For Further Information Contact:
Lisa Anthony
(707) 967-5322 (direct)
(707) 963-1379 (fax)
ST. HELENA, Calif. - Dozens of the country’s foremost experts in marketing luxury products will share their insights at MKF’s fourth Luxury Wine Trends Annual Conference 2004, an executive summit for wine industry professionals. The goal of the conference is to shed new light on how to market luxury wine in the era of super value wines, big box retailing, and increased competition from domestic and imported luxury brands.
Steven Castle, of Castle Consulting and former editor of Robb Report, will be leading a panel on understanding the luxury consumer. Castle has over a decade of experience in reporting on many facets of wealth and luxury. According to Castle, luxury is much more than a product; it’s an experience. “Luxury is the feeling a consumer gets from that product or service,” said Castle. Many luxury wine marketers are embracing the concept as they strive to develop relationships with their consumers.
Returning to the conference, Editor and Publisher of Wine & Spirits, Joshua Greene, will present a sneak preview of the emerging on-premise wine trends from the 15th annual Wine & Spirits Annual Restaurant Poll, which will not be available to the public until the April issue. In addition to contributing editorial guidance and feature writing to the magazine, Greene critiques and provides in-depth reviews for nearly 7000 imported and domestic wines each year. For his work on the Annual Restaurant Poll, Greene is in contact with many of the nation’s most prominent wine buyers and sommeliers.
Some of the other speakers slated to appear at the one and one-half day conference are: Annette Alvarez, Costco; Bob Paulinski, Sam’s Club; Jay James, Bellagio; Belinda Chang, Fifth Floor; Evan Goldstein, Allied Domecq; Vic Motto, MKF; Darryl Roberts, Wine X Magazine; Bob King, Levy Restaurants; Lesley Berglund, The Winetasting Network; Tim Clarke, Infinite Spirits; Toni Neumeister, Crystal Cruises; and John Blazon, Walt Disney World; Donn Reisen, Ridge Vineyards; Mary Lernihan, U.S. Trust Co.; Seamus McManus, Calistoga Ranch; and, Garret Murphy, Vintner’s Collective.
The Conference will be held February 23rd & 24th at COPIA, the American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts in Napa, California and is $1,000 per person. Conference attendees may also attend an exclusive “Winemaker’s Dinner” with Philippe Melka, consulting winemaker to Caldwell Vineyards, Bryant Family Vineyards, Hundred Acre, and Lail Vineyards, as well as proprietor of Melka Wines, and winemaking visionary Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards. Melka and Draper will be pouring wines paired with a dinner prepared by Greg Cole, chef and proprietor of Cole’s Chop House and Celadon Restaurant. Tickets for the dinner are $150 per person. For further information or to register, call (707) 963-9222 or go to www.mkf.com. Seating is limited and advance registration is required.
As the leading wine business advisory firm, MKF has helped hundreds of winery and vineyard owners achieve their goals by providing CPA services, business consulting, wine industry research, and mergers and acquisitions services. For more information, please visit www.mkf.com.