Greg Sherwood MW: Competing against Burgundy brand equity

By , 12 January 2022

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For some consumers, the month of January may represent an ideal opportunity to lay off the booze and enjoy a little dry respite after the excesses of Christmas and New Year. But in the wine trade, January means Burgundy En-primeur and the well-established bun fight that this campaign has developed into over the past decade. With supply chain issues continuing to affect wine availability and demand for top Burgundy whites and reds seemingly endless, everyone in the trade is expecting the campaign to be swift and successful. The big difference this year is that everyone knows that there is a veritable train smash coming just around the corner after the worst production levels in 2021 in classical European regions since possibly the great frosts of 1957 that killed broad swathes of prime vineyards across France resulting in one of the largest replanting programmes possibly since phylloxera.

With the lack of supply continuing to plague all the great appellations of Burgundy even before the 2021 frosts, the 2020 new releases look set to be snapped up with an even greater voracity than before as consumers stock up ahead of an uncertain campaign and significantly restricted wine supply next year. There is simply no escaping the fact that the tragic frosts in the classic regions of Burgundy, Bordeaux and the Loire are going to be felt by consumers for several years to come with price hikes in the region of 20% to 30% assured but equally little hope of these year-on-year increases being mitigated and reduced subsequently.

In anticipation of this changing wine landscape, it has been interesting and entertaining to read the many “predictions and trends” articles in the mainstream wine media that normally deluge us at this time of year. Most leading commentators do not anticipate the easing of supply chain problems until perhaps early 2023 when the pandemic and its corresponding global restrictions are predicted to start easing. However, the popular narrative being espoused instead is the inability of consumers to source and / or afford the classics of Bordeaux and Burgundy thus forcing them to look further afield for more readily available, cheaper alternatives.

To a great extent, this trend already occurred in the context of Bordeaux several years after the Bordeaux price bubble of 2009 and 2011 priced many consumers out of the market. Undoubtedly, high-quality producers in South Africa, California, New Zealand and Chile to a lesser extent, were the direct beneficiaries of this precipitous price boom. Then, when you consider the convergence of styles between the old world and the new world producers as global warming makes itself felt in Bordeaux, 14.5% to 15% ABV big, bold reds are becoming the norm not the exception. Who would have thought that the Cape would be able to compete so ably with their deliciously structured, classical 13.5% to 14% ABV Bordeaux-style blends?

As a country category, South African producers have probably benefited more than most from consumers discovering the true quality dynamic to be had. From our unique white offerings of Chenin Blanc and Cape white blends to classical interpretations of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cape Bordeaux blends, the South African category seems to offer it all. Without looking to imitate Burgundy, our Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producers need to hold a steady course and continue to push quality and precision while other industry specialists offer more eclectic alternatives to consumers in the way of “Grand Cru” Cinsault, Grenache and Pinotage.

Despite this shift in consumer buying patterns, it’s very important to make the distinction between consumers looking for cheaper alternative products that are similar in style and quality to what they used to buy and new migrating consumers who shift to new categories and styles completely in search of value-driven alternatives. The founder of Vivino, Heini Zachariassen, comments that “while discovery becomes crucial out of necessity, wine drinkers who are naturally curious will embrace opportunities to branch out and experiment. In return, wine producers and the broader wine industry will continue to innovate to reach this younger demographic.”

In reality, Cabernet Sauvignon lovers have many more alternatives and options to choose from than drinkers and collectors of fine red and white Burgundy. Quite simply, Burgundy remains the holy grail of wine, a unique terroir in the Cotes de Nuits and Cotes de Beaune that produces premium expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that are unmatched stylistically anywhere in the world. This in essence is the reason that the wines of Burgundy continue to be the most sought-after wines in the world regardless of their never-ending price increases and continued scarcity.

Arguably, the relative opportunities for premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producers around the world to benefit from the shortage of Burgundy are somewhat limited. There is only one Puligny Montrachet, one Meursault, one Vosne Romanée and one Gevrey Chambertin and switching consumers to alternative products and categories is much easier said than done. Perhaps this is the way it should be after 700 years of building a unique brand equity.

  • Greg Sherwood was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and as the son of a career diplomat, spent his first 21 years travelling the globe with his parents. With a Business Management and Marketing degree from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Sherwood began his working career as a commodity trader. In 2000, he decided to make more of a long-held interest in wine taking a position at Handford Wines in South Kensington, London and is today Senior Wine Buyer. He became a Master of Wine in 2007.

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    Louis | 23 February 2022

    I think it is also important to mention that burgundy wines depends not only of terroir but also of winemakers. When you consider that about 20 % of these winemakers are serious and quality focused, you really need to know from which one you buy these extremely expensive wines!
    After you also need to bear in mind that with the global warming, depending on the vintages, more and more wines can be unbalanced and not reach the expected quality, whatever the price.
    Some Grand Cru are suffering of this global warming.
    I suggest to read this interesting article about Burgundy wine with global warming effect on quality : https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2020/06/climate-the-latest-challenge-for-burgundy

    BvR | 13 January 2022

    Great article Greg. As you know I’m passionate about SA wines and my favourite party trick is to line up either a like for like wine (at a significantly lower price point) or a much better one (at the same price point) from SA to anything a friend brings over for dinner from Any European appellation. And though there are a few occasions where the style can’t be exactly replicated, for most part it comes as a wake up call to traditional European wine buyers. The brand equity and pricing situation in Burgundy should make this a slam dunk for my party trick, yet people continue to buy really average plonk from Burgundy every year. I get at Grand Cru level it’s difficult for many other countries to compete, but If your budget is £20-40 max per bottle, should people even bother to buy Burgundy or just start honing their research and buying to SA, Chile, NZ and the US?

    Hennie | 12 January 2022

    Greg, as a Burgfile it pains me to read that you think the wines will get even more expensive. Do you think there will be a bubble/price ceiling somewhere along the way?

      Greg+Sherwood+MW | 12 January 2022

      Hennie, the price rises pain us all. What my short column tried to explain briefly is WHY people continue to buy Burgundy at ever higher prices while consumers of other wines, think Bordeaux, Champagne, etc. are more ready to call it a day and switch to more affordable alternatives.

      What we all wonder is how long this can go on for… even for Burgundy. With basic village level Puligny and Meursault whites of average quality now retailing for £55-£60pb in the UK, logically, it does seem that producers may be running out of rope. Yet every subsequent vintage goes up in price… (Leflaive up over 20% from 2019 to 2020) and the wines sell out. The wine’s unique style and quality certainly plays a role in this senario but we all wonder when the camel’s back will break. When I find out the answer I’ll let you know!

    Greg+Sherwood+MW | 12 January 2022

    Yes, true Lisa. Of the two varieties, Chardonnay perhaps offers the winemaker more opportunities to harness terroir as well as leave their own winemaking style and thumb print on their resulting wine (think struck match, toasty oak, lees stirring etc which all influence style). Pinot Noir on the other hand is an altogether more difficult variety to tame.

    Lisa Harlow | 12 January 2022

    Very interesting and it is impossible to emulate the history and brand equity of Burgundy. However, there are some amazing Chardonnays in particular coming out of South Africa.
    A friend yesterday (who I have been gently persuading for a while to drink more South African) proclaimed that the Lismore 2018 Chardonnay is the best Chardonnay in the world £ for £. Not a bad comment from a Burgundy lover
    I think Pinot Noir however, still has a way to go with the exception of one or 2 producers

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