Tag Archives: wine advertsing

TV wine ads: Taco Bell — yes, Taco Bell — succeeds where wine hasn’t

A mass market fast food ad makes me want tacos at 2 a.m.

When the Wine Curmudgeon was a young newspaper reporter, I ate entirely too much fast food at 2 a.m. — White Castle, since I lived in Chicago, and Taco Bell, for its 49-cent tacos.

I haven’t had either in years (or much else in the way of fast food, actually). So why did I want Taco Bell again after watching this commercial? Because it’s that effective.

Or, as the blog’s official wine marketer explained it to me: “That was expertly done, showing multiple generations together, having fun dining, and all to a song that resonates with the younger than 60 generations. Plus the hip use of ‘Polaroids’ in the images. No voice over – the images carried the message. Heavily processed images saturated with colors and filters. Short and sweet. If only the Big 5 wineries would analyze this and run with its concepts.”

Which, of course, they won’t. Instead, we get stuff like this.

Because, wine.

Video: Taco Bell via YouTube

More about TV wine ads:
• TV wine ads: Did Bolla get it right 41 years ago?
• TV wine ads: I’m Brosnan, Pierce Brosnan
• TV wine ads: Mateus rose — “it’s like a trip to Portugal”

TV wine ads: Crown Royal understands its audience

If a pricey blended whiskey can make a terrific ad, why can’t wine?

Crown Royal – once a whiskey for the aging wine demographic – has made surprising inroads with younger consumers. Why surprising? The basic, 750-ml bottle costs $25, which we’re told is more than they want to spend on wine.

So how has Crown Royal done this? With ads like this 2018 effort, which strikes me as funny and unpretentious in a way that almost no wine advertising has managed. Plus, it shows young people having fun without an adult looking on to grant permission. (Since the ad is about alcohol, you’ll need to sign in to YouTube to see it.)

Compare it to this Bread & Butter Wines ad, which tries desperately hard for the same vibe, but can’t help itself and includes an adult lecturing about wine. Because, of course, with wine, we have to tell young people what to do.

Trust me, wine business. Young people know how to drink; the last thing they need is an adult explaining how to do it. Would that wine figures that out before it’s too late.

Video courtesy of  Ben Vereen via YouTube

More about TV wine ads:
• TV wine ads: When in doubt, use sex
• The history of wine advertising and reaching younger consumers
• TV wine ad update: Does Stella Rosa’s sweet fizzy red commercial do what Big Wine can’t?