Innovative Wine Businesses

Method 3: Specialize in high-end oversupply and only source the best varietals from their best regions

90+ Cellars Malbec

Latitude Beverage Company is an example of an innovative business which sees that the fine wine market is declining and that there’s more growth opportunity in bringing good quality wine to the mass consumer market. They’re doing it in two different ways under two unique labels–90+ Cellars and Ku De Ta Wines.

90+ Cellars is just like Cameron Hughes’ Lot Series except that the wines Latitude Beverage purchases come with a ratings pedigree. While we don’t necessarily advocate buying wines based on their ratings (because everyone’s personal taste is different), we think only selecting wines that are well-structured enough to earn a 90+ rating in the first place is a great place to start. When you purchase a 90+ Cellars wine, you’re getting premium quality at value pricing–a great way to win over sophisticated wine buyers on a budget.

Ku De Ta Wines, Rioja

Ku De Ta is more like Cameron Hughes’ Flying Winemaker Series in that they’ve hand-selected varietals from the regions where they perform best. When you want to produce consistently high-quality wines, why buy your grapes from a region that doesn’t have the best terroir to support superior winemaking? Why buy your Cabernet grapes from anywhere other than the Napa Valley? Why buy your Malbec from anywhere other than Mendoza? You get the point. I can’t tell if they make their own wines or if they contract with winemakers (probably the latter), but it’s almost irrelevant because winemaking that starts with the best grapes and that respects the varietal’s characteristics produces wonderful wines.

Bottom line: If you buy wines that are priced according to innovative business practices (as opposed to local real estate prices and ratings-driven demand), odds are good you’re getting better quality wine for your money–who doesn’t want that?

http://www.grapesmart.net/2009/10/innovative-wine-businesses/