Inknowology

01/01/2021

01/01/2021

Top 9 Post 2020...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

10/12/2020

Shopping Guild for your Insufferable-Wino Loved Ones

(full links on the blog: https://inknowology.com/getting-somms-gifts/ )

Its so stressful shopping for someone you love that has a huge passion for like wine. You need something near Ph.D of education basically to find them something they will actually adore. You’re nearly always doomed to fail. We’re here to HELP!

Below is a list of 6 wines guaranteed to make happy that are affordable too. 3 stocking stuffer ideas they need and will use repeatedly because buying something useless is soooo annoying. And last 3 gifts of wine accessories that are will give them years of enjoyment.

03/12/2020

National Cab Franc Day is the 4th of December!

The styles of Cab Franc differ vastly. If its grown in the abundant sunshine of say California's Napa Valley it takes on big dark fruit with pronounced green peppercorn notes. If sourced from the cooler climate of France's northerly Loire Valley the wines tend to be floral and light with an austere structure as they leap out with secondary earth tones on just released vintages. Its almost hard to believe its the same varietal sometimes as their are even more expressions of it if it is sourced from Northern Italy or Bordeaux too.

For this week's Promo, I would first feature whichever Cab Francs you already have on-hand to move the inventory.

If you can commit to scooping up a couple cases for this Promo there are huge deals to be had as Cab Franc is predominantly sold on-premise. Demand some deals. You will get them.

Run the Promo all weekend long, NOT just the 4th. For Restaurants Deals keep the prices for Promos under these:
>$50/btl is easy to do with a bunch of great CFs found in Argentina
>$65/btl is the sweet spot for value-driven French CF's from Anjou/Chinon
>$80/btl is ideal for under the radar CF dominant Bordeaux bottlings
>$90/btl if its from Napa.

PROTIP: if you pick up a couple of cases of a wine fir this weekend. Ask for a staff training bottle and an extra bottle to pour for guest to buy bottles for this promo. You might not get both but always ask.

29/11/2020

Push features (high margins for your business) and get excited about them!

This is the perfect time to embrace what you love. Nearly all odd-ball regions out there aren't getting enough love with so many restaruants being closed. You wrapping your arms around your favorite regions or producers. Supporring them could make or break their year. Ask for some deals. Your distributors and importers will love this and work with you to make it happen.

26/11/2020

Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

We know many of you will be working this day and celebratimg with your restaurant families (including my wife, Fern).

Thanks to you who serve others while they celebrate life's moment. Don't ever forget that you are creating memories for your guests and being a part of that is why we're in the industry. In a year that has brought so much uncertainty and sadness to many, it's an honor to bring smiles to their faces.

What you do matters.

We are thankful for each and every one of you. Thank you for following along and being a part of our journey.

23/11/2020

You should be pouring more things by the glass! Wine in restaurants offered By The Glass have always been the cornerstone to brand building the reputations of wineries in America.

RIGHT NOW its a buyer's market with all the closures of on-premise account. The importance of having a brand be placed in a volume placements (ie BTGs) has become infinitely more important with less restaurant open during this pandemic to move products so there are CRAZY deals to be had by adding higher-end wines to your BTG Program.

Cycle them in and out. It is going to be more effort on your part and it will be taxing on your time with staff education... BUT the margins to be made for your business with these deals are 💯 worth it!

22/11/2020

BEAUJOLAIS ALTERNATIVES

The popularity of quality Bojo has grown significantly over the last 5 years, which is a great thing. There are many now that drink it often so Beaujolais on Thanksgiving has lost a bit of its razzle-dazzle.

PROMO IDEA: Here are some terrific Beaujolais Alternatives to feature that are similar in style...

Italy: Schiava from Alto-Adige

Spain: Mencia from Bierzo or Ribeira Sacra

France: Red Sancerre (Pinot Noir from the Loire), Alsace Pinot Noir, or Reds from Jura

Germany: Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir) from Baden or Pfalz

South Africa: Swartland Reds (Rhone Varieties)

California: Trousseau bottlings from producers like Stolpman or Santa Barbara cool-climate Grenache producers like Tribute to Grace

20/11/2020

When Dinosaur-Suppliers won't zip it and let you sell their wine for them... we've all been there.

17/11/2020

When anyone in your family goes in with the dreaded "so you guys talking about marriage?", immediately respond by following the script but put it in your words ...

You: "funny you say that, we were just talking about Bordeaux blends from Napa."

Them: "huh I asked about marriage?"

You: "its actually pronounced meritage, fun fact... did you know it also applies to white wines from Bordeaux varietals! Wild huh. Contrary to popular belief, they're white too!"

Them: "I'm talking about marriage"

You: "Although many wine experts tend to frenchify the word "Meritage" by pronouncing its last syllable with a "zh" sound like the pronunciation of "garage". The Meritage Alliance specifically states that the word should be pronounced to rhyme with "heritage"."

Them: " ".

16/11/2020

Third Wednesday of November is Zinfandel Day!

'America's Grape Variety' is what Zin is appropriately dubbed as it's explosive peppery, spiced candied booming fruit style is only found here in the USA. No one ever confuses Primitivo (same grape varietal under its original name in its home region of Puglia in Southern Italy) with American Zin. There are two main expressions of the Zinfandel in California, the cool climate ones from places like RRV (soft, light, complex) and the dense chewy high-octane ones from much warmer areas like Paso.

PROMO IDEAS: For Zinfandel Day it would be fun to feature both expressions so guests can try both styles together to really celebrate America's Grape Variety. Offer each for $50/btl or $13/Glass