Ep 1: The Hidden Drivers of Fashions in Wine

Why do we drink what we do? And why are we drinking different wines than we did 30 years ago?

Lulie Halstead and Felicity Carter do a deep dive into why the wine rack looks very different than it once did. But what is a wine style and who determines it?

And who gets to decide what we drink? It turns out the answer involves changes in technology, fashion and even what looks good on Instagram.

In the course of the discussion they roam over academic research, popular culture, the role of celebrities and critics, and even whether there really is more choice on the shelf, or whether it’s an illusion.

Included in this episode:

[1:00] All about the hidden side of the drinks market.

[14:00] How wine styles are classified.

[19:00] The unexpected role of technology.

[32:00] The influence of the critics and whether their judgements are still important or not.

Meet Your Hosts:

Lulie Halstead founded and led international consumer research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, and led it to a successful PE exit. Today she is a renowned global beverage alcohol and wine sector specialist, focused on consumer behaviour, strategy, retail and hospitality. An accomplished keynote speaker, she has spoken at more than 70 international events over the past 20 years.

Felicity Carter is an award-winning wine and drinks journalist, editor and content strategist. She led Meininger’s Wine Business International to become the world’s most must-read wine trade magazine, and was founding Executive Editor of The Drop/Pix, which the Wall Street Journal named one of the most trusted sources of wine information. A regular keynote speaker, she was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly.