On BBC Breakfast Show yesterday morning (20th July), Business News presenter Simon Jacks and Breakfast News presenters Bill Turnbull and Sian Williams were sampling a range of wines: one priced around £6 and the other close to £60. Despite the significant price difference, not all of them could tell one from the other.
This may suggest that price of wine is not necessarily indicated in its quality or taste, and that not all drinkers know enough about wine to recognise the difference in taste between an expensive wine and a cheaper alternative.
Wine expert Alistair Morrell, Managing Director of Pig in a Poke, campaigns for an honest conversation about wine, and has strong views about the way that the wine trade and supermarkets sell wine. Morrell is working for genuine engagement with wine consumers and great value in the wine industry.
He comments:
“It is a truism that most people can’t and are not interested in finding differences between the £6-7 wine and the £60-70 or £600-700 wine. Most people know it but don’t want to express it, because we are frightened of the (self-professed) experts.
The reality for most people is that they want a nice wine at a reasonable price, but that wine as a purchasing experience is a confusing one and as a drinking experience a forgettable one.
There are no people apart from self professed ‘experts’ that believe that wine tastes better by geography – it doesn’t guarantee extra taste or flavour or experience.
Let’s have a more honest conversation about wine, to give people nice wine that they can remember and purchase again if they have enjoyed it. And it is up to us in the industry to provide the guaranteed quality that means taste!”
So the question is… What do you think ?
Post your opinion below and, the best comment will receive a bottle of Pig in a Poke.
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