What a Wine Festival Taught Me About Standing Out in a Crowded Market
This past weekend, I found myself at the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival—a tented maze of brands, bottles, and people all trying to do the same thing:
Get noticed.
Rows and rows of wine from across the country and around the world, each offering a tiny pour and a quick pitch. One sip. That’s all you get.
It made me think—this is what the marketplace feels like.
You’re lined up next to competitors who look a lot like you. You get one shot at attention. One moment to make someone care.
And somehow, by the end of the weekend, I walked away with three cases I was willing to wait in line for.
So what made those brands stand out?
The Best Stories Win—Every Time
The most crowded tables weren’t just pouring wine.
They were telling stories.
The winemakers who stood behind their tables, talking about their region, their process, their legacy—they created connection. People didn’t just taste the wine. They bought into something.
That’s the difference.
If you don’t have a person physically telling your story, your brand has to do that work for you. Your packaging, your content, your customers—they become your storytellers.
If your story isn’t clear, compelling, and consistent, you’re just another pour in the lineup
Branding Gets You the First Yes
Let’s not pretend aesthetics don’t matter.
They do.
Especially in a setting like this—and especially with visual consumers. (And yes, women drove a lot of purchasing decisions here like most markets.)
Before I ever tasted the wine, I noticed the label.
The colors. The typography. The overall feel.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t buy at least one bottle because I loved how it looked. But here’s the key: the branding got me to stop. The taste and the story got me to stay.
That’s the job of great branding—it earns you a shot.
In a crowded market, your visual identity is often your first impression. If it doesn’t stop someone mid-scroll or mid-walk, you’ve already lost the opportunity.
Word of Mouth Still Closes the Deal
We were there with a group, and one friend took his role very seriously—trying everything and reporting back what was “worth it.”
Guess what?
We listened.
And I bought wine I would have never chosen on my own because someone I trusted wouldn’t stop talking about it.
That’s ambassadorship.
It’s not new. It’s not flashy. But it works.
People trust people more than they trust brands. Every time.
If you’re not thinking about how to create advocates—real people who love your product enough to talk about it—you’re leaving your most powerful marketing channel untapped.
So What Makes a Brand Memorable?
In a crowded space, it’s not about being louder.
It’s about being clearer.
The brands that win consistently do three things well:
- They educate their audience
- They inspire through story and experience
- They call people into clear action
Because at the end of the day, whether it’s a wine festival or the digital marketplace, we’re all just hoping someone chooses us.
Shout out to Jessica Bracken, owner of Proffitt PR for throwing the best shindigs and bringing all the right people to all the right parties.
Laura Quick,
Founder of Good Grit
Laura is the visionary force behind Good Grit Agency and Good Grit Magazine, with 19 years of experience in marketing, brand storytelling, and strategic development. She has worked extensively with tourism boards, government entities, hospitality brands, and wellness industries, helping them create narratives that inspire action. Her superpower? Transforming ideas into compelling, high-impact stories that resonate with audiences and drive results. Laura is known for asking the right questions, truly listening to her clients, and ensuring every campaign is backed by a strategic plan that delivers. She also founded Les Dames, a nonprofit dedicated to reframing the childhood poverty mindset.
View her website at:
honestlylaura.com
