I think you'd have to say that pricing has been a major contributor in making wine a special occasion indulgence, although all the other factors you mention definitely come into play.
I pour wine at retail store tastings as a retirement gig and producers are promoting wines in the less than $10 to $20+ price points the same as they did 15 years ago when I started in this business. The highest priced wines, maybe not as often as before, but the highest priced wines were mostly purchased by those that could afford it and they haven't changed. In fact, from all reports, they've only gotten more wealth. The price points for the common man hasn't really changed all that much.
Eric and Lettie have good articles.
Donald Graham told my mother essentially the same thing about the changes in reading habits and this was over 10 years ago.
I think you'd have to say that pricing has been a major contributor in making wine a special occasion indulgence, although all the other factors you mention definitely come into play.
I pour wine at retail store tastings as a retirement gig and producers are promoting wines in the less than $10 to $20+ price points the same as they did 15 years ago when I started in this business. The highest priced wines, maybe not as often as before, but the highest priced wines were mostly purchased by those that could afford it and they haven't changed. In fact, from all reports, they've only gotten more wealth. The price points for the common man hasn't really changed all that much.