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Villa Maria discovers what our wine choice reveals about the way we communicate

  • Research reveals rosé drinkers are most likely to use technology to reconnect with lost friends
  • 85% of Syrah lovers prefer to keep in touch via technology
  • Chardonnay fans opt for the direct approach, choosing to converse face-to-face with family

As part of the eight-week ‘Wine Down with Villa Maria’ marketing campaign, New Zealand’s most admired wine brand releases results from a nationwide survey to put the spotlight on technology and its impact on conversation in the modern world.

Angela Lewis, brand ambassador for Villa Maria, comments;

“Since Villa Maria began, the advancement in technology has been staggering, and it has altered many aspects of how we operate. However, conversations have shaped our journey, from discussions between our founder Sir George Fistonich and friends across a vineyard, to being one of the most successful family owned wineries in the world, using technology to communicate globally.”

This new survey, commissioned by Villa Maria with Opinion Matters, found nearly 40% of UK adults polled agree that social media has made face to face conversation unnecessary.  Syrah drinkers are the most likely to agree with this sentiment, with 85% preferring to keep in touch via technology.

The rise of the ‘group chat’ is another factor in the move to conversing online, even changing the way we choose to communicate with our families.  But despite 2.6 million UK adults speaking to their nearest and dearest most often through a group chat, Chardonnay fans are most likely (42%) to opt for a face to face conversation when reaching out to family members.

Technology is finding a way to bring Brits closer together, with rosé drinkers most likely to use it to re-connect with lost friends, while those who prefer red and white wine say that technology enables them to keep in touch with friends and family who live further away.

Whatever wine styles Brits prefer, Villa Maria’s summer campaign, The Value of Conversation, is demonstrating that taking time out to chat over a glass of wine is more important than ever.  To support this further, Villa Maria is running a series of expert talks exploring the value of conversation.

Angela Lewis explains; “By bringing our Villa Maria Talks events to the UK, we are aiming to put the spotlight on how conversation has been affected by modern technology, while showing how face to face conversation over a glass of wine really is invaluable too.”

Alongside these survey results and regional wine and conversation events, Villa Maria’s The Value of Conversation campaign comprises a social media drive and a four-part PR content series.