WineStars: „Dragons´s Den“ for the wine world

The WineStars show is organized just like all the other casting shows. The ten finalists only have a couple of minutes to present their wines and introduce their business and marketing agenda to the audience, which consists of a jury, bloggers and journalists. The jury will select three winners that will receive top access to the British wine market and some of the wine industry's directors are also part of the jury. Thus, WineStars aims at improving communication between wine producers and the market.

Organizer Robert Joseph, who is a journalist and wine producer himself, is trying to boost wine producer's marketing and their communication with the trade. Participating wineries are put under immense pressure in this show and thus have to get to the point quick. "Most winemakers have a flaw - they don't know much about marketing", says Robert Joseph. "Once they have produced a good wine that tastes good they think they're done. But there is much more to being successful than just that'.

Interested wine producers can still apply until May 10 (see TIP). One hundred applicants will be accepted and their names listed online. However, only 10 out of the 100 will actually be part of the show and get a chance to win big.

Some of the jury members are well-known in the British wine scene. Among others Andrew Shay, (Purchasing Manager at Waitrose), Justin Howard-Sneyd (Director at Laithwaites), Chaterine Monahan (Owner and founder of Clink Wines), Robert Joseph (Wine journalist, author and Partner at Le Grande Noir Wines) and Joan Torrents (Director at Mitchels & Butlers).

*„Dragon´s Den“ is a reality tv show that has enterprises present their business plan to a jury or investors. Most of the entrepreneurs have a good business idea but they lack the financial means to get started. Thus, competitors fight to ultimately win the money that will get them started with their business. The show was first brought out in Japan and is now produced in numerous other countries. The "Dragon's Den" rights are exclusively owned by Sony Pictures Television International. (red.yoopress)