Cider Corner: 3 Seminars to Look for at CiderCon 22

CiderCon 2022 is right around the corner and cidery professionals from across the country will gather to share information and strategies in building their businesses. Brewer is proud to be covering the event and sharing some of the insights as well weekly here in the Cider Corner.

As you head to Richmond, Virginia next week, take note of some key seminars we feel will benefit your brand in 2022.

Tourism: What American Cideries Can Learn from European Wine

Patti Wilcox of Gravity Ciders will discuss why tourism is relevant to cideries.
“It’s one of the most profitable ways to drive your marketing,” she told Brewer. “I’m going to share 10 of the most innovative and successful ideas I’ve seen in European wine tourism.”Those will range from something simple like a new coat of paint to a more complex, village-wide festival.
“All offer maximum impact for promoting not only your individual cidery, but the industry as a whole,” she said. “My main goal is for cideries to get inspired to step up their tourism game.  Right now, many of us are leaving a lot of share-of-mind and share-of-wallet on the table by approaching beverage tourism as a side-gig. 
“I want to see session attendees jumping out of their seats, filled with excitement, ready to implement their own new ideas to grow their tourism offers.”

American Ciders Abroad: Export Strategies & Resources

Chris Van Orden, Manager of International Business Development and Craft Beverage Assistance at the Virginia Small Business Development Center – George Mason University, explained to Brewer that his talk will focus on how to assess export-readiness; top foreign markets for American cider; key trade issues to be aware of; market selection and analysis; and trade support resources.”Cider makers who attend the session will come away with a better understanding of the rationale for and mechanics of exporting,” Van Orden said. “As well as where they can turn for assistance.”Attendees will leave equipped to take advantage of international opportunities by undertaking thoughtful market selection, leveraging state and federal resources, identifying strong partners, and managing documentation.

The Magic of Subscription Sales: A Tale of Two Wine Clubs

Aileen Sevier​ of Early Mountain​ Vineyards​​ will take a broad look at the rise of subscription sales and why they resonate for both consumers and businesses. Sevier said she plans to go into detail with Early Mountain’s two wine clubs which are quite distinct from each other. She’ll cover both strategic considerations as well as tactical recommendations relevant for cideries looking to start a club or maximize success with their current model. “One is a more traditional wine club in which quarterly shipments are selected by our winemaker and the members enjoy special events, discounted wines, as well as access to limited production wines,” she told Brewer. “Our other club, Taste of Virginia, is a curated offering of top wines from throughout Virginia, all small batch and often experimental or site specific bottlings.
“Unlike our 1784 Club, the focus is on access to unique gems. Both clubs are aligned with our brand, but they are targeting different consumers and have different structures, incentives, and goals.”She will also provide an overview of other approaches to successful club models, drawing on examples within Virginia as well as the broader wine world.
“I hope that attendees will leave the talk with ideas to launch their own cider club or maximize success with their current model.​​”​

Registration is still available for CiderCon 2022.

Photo courtesy American Cider Association

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