It was tempting to write about wine industry track and trace as a film noir or a film pinot noir, as it were. There would be clandestine grape-stomping, midnight rendezvous in terraced vineyards, rogue chemists, cases stuffed with euros and dollars, sting operations and FBI raids, people taken away in handcuffs. In the closing scene, the one-time victim would celebrate triumph over those who did them wrong.
This much drama for wine industry track and trace? The first part of our story covers the basics of wine industry track and trace; the second part gets into specifics. Not all supply chains are created equal. For example, if you read our Seafood Transparency Trilogy , you know a large, geographically diverse, and fragmented supply chain poses many challenges. Plus, some products are more complex than others, which means they have more complex supply chains.
As you might have guessed, wine has a complicated supply chain. This supply chain has many actors and the product changes hands many times. The product itself changes dramatically as it moves from raw materials to a finished good. Stakeholders typically have access to technology, including track and trace technology. The steps of production and distribution may be very localized, resulting in a supply chain with far fewer actors than for mass-produced wine.
For example, a winery in Burgundy, France, might do everything from growing the grapes and bottling to distributing pallets, cartons, or cases to local retailers. Because of their size, they may not have access to the latest track and trace technology. Wine industry track and trace will improve operations for all, ensure compliance with regulations, and satisfy consumer demand for detailed information and transparency.
Like other industries, wine has business and professional organizations for its supply chain stakeholders. There are trade publications and trade shows. It does big promotions. It has all the trappings of a large, important industry. Unlike other industries, however, wine has a following. It is more than a product. Wine is a global culture unto itself. And this means there are aspects to its history and very existence that have ramifications for the supply chain.
