Harvesting data & harnessing AI
Artificial Intelligence is not to be feared says Rachel O’Shea, co-founder of generative AI company Yabble.
Speakers include Rob McMillan, one of the top wine-business analysts in the United States, founder of the Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division, and author of its eponymous annual report. Rob says there are myriad reasons for a global “pulling back” in wine, including anti-alcohol lobbies and a generational shift away from baby boomers habits.
Wine business strategist Lulie Halstead, who spoke virtually and passionately at the inaugural Wine Business Forum about why marketing should be at the heart of every wine business, is returning in person for the 2025 event. Consumers care less than marketers would like them to, the Wine Intelligence founder told engaged attendees in 2023. “That gives us a real problem. Because we assume consumers think, feel and behave the way we do.”
Hong Kong-based Chinese wine journalist Natalie Wang will look at the future of Asia’s wine markets, including the “significant achievement” of New Zealand wine exports to China exceeding $50 million. “The surge is largely driven by younger consumers in China who are showing a growing preference for white wines over reds,” Natalie says. “As a new generation forms its drinking habits, this trend is likely to continue, fuelling growth for New Zealand wine in the Chinese market.” Benjamin Gibson, founder and CEO of Winehub.io, the largest dedicated wine technology platform for Shopify, will examine the profitable opportunity of direct-to-consumer sales.
NZW General Manager Brand Charlotte Read says topics selected for the forum “aim to explore the wide array of change our industry faces, whether it be demographic shifts in wine drinkers, changing occasions, formats, and evolving trends to market dynamics and routes to market”. Another theme of the forum is recognising the importance of sustainability in wine business to drive value, as the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand programme marks its 30th year. NZW’s Meagan Littlejohn, will explore how sustainability credentials impact market access, including comments from Barry Dick MW of premium United Kingdom supermarket Waitrose. “As with every Wine Business Forum, providing the opportunity for a member to share valuable learnings with their peers is a feature of the programme,” Charlotte says. “This year we will hear from Belinda Jackson at Lawson Dry Hills on her perspective on the value their multitude of sustainable certifications have had on their business.”
New Zealand Story Chief Executive David Downs, also part of the inaugural event in 2023, will wrap up the day by sharing the organisation’s latest New Zealand perception research, which highlights the importance of sustainability and environmental considerations in driving market preference for New Zealand wine.
nzwine.com/en/initiativesevents
