Ep. 2699 Italian Wine in America: Reaching Consumers Through Experience, Travel & Storytelling with Susan Kostrzewa | Masterclass US Wine Market

Welcome to Episode 2699 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald sits down with the award-winning wine journalist and consultant Susan Kostrzewa. Key Takeaways: Explore current consumption behaviors in the American wine market and why opportunities still exist despite the overall decline in wine consumption. Understand how experiential in-person events, trade fairs, and wine travel create stronger emotional connections between consumers and Italian wine brands. How to reach American consumers with creative outreach regardless of your marketing budget or winery size. More about the guest: Susan Kostrzewa is a veteran wine writer, editor, global educator and the founder of Resplendent Ink, a content strategy consultancy specializing in storytelling and communications in the wine space. She is the former editor-in-chief of Wine Enthusiast Media, has co-authored numerous books on wine, food and travel and was previously named one of Wine Business’ Top 50 Most Influential Leaders as well as a Top Woman in Media by Folio Magazine. Kostrzewa is a former consulting editorial director for JamesSuckling.com and JancisRobinson.com, and has contributed articles to JamesSuckling.com. Food & Wine and Wine Business Monthly, among others. She is also a wine travel educator and co-host of global consumer tours with Gunnell Innovation and on the board of Les Dames D'Escoffer New York. Connect:  Website: https://www.resplendentink.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suskostrzewa/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-kostrzewa-81b796/  More about the host: With a career of nearly two decades in the wine industry, Barbara Fitzgerald specializes in D2C marketing and business development. She's led roles from entry level to senior management, combining her extensive experience with data analysis, critical thinking and storytelling while driving revenue growth and brand recognition for California wineries. As a part of the 4th generation of an Italian-American family among the California wine industry pioneers, Barbara has spent her life around wine growing, production, marketing, distribution and hospitality. A Syracuse University graduate, she returned to California to gain diverse industry perspectives from a range of wineries. As an Italian Wine Ambassador, she brings her expertise to the Italian wine market, known for its authenticity and consumer demand. Barbara now runs Apri La Creative Consulting, coaching wineries in Italy and the US to strategically develop their D2C channels in line with their brand values. Together with her husband, Barbara also owns and operates a boutique wine production company, and a small import company specializing in Italian wines to the US. Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbarajeanfitz/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-fitzgerald-iwa/ Website: https://www.aprilacreative.com/  _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mammajumboshrimp    If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin!