A British wine expert has claimed “teething problems” with logistics, sampling and temperature control are holding back the Middle Eastern wine market.
Bruce Kendrick from UK-based Liberty Wines said the industry needed “people with wine knowledge”.
“European culture has wine knowledge but there are places in Middle East that simply don’t, which is why it’s so important to employ people on the logistical side with an extensive understanding of wine,” he explained.
“You have logistical operations being run by individuals who don’t have this knowledge and in certain warehouses wines will ‘fall-over’ after five years and still get sent out.”
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Kendrick, who was in Dubai conducting training sessions on behalf of Liberty Wines and MMI, said the region’s wine industry needed to improve in order to sustain growth.
“Employees are coming to Dubai from across the world and bringing their knowledge with them. The key is to allow it to filter along the chain from logistical people to restaurant staff and bar mangers,” he said.
“People must understand a wine maker can only make their product once a year; not like beer which you can make every week.”
Kendrick, who has conducted numerous training sessions added that he was always pleased to be asked questions.
“The more questions people ask, the more I can help out,” he explained.
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