What makes a good wine? Not just good but good — you know, the kind that tastes less like a beverage and more like summer, sunshine, and a sprinkle of love served in a glass?
There are as many answers as there are wine experts and enthusiasts. In the end, however, it usually comes down to a certain je ne sais quoi rooted in the winemaker’s unique growing and production methods.
This is where the importance of local wineries comes in. They often can’t afford fancy labels or marketing campaigns. Yet, they manage to stand out by making quality wines with heart and soul using traditional practices passed down for generations — and that’s just one of the many reasons to partner with small, family-owned wineries.
5 Reasons Why You Should Work with Small Local Wineries
In a wine industry dominated by big players, smaller-scale operations often struggle to break through the noise and reach retailers and hospitality businesses. But that doesn’t mean you should give up on them. Here are five reasons why you should support local vineyards:
1. Access to Higher-Quality Products
When you buy from large suppliers, you are often buying a product that has been blended together from multiple sources. It might be made from grapes grown in different regions, fermented at different temperatures, and aged in barrels from around the world. Even if you buy single-origin wine, it’s pretty much a given that your competitors will carry similar products due to the sheer production volumes.
But when you buy from a local winery, you get boutique, single-origin wines made in limited batches — just enough for you and maybe a handful of other select clients. Not only do you have tighter control over the quality of the product, but you’ll be one step ahead of the competition.
2. Supporting Regional Economies
By purchasing directly from an independent producer, you help the people who work there as well as the broader regional network.
Local winemakers play a crucial role in their communities. They create jobs, support local farmers, encourage wine tourism development, and keep traditional practices alive. This reduces the brain drain to urban centers and helps to sustain thriving regional economies.
3. Encouraging Sustainable Development
The business model of smaller producers relies on quality rather than huge yields. This allows them to explore sustainable farming techniques and use fewer chemicals and pesticides. Some are even organically certified. All of this makes for better-tasting and healthier wines — and it’s good for the environment, too.
4. Enabling You to Pick the Brains of Winemaking Experts
Working with small producers gives you access to some of the best minds in the wine industry. You get to speak directly with the team that works the vineyard and knows it better than anyone. These folks are passionate about what they do and eager to share their knowledge. They are also usually more flexible and able to take risks and experiment with new ideas than some of the big players.
If you build a solid relationship with these experts, they can advise you on everything from sensory characteristics and food pairings to product differentiation and where the wine industry is going next.
5. Helping You Wow Your Customers
Consumers these days want to know where their wine comes from, how it was produced, and how it got transported to its final destination. Smaller wineries are in a much better position to offer this level of transparency because they don’t have the same volume or distribution networks as larger companies.
At Artezan, We Know About the Importance of Local Wineries
We have made it our mission to connect small and mid-sized producers of Spanish, French, and Italian premium wines with retailers and hospitality businesses across Europe.
It’s a win-win for everyone. Local wineries expand into new markets, you get to spice up your product range with boutique world-class products, and consumers can access a wider range of quality wines at competitive prices.
Are you interested in working with our local winery partners? Check out our wine catalogue to get started.
And if you have any questions, just drop us a line. We’ll be in touch shortly.
