Random marketing thoughts from a wine collector & customer

I’ve never bought a bottle of wine due to its label, but I have skipped buying several because of its label. File this under ‘know your target market’.
Tasting notes have kept me from buying far more wines than they ever led me to buy.
IMNSHO I don’t care about what number some critic ginned up for your wine. She/he is totally different person than I am, has their own palate, is set up in a weird environment, and it’s all just marketing anyway. Plus this new system of adding someone’s idea of proper price and the marketing of it makes it even more useless.
The wine industry is competitive. It’s best for you to not take my business for granted.
The wine industry is competitive. The relationship you allow us to build is the deciding factor for us!

Wine Clubs are practically everywhere. Make sure yours stands out – in a good way.
You need more than one story to tell about your wine. If I’ve been buying your wines for years, believe me, I already know your entire shtick about terroir.
Don’t take your IT person’s word for how great your web/mobile sites are. Go get your third cousin, have them visit your sites, and listen to what they say while using them.
If a customer sends you a comment regarding your website, mailings, etc. consider we actually care and are trying to be helpful. Don’t automatically get all defensive and cranky in your response.
Don’t ask for me for multiple address options on your website if you can’t ship to the correct one at the correct time.
Please don’t ship anything to me without sending me a heads-up email beforehand.
Yes, wine laws are confusing and challenging. Give some thought to how to make your DtC easiest on your customer rather than making any such challenges ‘their problem’. We probably understand liquor laws slightly less than you.
While perhaps not true for everyone, for me it’s the team you’ve created to craft your wines that makes me willing to send you my money.
Finally, since you are most likely wondering, yes, as a loyal customer I do read all the materials you send!

I’ve never bought a bottle of wine due to its label, but I have skipped buying several because of its label. File this under ‘know your target market’.