Should Wineberserkers Try to Attract Younger Members?

[MChang]

@Robert_Dentice

Thank you very much for your comment.

I can understand how you feel. But just one example please check out my Spatburgunder thread where the average bottle price is around $50 or the Riesling thread. At this point in my life I can drink any wine I want but get much more enjoyment out of exploring new wines from up and coming producers or regions. And as I said above helping to get people into wine.

Robert, I think you’ve done a phenomenal job getting people into Riesling and opening bottles for people that they likely can’t get or afford.

I have been trying to meet up with younger posters on here as often as I can and opening burgundies (which may or may not be a good thing for their financial health) but certainly not in as organized a way.

[Robert_Dentice]

@MChang

I have been trying to meet up with younger posters on here as often as I can and opening burgundies (which may or may not be a good thing for their financial health) but certainly not in as organized a way.

This is awesome, would love to join! Thank you for doing this. I do own Burgundy and can also bring some German Pinot to compare.

[Rahsaan_M]

@Robert_Dentice

I don’t think many people really get into wine in their 20s?

I think this is key, and after that it’s a numbers game of who likes to participate in these types of forums. Plus maybe something about younger people preferring other types of social media.

I started in wine (and on the wine boards) in the early 2000s when I was in my mid 20s. There were very few young people around for all the reasons people have outlined.

I’m not sure the tone here really matters because it’s not like young people don’t enjoy debating/bickering. There will always be a range of personality types in any age cohort. And I’m not sure other wine boards with different tones are doing any better with young people?

I do wonder if forums like this will be less common in the future - regardless of topic - so I would think your work on IG and at the tastings, etc is more likely to yield fruit with young wine enthusiasts.

[Bweiss]

Best way to do this would be to throw a one day huge wine sale event featuring awesome, small, authentic producers.

Oh wait….

In all seriousness, BerserkerDay is such a great way to attract younger wine lovers. Wines of great quality and value is the winning formula, IMO.

The fact that there are so many knowledgeable folks here in the community with decades more experience than my own is amazing, and sure, it can be intimidating initially, but with a little time, research, and tasting experience you get over it and engage (my story, anyway).

[Brian_S_t_o_t_t_e_r]

Elder millennial here (still young by comparison, right?). Anecdotal but I think social media plays a big role in what alcohol millennials and Gen Z look for. Wine doesn’t really have a presence on TikTok or a significant reach on other platforms (e.g. Instagram) like craft beer or bourbon do.

[GWang]

@MChang

I have been trying to meet up with younger posters on here as often as I can and opening burgundies (which may or may not be a good thing for their financial health) but certainly not in as organized a way.

That’s exactly how I got into Burgundy (white burgundy to be specific). Someone from an older generation that I randomly sat next to at a restaurant counter was kind enough to share a pour from Lafon Meursault Perrieres–I was hooked since and my wallet has rued the day.

[MChang]

@Robert_Dentice

@MChang

I have been trying to meet up with younger posters on here as often as I can and opening burgundies (which may or may not be a good thing for their financial health) but certainly not in as organized a way.

This is awesome, would love to join! Thank you for doing this. I do own Burgundy and can also bring some German Pinot to compare.

I like reading your posts because they’re always positive and enjoy your commentary about new restaurants a lot, I definitely take your posts into account when traveling abroad.

That said, I think you know what I was referring to above because I think some people reacted negatively to your post about red hook tavern and some other posts. Unfortunately some people react negatively at times and it’s likely related to jealousy.

[MChang]

@Rahsaan_M

@Robert_Dentice

I don’t think many people really get into wine in their 20s?

I think this is key, and after that it’s a numbers game of who likes to participate in these types of forums. Plus maybe something about younger people preferring other types of social media.

I started in wine (and on the wine boards) in the early 2000s when I was in my mid 20s. There were very few young people around for all the reasons people have outlined.

I’m not sure the tone here really matters because it’s not like young people don’t enjoy debating/bickering. There will always be a range of personality types in any age cohort. And I’m not sure other wine boards with different tones are doing any better with young people?

I do wonder if forums like this will be less common in the future - regardless of topic - so I would think your work on IG and at the tastings, etc is more likely to yield fruit with young wine enthusiasts.

I think young people enjoy debating/bickering with each other, not being talked down to by boomers.

[Brian_S_t_o_t_t_e_r]

If you are ever in/near St. Louis I’d be happy to open Burgundy and do some doc talk.

[Robert_Dentice]

@MChang

That said, I think you know what I was referring to above because I think some people reacted negatively to your post about red hook tavern and some other posts. Unfortunately some people react negatively at times and it’s likely related to jealousy.

Yes I understand. It is a delicate balance.

[larry_schaffer]

For as long as I’ve been in here, I’ve been stating that the number of lurkers I meet far outnumbers the number of posters, and the two main reasons folks point to are:

1. They feel ‘intimated’ by active posters here
   2). They feel that what they want to say may not be interesting’ to others

There have been numerous first time posts that have been welcomed and well received - and an equal number that have made the OP not want to post again (and no, I can’t point to specific posts but they’ve been numerous)

To me, the way to get more folks posting is to create an environment in which they are comfortable - more encouragement, less judging.

