Wine Marketing

Harlan and the Philosopher

Harlan Estate, like other luxury brands — Porsche, BMW, Neiman Marcus, Four Seasons — tantalize us with a lifestyle of possibility. But does it sell wine?

Clinton Stark
01.04.2013 | View Comments
In this envelope: 11 words brought to you be a somewhat well known Greek philosopher.

In this envelope: 11 words brought to you be a somewhat accomplished Greek philosopher.

This episode of wine marketing in action is called ‘Harlan and the Philosopher.’ And there’s really not much to say, really. In fact, all of 11 words is what it takes to get the point – er, sentiment – across. Once again, we’re talking about minimalism. Well, sort of.

I never leave home without my Vinturi. Tasting rooms FTW!

I never leave home without my Vinturi. Tasting rooms or bust!

Actually we’re talking about matters of the heart. Emotions sell. Brands just won’t stop tugging away at our emotions. Get us all bleary-eyed with what could be, and the route to our Google wallets is a swift as a jaunt down highway 29 on a Wednesday morning in April.

“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.” — Marketing team somewhere in Napa.

Luxury brands in particular — Porsche, BMW, Neiman Marcus, Four Seasons — tantalize us with a lifestyle of possibility. It’s a Photoshopped world of bespoke parchment papers, whacked-out models, glossy skies. It’s all slightly surreal and bizarre (except, of course, for the world of Porsche). Did I mention, I like to buy my wine at Costco? It’s at the corner of Pauper Parkway and Rapscallion Row.

At least with this mailing, my mind didn’t jump into the gutter like last time.

Those 11 words, courtesy of Aristotle:

Harlan Estate Wine

Clearly this can only mean one thing: Harlan is doubling down on natural wines.

Clinton Stark
Clint writes about Silicon Valley (Churchill Club Academy member), film, California wine (Stark Sips), theater (ATCA member) and tech (including his Canon EOS 60D and unlocked Nexus 4). A would-be NHLer if it weren't for the clarinet, he tries in vain to direct Loni on Stark Insider TV. He's held executive marketing roles at Cisco, EMC and Salesforce.com, and is active with start-ups across the valley. Clint's story...

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