On course for growth in Europe with innovation

The European wine platform wein.plus in Erlangen will continue to consistently develop its sustainable growth in 2022 with innovations, new content and cooperations.

wein.plus is expanding its market leadership in the digital wine industry with new content and digital innovations in the coming year. "We want to expand the editorial work with new digital forms, attractive content and topic specials, launch further country presences in Europe and strengthen the social media presence," announces founder and CEO Utz Graafmann.

Since mid-2021, wein.plus has already been publishing in five languages: all content is now available in German, English, Italian, French and Spanish. Other languages are to follow. "We have seen a high growth in users, members and premium members from Europe and even overseas after the launch. We will continue and strengthen this course," Graafmann describes its goals. Thus, in 2021, the editorial work was already significantly expanded with a focus on news, topics and interview partners relevant across Europe. in 2022, the editorial team wants to continue on this path with new sections, cooperations and expanded reporting.

New framework agreements with top conditions

The wein.plus team continues to negotiate with potential partners "in order to be able to offer our premium members new, attractive framework agreements with the greatest possible benefits and high discounts", says Utz Graafmann. The bundling of the great demand for products and industry services makes it possible for wein.plus to agree on enormous cost advantages, simplifications and particularly favourable conditions. For example, the conditions for purchasing packaging as well as for shipping and logistics are among the most favourable in all of Europe, emphasises the wein.plus managing director.

The innovative "Find & Buy" button on wein.plus, launched in 2021, is also to become even more present and better known in the European wine scene. Via the icon, wein.plus specifically links wines of producers mentioned editorially with the offers in the online shops of its premium members - and this in five languages. The concept is fundamentally different from other digital offers: For the integration of an online shop in "Finden & Kaufen", wein.plus does not charge any placement fees or sales commissions - the service is included in the Business Premium membership.

Serious wine criticism and digital convenience

Linking the wine offers in an up-to-date online shop with Find & Buy costs the operator only a few minutes of effort. "We not only recommend wines that are really good, but also make it possible for wine lovers to order them immediately with just a few clicks," is how Graafmann describes the benefits. The seriousness of the wine rating combined with the greatest digital comfort also helps wine merchants and producers to achieve more sales, he adds. "We want to strengthen the trust of every member in the community", emphasises Graafmann. Because the innovative concept results in an unbeatable advantage for private wine lovers as well as for traders and vintners: "Our users and private members get access to shop offers they would never have found otherwise."

Despite rising costs for editing, development, database programming, design and administration, wein.plus will only adjust the fees very moderately in 2022. The price for Private Premium Membership will remain unchanged. The annual fee for Business Premium Membership will increase by only 19.00 euros to 219.00 euros (plus VAT).