Toronto Gourmet Food and Wine Expo Product Launch

On November 14^th to the 17^th, Wine Awakenings will once again be exhibiting at the annual Gourmet Food and Wine Expo being held at the Metro Toronto Convention Center.  We have been participants and contributors to this annual event for four straight years now and have used the venue to actually launch most of our new products.

But this year promises to be….VERY SPECIAL!

First, we are launching a new “smart” wine preserver which will keep your opened bottles of wine from dangerous oxidization by using some very slick, state-of-the-art digital technology and an LCD display for ideal temperature monitoring.  A must-have gadget for wine aficionados, for sure.

Edition Spéciale:

Twenty Shades of… Play

Our second new product is one that boldly goes where no other product has ever gone.  It brazenly taps into our personal sensory grid to create a most intriguing bond and dialogue to be shared with a friend of your choice…preferably with your “significant other”.

We call it Twenty Shades of…Play  because things are not always “black and white” when it comes to our senses.  Best described as “a sensory journey for the awakening couple”, this new “board game for grownups” is the result of much passionate research and deep dives into the captivating universe that is sensorial stimulus…this emerging field of fascination that is the very essence of Sensorial Marketing commonly referred to as “La Sal de la Vida” or “The Spice of Life”.

But of course, that is not ALL that’s taking place at the Wine Awakenings booth next week.  On the Thursday and Friday evenings, those in attendance will be amazed…enchanted…from what will emerge out of the clear blue sky…from nothing to greatness in two short breaths…right in front of your eyes…right in front of our booth.

Not Your Father’s Wine Aroma Kit

The old wine aroma kits which contain a dozen or so bottles of stinky aromas and some flowery scents in a plain red cloth wrapped box with no instructions…are, thankfully, a thing of the past. The “nouveau” aroma kits now contain wine tasting lessons on different media, full colour booklets describing the aromas, interactive aroma wheels to actually help you define your own wine taste profile, and are packaged in beautifully bound treasure cases made for the “collectioneur” or as a perfect gift for that wine lover in your life. Gone are the days when you would have to pay an inflated shipping charge after having dished out a considerable amount of money for the kit itself…and then wait for it to arrive from overseas. Today’s treasure boxes can be customized for corporate gift giving, and are sent to you within a few days. And the best part…you can get a beautiful aroma set containing no less than 20 high quality aromas found in wines and a complete set of interactive tools to help in your discovery…starting at only $119… At wineawakenings.com

The 5 S’s of Wine Appreciation…Is it for Sissies — Sophisticates — or Somewhere inbetween? ? ? What they are and why they are important?

The 5 S’s of Wine Appreciation

 

Is it for Sissies — Sophisticates — or Somewhere inbetween? ? ?  What they are and why they are important.

 

 

See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip, Savour

 

See

Our senses, and in particular our sense of sight, determine much of our behaviour.  The same is true when it comes to the enjoyment of food.  Our sense of sight is key when it comes to wine!  Hold up the glass to appreciate the colour.  What you see is your first clue of the taste to come.  The lighter the colour – the lighter the flavour, the deeper – the more full bodied.  Reds will range from cherry reds to deep, almost purple.  Whites from pale, delicate yellow, perhaps a hint of pale green all the way to gold.

Note:  if you see a brown tinge or something “off” in colour – that’s your first important clue of what’s to come-delicious or hopefully, not.

Why and When Would Knowledge of Wine Be Helpful…Handy…Good to Have…?

Ever been handed the wine list in a restaurant and your table of friends is expecting you to make a decision on the wine…for the table…?

Ever order some wine in a restaurant and the waiter, after pouring your taster portion, hands you the cork…and waits…???

Ever take a gulp of “expensive” wine you just ordered…and you want to spit it back out…you know there’s something wrong with it…but how will you tell the wait staff to take it back…? What is making it taste so bad…?  Is it just you…???

What wine will you choose for your next party?  Will your wine pairing talents and accompanying jargon impress your guests?  Your boss?

Next time you hold a glass of wine, describe its ruby color, its perfect balance, its cigar box aroma, and its velvet texture…will you sound “snobby” and pretentious…or will you have that attractive hint of sophistication that comes when you actually know what you’re talking about…

Review of the Past…Eye on the Future…The Wine Education Company

In 2012, our third year in existence, we continued our path to double digit growth that we started in year two.  Our customers, retailers and distributors, mostly in North America, embraced our products and, most of all, our services offerings.  Wine education has definitely become the “in” theme for many corporate/PR events, client recognition venues, and private company functions for partners and employees.  To give someone the gift of basic wine knowledge is unique, useful in many social circles, and always well appreciated.  Especially, when it is conducted in a fun and interactive manner…and with full “hands on”(and “nose on”) audience participation while using some very intriguing sensory based games to promote bonding and entertainment value…leisure education.  Basically, a unique, fun and informative group séance of the senses…always well appreciated and well-remembered by all.

We also had a very productive year in 2012 from a new product development perspective.  We added two major new products to our lineup of wine education tools.  First, our star high end product especially

The Perfect Holiday Gift For The New Or Experienced Wine Appreciator

Tired of buying the wine appreciator on your list a bottle of wine you hope they will like?  Don’t want to buy them another novelty corkscrew or decanter?  Why not get them something that can enhance their wine experience and help them further understand why they like what they like.  You may even learn a thing or two yourself!  We deliver anywhere in North America within three business days, and now with free shipping!  Happy Holidays!

Toronto Food and Wine Show!

Just a few more days before all the action.  We are excited to be part of the Toronto Gourmet Food and Wine Show again for the third year.  With so many great and unique exhibitors, it`s sure to be another success!  Don’t forget to swing by our booth for a hands on look at our fabulous Wine Aroma Kits and their many applications, wine chocolate pairings, and many more great surprises.  Cheers!

For more info on the show…click here!

 

Little Effort…Long Lasting Impression

Maybe it’s because I have spent close to thirty years in a variety of marketing and sales roles both as senior executive in a multinational Fortune 100 company and, more recently, as owner and founder of an internet based marketing company…but, whenever I am asked to speak to a business audience on any topic related to marketing and consumer behaviorism, the question of experiential marketing almost always pops up in the Q&A section. I’ve heard as many definitions as there are new wave marketers pitching their “esoteric pitch” to unsuspecting potential clients.

The nouveau wave marketers are flocking to experiential marketing in record speed.  Large companies are “re-visiting” their battered marketing budgets and shifting money away from media advertising and into the experiential sphere.  Marketing power houses like McDonald’s, GM, TD Bank, Coke, and Nike…just to name a few… have started or are seriously considering shifting huge piles of coins to experiential marketing. A virtual revolution of sorts!

But what really is experiential marketing… in real terms?