Reader’s Digest magazine has released its annual list of Australia’s Most Trusted Wine Brands.
Penfolds has taken out the top spot for 2020, with Jacob’s Creek and Brown Brothers scoring Highly Commended awards.
The results were published in the May edition of the magazine, out this week.
The magazine said trust has never been more important, as organisations look at new ways to maintain all-important relationships and hard-earned reputations.
The COVID-19 crisis is forcing change, and the 21st annual list of Australia’s Most Trusted Brands has identified those consumers have faith in and the new ways they’re doing things.
The independently conducted survey polled a cross-section of more than 3000 people, to name the most-trusted brands across more than 70 leading consumer categories.
In addition to Penfolds being the most trusted wine brand, Band-Aid was named Australia’s overall most trusted brand, Vegemite is Australia’s ‘Most Iconic’ brand; Guide Dogs is Australia’s most trusted charity; and doctors are Australia’s most trusted professionals.
Villa Maria Estate was voted Most Trusted New Zealand Wine Brand for 2020. It is the third time in the last five years the family-owned New Zealand winery has won the award.
Villa Maria’s CEO Justin Liddell said: “We are New Zealand family-owned and have been part of the Kiwi wine lover’s repertoire for almost 60 years, and this is something we’re immensely proud of. This trust in the brand suggests consumers will continue to turn to Villa Maria for world-class wines fitting for all occasions for many years to come.”
How COVID-19 is changing relationships
“While COVID-19 has certainly changed the marketplace, and the way we go about being consumers, other things remain the same when it comes to our relationships with brands,” noted Australian Reader’s Digest editor-in-chief Louise Waterson.
“For the brands themselves, trust matters when it comes to weathering a crisis, and ultimately trust is built on the traditional foundations of quality, consistency, honesty and delivering on your promise.
“In terms of this current situation, with this pandemic, that also means getting proactive and reaching out to your customers like never before. It’s very much about maintaining a relationship with that particular individual.”
