Winery Word of Mouth: the Role of Brand Prestige, Brand Credibility and Wine Experience

Although tourism has been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, its potential as an economic activity that enables the economic and social development of the regions is recognized. As a result of concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, tourist agents seek to diversify their offers. In this situation, whether because of the knowledge and interest of tourists in the wine sector or because of the credibility and prestige of some brands with greater notoriety in the sector, wine tourism can be an essential stimulus for the attractiveness of tourists and international investors. Wine is a product of a highly differentiated experience, and tourists who visit wineries that produce wine seek to know the wine production process and have a unique experience with wine brands. These tourists who visit wine cellars seek information through specialized websites, blogs or magazines and highlight the role of word-of-mouth recommendations. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the influence of brand prestige, brand credibility, and brand experience on wine and wineries' word of mouth (WOM). It was carried out a cross-sectional study using a quantitative methodology. Data collected from a sample of 207 individuals were analyzed using PLS structural equation modeling using SMART PLS software. The main results obtained confirm that the credibility and prestige of the brands have a crucial role in the word of mouth of wine cellars.