Owning a winery and getting involved in year-round operations is some people’s fantasy. But for consumers interested only in the custom-made finished product, a new service is available through Australian Interactive Winemakers in Beechworth, Australia. From setting a budget based on wine style and quality to choosing a region in Australia where the grapes will come from, the customer can enter the world of wine-making from the comforts of home. The service even allows groups of people to pool resources to make a custom-made qupRE-Newsbriefsbodyer barrel. Think of the potential for this selling technique for vineyards around the world that want to attract curious drinkers with a penchant for something unique.

Getting people personally involved in wine is one of the key reasons wine-makers are making wine more tangible. I recently attended a preview presentation for this year’s Vinexpo, which will be held in Chicago in June. This is only the second time that Vinexpo has considered a U.S. city as a host for the conference, with the first show being held in New York in 2002. According to a study compiled by the International Wine and Spirits Record and Global drinks Record for Vinexpo Americas, the United States is the largest retail market for wine, and has per capita consumption rates lower than Europe. As a result, the U.S. market will continue to be a target for international producers. Whether it’s directly through trade shows or indirectly by inspiring creativity online, producers will continue to entice U.S. consumers to discover the world of wine.