CALGARY & OTTAWA, CANADA – June 8, 2017 – The Canadian Vintners Association (CVA) and Global Wine Database (GWDB Inc.) are proud to announce the largest and most comprehensive online database of Canadian wineries and wines: www.wine411.ca. The online database, launched two years ago, featuring every winery in Canada, now catalogues 5,500 Canadian wines, complete with tasting notes, suggestions of other vintages and similar wines, as well as food pairings, in one seamless online experience. This is the first time all wines produced in Canada have been available in one location.
Launched as a joint initiative between CVA and GWDB Inc. to bolster winery tourism, the partners now hope Wine411.ca will increase consumer and global trade knowledge of Canadian wines, as well as encourage more winery sales.
The Canadian wine industry is undergoing tremendous growth, with the number of wineries having doubled within the last decade. The grape wine industry has a national economic impact valued at $9 billion annually, and number of visitors to Canadian wineries has risen to almost 4 million each year, and yet there was no national database of all of Canada’s wines.
“The diversity of wines made across Canada is exceptional,” said Dan Paszkowski, President and CEO of the Canadian Vintners Association. “This comprehensive resource will allow consumers and industry professionals to discover their preferred wine styles and grape varietals, now integrated into Wine411.ca”.
Wine411.ca is built on Canadian technology from GWDB Inc. which allows all Canadian wine producers to control and manage their winery and wine information themselves. This is the first time globally that wine producers can take control of their information and wine consumers can get accurate, producer-driven data. Wine411.ca should be first stop for media, trade, government and consumers to get Canadian wine information.
“For years, even basic wine data has been unreliable. Global Wine Database takes an entirely new approach by giving the producers the power to control the facts about their individual wines as well as their brands. GWDB’s powerful database and extensive API allows for apps, retailers, government, media and the general public to find the facts quickly and accurately” said David Gluzman, President of GWDB Inc.
Consumers can get the most up-to-date information on the largest number of wines available in Canada
100% free for consumers and producers
Wineries can login to GWDB today and update all their information and all their wines (including past vintages) for free by signing up at www.GWDB.io.
Media and trade can apply for exclusive early access to GWDB’s global wine data by reaching out to the team through www.GWDB.io.
About the joint project partners:
The Canadian Vintners Association (CVA) is the national voice of the Canadian wine industry, representing more than 90% of Canada’s annual wine production. CVA members are engaged in the entire wine value chain from grape growing, farm management, grape harvesting, research, wine production, bottling, retail sales and tourism. www.canadianvintners.com
GWDB Inc., based in Calgary, developed the Global Wine Databasewhich powers Wine411.ca and is a subsidiary of BlackSquare Inc, the most innovative ecommerce provider tailoring for direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales in the global wine and beer industry. BlackSquare powers efficient, cost-effective DTC sales for wine-producing clients on four continents. www.gwdb.io
Sonoma, California: BlackSquare Inc. announces an exciting opportunity for U.S. wineries wanting to ship wine direct to consumers (DTC) around the world. The announcement was shared to a standing room only audience at the Direct to Consumer Wine Symposium last week in Concord, California.
“International DTC represents a giant leap forward for direct sales. Unlocking even just one new country, such as Canada, can mean upwards of a 20% growth for U.S. wineries by selling to those who previously it was too costly to sell to. We’re very excited to enable U.S. wineries to reach their fans across the world.” says David Gluzman, President and Co-Founder of BlackSquare Inc.
International Direct to Consumer is now available for U.S. wineries interested in shipping to Canada, China, and Australia with other countries becoming available in later 2017.
With partners around the world and working completely within the traditional three tier system, BlackSquare is enabling the sale of goods in local currencies and with local shipping options. This is exciting news for both producers and consumers who will no longer need to deal with paperwork for duties, taxes and laws when attempting to ship internationally. The opportunity for wineries to embrace tourists in the same way as local domestic consumer will change the face of DTC sales globally.
BlackSquare Inc. is a global provider of direct to consumer (DTC) wine and beer business solutions. Founded in 2010, BlackSquare specializes in offering a wide-array of DTC strategies from enhancing foot-traffic sales, ecommerce, global direct to consumer sales to launching a social media campaign, and everything in-between. Theco-founders of BlackSquare, Matthew Protti and David Gluzman, are also the co-founders of the WineCollective Group, the largest independent online alcoholic ecommerce player in Canada and which comprises the WineCollective.ca, Tannic.ca, CanadaCraftClub.ca and Highfield brands.
Monique Blough Global Program Director BlackSquare Inc. 403.710.1940 Monique.Blough@blacksquare.io
Imagine being able to ship your wine around the world despite different regulations. At BlackSquare, we are experts in direct-to-consumer distribution, and in providing wine solutions.
After five successful roadshows throughout Australia and New Zealand, we’re heading to Sonoma California.
Where & When?
We’re hosting Innovate Live 6 at the Best Western – Krug Event Center.
