CRAFTWINE ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES Newly Formed Oregon-based Non-Profit Certifies CraftWineries Nationally
SALEM, Ore. (February 9, 2018) — Today is the official launch of the CraftWine Association, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting small-scale, independent wineries and the craftwine community. “There is a major need in the marketplace to close the gap between consumers and small wineries,” says CraftWine Association founder Carole Lawson. “Our mission is to connect craftwine producers with craft lovers through partnerships, education and outreach.”
Wine drinkers can now look for the Certified CraftWine seal at grocery stores and wherever wine is sold. The consumer can be assured through this seal that the wine they are choosing is produced in lots of 5,000 cases or fewer, is made with grapes that come from an identifiable vineyard, and that its production was winemaker led from start to finish. That is to say they will know it is an authentic, handmade craftwine. The Certified CraftWine designation is offered to winery members so they can proudly show their commitment to the traditions and art of winemaker-made wines.
When SOGGÉ Wines, the CraftWine Association’s inaugural member, wanted to introduce their wines to new customers, they felt it was necessary to obtain CraftWine certification. “The American wine industry is dominated by high-volume, mechanized, and formula-driven producers,” says founder and winemaker Joseph Soggé. “Certification is a significant differentiator in a complex and, often, confusing marketplace.”
Designed to highlight Certified CraftWineries and Certified CraftWines, the CraftWine Association website, craftwine.org, boasts a searchable online directory with links to each winery’s point of purchase. The Association also shares members’ stories with a community of consumers interested in small-production wines, numbering well into the tens of thousands, as well as via its own social media channels.
Members also have access to valuable marketing data the CraftWine Association collects about topics such as market trends and buying behavior, as well as an ever-growing list of companies, such as distributors, lifestyle brands, and travel and tourism professionals, that share a passion for craftwines.
Millennials are expected to have the most spending power of any generation in 2018, and craftwines epitomize their values of community, simplicity, and authenticity; however, the complex regulatory environment can make these wines difficult to find. 84% of Millennials believe they can digest a brand’s entire story at first glance, making the messages the Certified CraftWine seal communicates paramount. The Certified CraftWine seal communicates the authenticity of a small production, hand crafted wine immediately.
At its core, the CraftWine Association recognizes that craftwines reflect the stories, personal passions, and true artistry of everyone who had a hand in their making. The Association is dedicated to making Certified CraftWine as recognizable as any organic or sustainable certification and as ubiquitous as craft beer.
