At ShipCompliant’s annual Direct Sales Seminar today, Kent Nowlin of ShipCompliant and Danny Brager of The Nielsen Co. presented data developed by Wines & Vines and ShipCompliant with Nielsen research about direct-to-consumer sales. The survey confirmed that DtC sales are a robust and growing trade. While comprising only 2% of total wine sales, the segment accounted for 11% of total value. Read more at: http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=news&content=101894&htitle=DtC%20Volume%20and%20Value%20on%20the%20Rise&Copyright © Wines & Vines

Southern Napa Valley Cabernet is juicy, rich and structured

Coombsville Cabernet Vineyards

I received a sample of a small-production Cabernet Sauvignon from a new boutique winery.  This winery has estate vineyards in Sonoma and also sources fruit from prime Napa Valley vineyards.  One of their sources is in Coombsville, in the sourthern Napa Valley.

Zinfandel 2006 Available For Private Label

Small Production Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

A few days ago I received a couple of samples of 2008 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands from a small, passionate producer of hand-made wines.  Last night I tasted this wine and was quite impressed.  The color is deep and dark, with a lot of density for a pinot noir.  Aromas of black cherries, cranberries and a bit of sous-bois on the nose.  On the palate the wine is mouth-filling, with juicy fruits balanced by acidity and tea tannins, and a long, smooth finish.

I have found a small source of 2008 Napa Cabernet for my quick-on-the-draw private label clients (this will go fast!).  There are only 3-4 pallets available.  The wine is juicy, rich and full-bodied.  It is already bottled in a nice Bordeaux bottle with shoulders and a taper.  Just waiting for your label and it is ready to go!

Please contact me if you are interested in buying some of this wine!

steve@conviviumbrands.com

We have had a great response to our last newsletter to suppliers.  In the newsletter was a tender for private label wines from France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Argentina and Chile.  We have received some great pricing from some wineries that we have done business with or visited in the past, as well as some new wineries.

One of the questions that parcipants are asking us is, how do we guarantee that the restaurants, stores or other clients will continue to order private label wines after the initial purchase?