Mastering Marketing Principles and Red Wine Production

Marketing Principles

• Product
• Price
• Place
• Promotion

Market Trends Vocabulary

• Upward Trends: To increase, rise, or grow (a growth).
• Downward Trends: To decrease, fall, or drop (a drop).
• Significant Changes: To surge (a surge) or take off (an upsurge).
• Sharp Declines: To plummet or plunge (a plunge).
• Stability: To remain stable (a stable situation).
• Volatility: To fluctuate (a fluctuating performance) or peak.

Key Market Concepts

Producers, consumers, competitors, market growth, marketing channels, and potential.

The Art of Red Wine Production

To make a high-quality wine, the process begins with the harvest. Grapes are collected traditionally at the optimal state of maturation. The sugar level is critical, as it dictates the subsequent fermentation and final alcohol content.

Processing and Aging

Once selected, the grapes undergo processing. For red wine, we distinguish between:

• Carbonic Maceration: Used for young, fruity wines.
• Despalillado/Estrujado: Used for higher-quality wines, often followed by aging in American or French oak barrels.

Wine Evaluation Phases

After bottling, we evaluate wine through three distinct phases:

1. Visual Phase

Red wines typically display colors ranging from cherry to tile with good limpidity. The tearing (legs) indicates the alcoholic degree (13-15% vol). We also examine the border and nuance to determine the wine's age.

2. Olfactory Phase

We identify primary aromas, secondary aromas from fermentation (floral, fruit, wood), and tertiary aromas (bouquet).

3. Gustatory Phase

We verify the aromas found in the olfactory phase, mapping them across the tongue while assessing texture, astringency, and aftertaste.

Recommended Selection

I recommend a red wine blend of Tintilla (30%) and Black Slime (70%). It features notes of black fruits, chocolate, tobacco, spices, violets, plums, and minerals. This structured, powerful wine offers excellent acidity and pairs perfectly with spicy red meats, chestnut cream, jams, or cod. At approximately €18 per bottle, it provides an accessible yet sophisticated tasting experience.