Tue, January 17, 2017
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM PST
What?
At Innovate Live 6, a number of topics will be discussed including the importance of personalization versus customization in your direct-to-consumer distribution, and how you can take those sales global.
Who?
Ideally suited to owners/managers, winemakers and sales and marketing, this event will have something for everyone and be an invaluable opportunity to network with your peers.
There’s limited space available. Get your tickets now.
BlackSquare is proud to have sponsored and participated at the second annual Wine Vision conference, held in London, U.K. on Nov. 17-19th. Our CEO, Matthew Protti, and president, David Gluzman attended and delivered roundtable and panel expertise.
Video Highlights from Wine Vision 2014
BlackSquare was an original sponsor and attendee at the 2013 inaugural event. Wine Vision is a unique gathering of senior players in the global wine industry, also drawing experts from outside the industry to provide insight to the market’s future and the ever-evolving consumer trends.
“Returning to Wine Vision as sponsors and speakers was an easy decision,” said Matthew. “We work globally, and this is the global wine industry’s to pforum for decision-makers and innovative thinkers. If the industry wants to grow and evolve, it needs to tackle the challenge of change. Wine Vision does that.”
Wine Vision 2014 brought together more than 200 forward-thinking experts and fueled industry growth via roundtable discussions, panel debates and a series of speaker presentations – all geared towards industry innovation and exploring major issues facing the global wine market.
On Day 2, David hosted a roundtable discussion, “Get online for wine: Selling direct to the consumer.” Focusing on direct to consumer sales as the primary channel in wine industry growth, David addressed best practices in creating positive user experience, global ecommerce marketing and what he’s seen firsthand regarding successful direct to consumer ecommerce sales.
Day 3 saw Matthew on a panel discussion, along with David Hulley, director of customer experience atVineland Estates Winery. Vineland has been a BlackSquare client since early 2014, is one of Canada’s premier wineries and has seen impressive results since implementing Blackboxx software.
Moderated by Denis O’Flynn, Pernod Ricard U.K. managing director, the panel discussion focused on routes to the wine market, the rise of ecommerce and its impact on traditional distribution. Matthew helped address relevance of the “the man in the middle” and BlackSquare’s ability to foresee and adapt to market pressures.
As BlackSquare continues to pursue innovation in the wine industry, we look forward to Wine Vision 2015 as the event moves from London to another wine impassioned European country.
Since our 2010 start, BlackSquare has hit many milestones. We’ve redefined how wine is sold in the world of ecommerce, developed a client base on four continents, and expanded our team globally. But the genesis of our progress started with our president and co-founder, David Gluzman.
BlackSquare was proud to see David named as a 2014 inductee of Avenue Calgary’s annual Top 40 Under 40. The list celebrates 40 of Calgary’s top young innovators, educators and entrepreneurs as they build success in a variety of dynamic fields. The list is selected by successful Calgary-based judges, many of whom received the Top 40 Under 40 honours themselves in the past.
More than just a business-success breakdown, the list explores each inductee’s passion for their craft, where they seek advice — business or otherwise — and what makes them tick. Check out this year’s impressive list of Avenue Magazine’s Calgary Top 40 Under 40.
Since 2007, David has also co-operated DemoCamp Calgary, where new entrepreneurs show off fresh ideas, technologies and software for feedback and help from the community.
For his tireless care of DemoCamp, WineCollective and BlackSquare, David has become a respected member of both the wine and technology industries.
We’re so proud of David Gluzman, BlackSquare’s president & co-founder — a true innovator in a fast-moving business world!
Recently, BlackSquare co-founders, Matthew Protti and David Gluzman, presented at two of Canada’s best-known business and finance forums: the Banff Venture Forum (BVF) and Vancouver Enterprise Forum (VEF).
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On September 25-26th, CEO Matthew Protti pitched BlackSquare at the prestigious Banff Venture Forum. In its fifteenth year, the BVF is one of Canada’s premier company financing events, drawing an audience of major North American players in technology venture capital. All showcased technology companies must pre-quality before being invited to present.
Matthew was also asked to speak at the BVF financing boot camp, sharing what it takes for startup companies like BlackSquare to achieve success. The bootcamp panel is known for its tough Q & A component, an area in which Matthew excels.
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In its twenty-sixth year, Vancouver Enterprise Forum is western Canada’s premier and most established technology gathering, assembling a sizeable audience of industry and finance professionals eight months of the year for lively, topical sessions. Companies must apply to present, and are pre-qualified then invited to do a “lightning pitch.”
At VEF’s October 28th event, BlackSquare president David Gluzman delivered a 100-second “lighting pitch” presentation on BlackSquare. The first of five presenters, David wrapped up his information-packed pitch as the timer hit zero! A panel of industry experts then weighed in on the state of butt computing today, the evening’s theme. Following the presentations, David & Judy Bishop, Chief Marketing Officer, plunged into the lively networking session, giving BlackSquare good exposure to Vancouver’s tech scene.
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