This post may be a bit wine-geek oriented, but I can't help to point out yet another illogical move on the part of our beloved NSLC. I downloaded and read their marketing plan and focus for the wine category. You know, I could swear I recall reading that Argentina was to be a country of origin that was to be featured this year.
Now, when anyone who knows wine considers Argentina, one of, if not the first name that stands out is Catena Zapata. Nicolas Catena, and his daughter Laura, make the best wines at just about every price point, and style in the country. That's not me talking, that's pretty well a summary of the international wine press. Yes, there are others, but there is no argument as to the Catenas' position. First rate on quality and on value.
So I find out recently that our beloved NSLC turned down the Catena Zapata line of product when it was offered to them. This can only represent one of three things.
1. Ignorance of their own strategy (so why have one?);
2. Incompetence in the assessment of the category;
3. Indications of the presence of some form of industry kickback, or extortion the agency/company was unable, or unwilling to pay; or
4. A combination of the above.
For the non wine crowd, this would be like saying you are going out to buy pizza, and driving past the best joints in town to get a Pizza Joe Delight special. The Argentinian wines available here are, for the most part, from the big government run conglomerate called Penaflor (Trapiche), which is like PetroCanada for wine in Argentina. They have lots of cash to buy shelf space at our Shoppers Drug Mart style Liquor Corp. And pay for trips for the non wine expert CAO to travel the world. The independent producers get squeezed out.
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