And PLEASE stop assuming that many in this board don’t enjoy ‘mass market’ wines - folks may not post much about them and active posters tend to ‘slam’ them but my guess is that many members of this community who lurk may in fact enjoy those wines - but are led to believe that they ‘shouldn’t’ . . .

Cheers

[MChang]

@m_blasco

This is true for me at least. I’ve read forum pretty voraciously since getting into wine, long before actually making an account (many years of wisdom here), but don’t have much to contribute and feel the stuff I’m drinking is not worth discussing amongst people routinely pulling corks on aged GC Burgundy and cult cab. A splurge wine for me is $75+ since I really don’t feel justified in putting down hundreds of dollars yet for wines from appellations I’m still learning about.

I think that certainly plays a role. On r/wine if you posted a note on that $75 wine you’d get a bunch of commentary and discussion but here you’d get crickets unless it was an obscure grower champagne in the champagne thread

[Brian_Tuite]

Generational differences? We “Boomers” are here to share and talk while the Millennial/GenZ are in it for the “likes” and/or “followers” and to say “OK Boomer”? :newhere:
It’s normally us “Boomers” who don’t care what someone thinks about what we say because life is too short to worry if someone is offended. You’d fit in just fine.

[Robert_Dentice]

@larry_schaffer

pecific posts but they’ve been numerous)

To me, the way to get more folks posting is to create an environment in which they are comfortable - more encouragement, less judging.

And PLEASE stop assuming that many in this board don’t enjoy ‘mass market’ wines - folks may not post much about them and active posters tend to ‘slam’ them but my guess is that many members of t

Great post @larry_schaffer I wholeheartedly agree with everything you wrote.

[MChang]

@larry_schaffer

For as long as I’ve been in here, I’ve been stating that the number of lurkers I meet far outnumbers the number of posters, and the two main reasons folks point to are:

1. They feel ‘intimated’ by active posters here
   2). They feel that what they want to say may not be interesting’ to others

There have been numerous first time posts that have been welcomed and well received - and an equal number that have made the OP not want to post again (and no, I can’t point to specific posts but they’ve been numerous)

To me, the way to get more folks posting is to create an environment in which they are comfortable - more encouragement, less judging.

And PLEASE stop assuming that many in this board don’t enjoy ‘mass market’ wines - folks may not post much about them and active posters tend to ‘slam’ them but my guess is that many members of this community who lurk may in fact enjoy those wines - but are led to believe that they ‘shouldn’t’ . . .

Cheers

Yeah, a lot of young people might have been proud to try a Caymus and basically would be made fun of for drinking it here.

[ky1em1ttskus]

This was definitely the energy 5 years ago — “Blueberry chocolate milkshake” TNs and such — but I’m not sure that’s still true.

[MChang]

@Brian_Tuite

Generational differences? We “Boomers” are here to share and talk while the Millennial/GenZ are in it for the “likes” and/or “followers” and to say “OK Boomer”? :newhere:
It’s normally us “Boomers” who don’t care what someone thinks about what we say because life is too short to worry if someone is offended. You’d fit in just fine.

And tell younger people what they’re doing wrong… don’t forget that.

I’ve stopped counting how many times I’ve been told I’ve been opening grand crus too young, by people who’ve never opened them on release or in the first couple years. How would you even know then?

[MChang]

@larry_schaffer

For as long as I’ve been in here, I’ve been stating that the number of lurkers I meet far outnumbers the number of posters, and the two main reasons folks point to are:

1. They feel ‘intimated’ by active posters here
   2). They feel that what they want to say may not be interesting’ to others

There have been numerous first time posts that have been welcomed and well received - and an equal number that have made the OP not want to post again (and no, I can’t point to specific posts but they’ve been numerous)

To me, the way to get more folks posting is to create an environment in which they are comfortable - more encouragement, less judging.

And PLEASE stop assuming that many in this board don’t enjoy ‘mass market’ wines - folks may not post much about them and active posters tend to ‘slam’ them but my guess is that many members of this community who lurk may in fact enjoy those wines - but are led to believe that they ‘shouldn’t’ . . .

Cheers

It’s also just silly.

I went to a holiday party a couple weeks ago that was a set menu with prepaid wines. It was Argentinian food and the wine was Argentinian sparkling wines and some relatively entry level Malbec (altos hormigas Classico, I think). It was a lot of fun and the wine was well paired with the foods.

People act here that there’s bullshit wine for the masses and fine wine, and that’s not really true.

[RyanC]

I’ve been reading and posting on wine boards for almost 20 years now, since I was 21. I still think of myself as one of the young folks but I definitely am not.

I drink wine with a lot of young people, and despite being very-online people, essentially none of them post here and I don’t know if any lurk. I think for many of them they may just be unaware or not the type of people who post online. But I do think some effort could be made to attract a new and younger crowd. Local events would be a great way to do it.

I do think posting tasting notes is very intimidating for new people. How many times does someone say a wine has oak, only to be immediately corrected that the wine sees no oak. Or whatever.

[larry_schaffer]

@MChang

Yeah, a lot of young people might have been proud to try a Caymus and basically would be made fun of for drinking it here.

And of course not only here but in most places on the internet as well

It’s too bad - just makes folks not want to interact at all.

At the end of the day, who cares what anyone drinks or how they drink it? We may all have our likes and dislikes but there is no universality to this at all.

And not everyone progresses to Burgundy and Bubbles . . .

Cheers