientele.
“We can look at if they are targeting the right consumer, with the right varietals,” remarks Clements. Turrentine’s data is comprehensive, so the trends of what is being bought and sold in the North Bay, and throughout California is apparent, becoming a forecast for future trends.
Notes Foster, “We will be talking about meeting case projections, and the slowing down of the market across case goods, throughout California. We have a pretty good idea of whether a trend will diminish or bloom. At some point most wineries do visit a broker, whether they are short and need bulk to increase or shore up their programs. Or maybe they are long, and need to move something. We have all that data.”
Offered at 11:30am, this session entitled Harvest Recap, 2019 Grape & Bulk Wine Forecast explores trends in the marketplace through cyclical activities that have historically impacted the North Coast, and endeavors to forecast what they see as a result of that impact.
Brian Clements is Vice President and Partner at Turrentine Brokerage, and his responsibilities include managing Turrentine’s industry-leading grape brokerage team and working with clients throughout California, including the North Coast, Central Coast and the Central Valley.
Bryan Foster is Sales Manager of Strategic Brands with Turrentine Brokerage. He has developed a keen understanding of the retail trade (On/Off Premise) and understands how to build strong relationships with wholesalers and chain store accounts. His broad background gives him a unique advantage in advising clients on sourcing successful strategic brands.
For more information and to register for the North Coast Wine Industry Expo Conference & Trade Show visit www.wineindustryexpo.com/conference.php. The WIN Expo is held this year on December 6th at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.
