In the dynamic world of wine, where the competition is fierce and the choices are abundant, the glittering medals on your wine bottles are your golden ticket to capturing the palates of wine buyers and getting a great placement in the wine lists. Winning medals at Beverage Trade Network’s wine competitions is a significant achievement for wineries, not only for recognition but also as a powerful marketing tool. These accolades can be used strategically to capture the attention of restaurant wine buyers, who play a pivotal role in shaping a restaurant's wine list. Let's picture a  sumptuous restaurant in the city's heart with low lights and a sophisticated ambiance. Guests are looking at the menu showcasing an exquisite selection of wines, trying to decide what wine to order. Among the choices, a bottle catches their attention, proudly displaying a Sommeliers Choice Awards’ double gold medal – a testament to its exceptional quality. This scenario happens in restaurants all over the world, and if you're a winery, you have a chance to make your wines the stars of the show.

Source: Sommeliers Choice Awards

Choosing the right wine competition for a winery is also crucial because it can significantly impact a winery's reputation, visibility, and sales. A reputable and well-regarded wine competition such as Sommeliers Choice Awards and USA Wine Ratings provides validation of a winery's quality and expertise, which can attract both consumers and industry professionals. Moreover, winning these awards offers a valuable marketing tool, helping wineries stand out in a crowded marketplace. In this article, we'll delve into the art of using your Beverage Trade Network’s medal wins to pitch your wines to restaurant wine buyers. Here are some of the points to keep in mind while pitching your award-winning wines.

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Showcase Your Accolades

First and foremost, prominently display your wine competition medals on your marketing materials. This includes your website, social media profiles, and promotional materials. Ensure that the medals are easy to find, as wine buyers often research wineries online before making decisions. Highlight the specific awards, such as gold, silver, wine of the year, or best in show, to demonstrate the quality and excellence of your wines.

Source: London Wine Competition

Craft a Compelling Story

Beyond displaying medals, craft a compelling narrative around your winery and its journey to win these awards. Share the story of your winemaking process, the terroir, and the dedication that goes into each bottle. This narrative can resonate with restaurant wine buyers who are often interested in the unique and authentic stories behind the wines they select for their establishments.

Use of Competition Stickers

Using BTN’s stickers on your wine bottles is essential as they serve as badges of quality and excellence. These stickers provide instant credibility to your wine, helping it stand out in a competitive market. They act as a visual testament to your wine's superior taste and craftsmanship, instilling trust in consumers and guiding them toward making a confident purchase. These stickers are powerful tools that can significantly boost your wine's visibility, recognition, and sales while helping you set a valuable benchmark in trade and with consumers. You can order your stickers from the official sites of BTN’s wine competitions after your win.

Source: USA Wine Ratings

Tailor Your Pitch to the Restaurant

Crafting a compelling pitch for the restaurant's wine program is essential to convey the significance of the awards. These accolades serve as a testament to the outstanding quality of your wines and the exceptional experience they provide to your esteemed clientele. Our competition has a stellar reputation, known for its rigorous judging process and a record-breaking number of entries, making our achievement truly remarkable. Our wines garnered special recognitions, including the prestigious "Best in Show" and "Double Gold" distinctions, which align perfectly with their excellence. Explaining how these awards signify that your wines have been recognized and praised by experts in the field could help you stand out of the crowd.

Offer Tastings and Pairing Sessions

Consider offering tastings and pairing sessions to restaurant wine buyers at your winery or the restaurant. This allows them to experience your award-winning wines firsthand and understand how they complement different cuisines. Tailor these sessions to showcase the versatility of your wines, making them a valuable addition to any restaurant's wine list.

Source: Paris Wine Cup

Wineries that have been recognized with BTN’s competition medals possess a valuable asset in their marketing arsenal. By effectively leveraging these accolades, wineries can capture the attention of wine buyers and sommeliers to secure a place for their award-winning wines on restaurant wine lists. Remember to tell a compelling story, offer tastings, customize pitch materials, and use our competition stickers in your wine bottles to enhance your chances of success in the competitive restaurant wine market.

Header Image Source: Sommeliers Choice Awards

Article By Tushar Anand, Beverage Writer & Sommelier