A wine targeted to the gay market?
A wine especially for gays? But then I clicked on the email touting Égalité as "the first wine created in support of equality for gay Americans."
A wine targeted to the gay market?
Jenice Armstrong, Daily News Columnist
A wine especially for gays?
At first, it sounded like a joke. But then I clicked on the email touting Égalité as “the first wine created in support of equality for gay Americans.”
Then I got it.
As more and more states legalize gay marriage, there’re going to be a whole lot more folks' toasting happy couples. Biagio Cru & Estate Wines, which is based in New York State, wants to capitalize on the burgeoning same sex marriage movement with a bubbly targeted to the LGBT market.
"We saw this as an opportunity to do well by doing good," Darren Restivo, one of the principals, told Huffington Post’s Gay Voices. "We're very confident people will respect it, and that's the important factor - the spirit and the respect. How can you push back on treating people equally?"
Sounds good to me. Now, can we all raise a glass?
This is too easy--not a bad wine, just a little too "fruity" for me!— Phillyfan among the NYers- Is it the wine or the bottle shape that has been adjusted?— 2ndNlong
- New York State wine...hmmmm...I guess you have to sell it somehow.— FletcherT
- I think that it's great that people are open about celebrating people's lifestyle choices but I am not so excited about people catering or pandering to a specific demographic. And a couple of openly gay wineries and wines have failed in the past because they assumed that people would buy the wines because are gay. They found out that people buy wine because it's a good wine and a good value. The fact that the winery folks are gay (and it's not clear that the people behind Egalite are actually gay) doesn't mean that anyone will actually buy the wine...— RoboSan
- All products are "catering or pandering to a specific demographic." All of them. But very donate proceeds in efforts to better the lives of those demographics. If a customer is torn between two wines- one that donates and one that doesnt- and they choose the one that donates because of that feature, the company that makes the chosen wine has just generated more money to a great cause. If it puts more money in their pocket too-- good. They just earned it.
There is a line and if the "catering or pandering" becomes exploitation or disingenuous, then it has devolved into something despicable which will hopefully lead to repercussions.— phillyvanilli - I LOVE businesses' genuine support of the LGBT community, especially when it's the wine industry! I have also seen this one Same Sex Meritage. They give money to Freedom To Marry and it is a very impressive red wine. And Im more of a red wine drinker but for the next celebration mandating bubbles, I hope to try Egalite— phillyvanilli
Read more from Jenice Armstrong at Earth to Philly, the Daily News blog on anything and everything "Green."
Reach Jenice at armstrj@phillynews.com.
