I've been quiet since May. Here's the honest reason why. After the Wine Sales Symposium in Rohnert Park this spring, I stopped posting. Not because nothing was happening — the opposite. We'd just onboarded our first winery, Scott Harvey Wines, and real life hit. The product worked. It solved real problems. But the moment I watched it handle actual guests, I knew it wasn't yet something I could stand behind proudly. Maybe that's my perfectionism talking — but I couldn't market something I didn't yet believe was great. So for almost two months, we went heads-down: sharpening the AI's answers, smoothing out how the whole system feels to use, and solving problems we never saw coming when we designed it. Like the spam. When we connected that first winery's inbox, 50–100 emails were landing every day — bots, shipping notices, sales pitches. On a typical day, maybe five were real guest questions. Their team started every morning sorting, not pouring: digging for the five that mattered under a

I've been quiet since May. Here's the honest reason why. After the Wine Sales Symposium in Rohnert Park this spring, I stopped posting. Not because nothing was happening — the opposite. We'd just onboarded our first winery, Scott Harvey Wines, and real life hit. The product worked. It solved real problems. But the moment I watched it handle actual guests, I knew it wasn't yet something I could stand behind proudly. Maybe that's my perfectionism talking — but I couldn't market something I didn't yet believe was great. So for almost two months, we went heads-down: sharpening the AI's answers, smoothing out how the whole system feels to use, and solving problems we never saw coming when we designed it. Like the spam. When we connected that first winery's inbox, 50–100 emails were landing every day — bots, shipping notices, sales pitches. On a typical day, maybe five were real guest questions. Their team started every morning sorting, not pouring: digging for the five that mattered under a

By Jim Trezise, President of WineAmerica The National Association of American Wineries™ Romance vs. Reality It’s not surprising that people dream of getting into the wine business. Just think of it: Sunrise caressing the vines. Perfect weather again. A leisurely coffee while surveying the pristine landscape. A morning stroll through exquisitely manicured vineyards. A smoothly functioning wine cellar. A traffic jam of consumers eager to visit the tasting room. Multiple FedEx trucks waiting for wine club shipments. Ending each day counting the hefty stash. Celebrating with a dinner pairing your world-class wines with world-class food on your terrace overlooking paradise. Sleeping like a baby. Yeah, right! After spending their life savings and taking out a massive loan, new winery owners often discover a very different reality. Clouds mean rain when the grapes need to stay dry. Coffee comes from a drive-thru. License applications and tax forms cover the desk. Labor shortages mean critica

A Conversation with Silvino Carreras, Production Manager, and Kay Rodriguez, Outbound Logistics Manager about Summer Shipping At Copper Peak Logistics, wine summer shipping is never approached casually. Behind every successful delivery is a carefully coordinated operational strategy designed to protect the integrity of the wine while maintaining the premium experience wineries expect for their customers. Few people understand that responsibility better than Silvino Carreras , Production Manager, and Kay Rodriguez , Outbound Logistics Manager. As employee numbers three and four at CPL, both have spent the last 19 years helping shape the operational foundation and craftsmanship-driven culture that defines the company today. Together, Silvino and Kay oversee the movement of thousands of shipments during the most challenging shipping months of the year, balancing temperature sensitivity, carrier logistics, packaging strategy, and customer expectations with precision and care. “People somet

If we had to sum up the year in one word, it would be resilience. The data reveals a shift in where revenue came from this year, and who was willing to spend. But when you look past the top-line numbers, three distinct signals emerge: The Tasting Room is the Volume Driver: In a shifting landscape, the in-person experience captured 35% of total market share. Your physical space is working harder than ever to convert foot traffic into transaction volume. The Club is the Value Driver: While guests tightened their belts (POS average order value $97), average club order value climbed to $257. Your members aren't just loyal; they are the only group increasing their average spend.  Choice Creates Loyalty: With net club growth down industry-wide (-8.3%), retention is the priority for 2026. The good news? Clubs that offer "User Choice" are seeing average member tenure extend to over 3 years (1,159 days). Read the full breakdown on LinkedIn This is just the first sip. Make su

Second-Year Sponsorship Highlights American Wine Industry’s Economic Impact and Community Building Mission  WineAmerica, the National Association of American Wineries, announced today its proud sponsorship of the 2025 Come Over October Congressional Wine Caucus press conference and reception, taking place on October 8th in Washington, D.C. This marks the second consecutive year WineAmerica has supported this important invitation-only industry event, demonstrating the organization’s continued commitment to fostering bipartisan support for America’s burgeoning wine industry.  The reception will showcase wines from across many states, celebrating the breadth, diversity and quality of American wine production from coast to coast. This comprehensive representation underscores the truly national scope of the American wine industry, which now includes 10,637 wine producers operating in every state. Economic Powerhouse Supporting American Communities WineAmerica&r

This year, Sunridge Nurseries proudly celebrates a remarkable 27-year partnership with ENTAV, and we're even more excited about our renewed agreement for the next 20 years! This collaboration has revolutionized the world of viticulture, bringing the finest French clonal grapevine selections directly from the ENTAV repository in France each carrying the ENTAV-INRA® trademark – a guarantee of authenticity from the highest viticulture authority in France. It all began three decades ago when a visionary French nurseryman sent a letter to our founder, Glen Stoller, proposing a partnership that would not only introduce the richness of French clones to California but also unlock a treasure trove of opportunities for U.S. wine grape growers. This groundbreaking initiative has fostered innovation and diversity in our industry, and we stand proud as a pioneering force in the grapevine sector. As we embrace this exciting journey, join us in celebrating this legacy and continue growi

     Wine Road Unveils Exciting New Ambassador Program to Celebrate Sonoma County!  For Immediate Release  February 15, 2024  Northern Sonoma County, CA – It's not just any road; it's the Wine Road! We're thrilled to announce a new way for wine lovers, educators, and hospitality heroes to dive deep into the world of Sonoma County's liquid treasures. Drumroll, please... introducing the Wine Road Ambassador Program! 🍇🎉  Almost as rich as a glass of vintage Cabernet Sauvignon, Wine Road's history stretches back nearly half a century. We've spent decades helping folks saunter through Sonoma County's awe-inspiring vineyards, and now we’re serving up an opportunity to get even closer to the magic that makes our corner of the world so sip-worthy.  Whether you're a local hospitality maestro, a wine educator with a thirst for viticulture knowledge, or a wine enthusiast plotting your next escapade among the vin

Happy Women’s History Month! As a female CEO in both the technology space and beverage alcohol industry, I am incredibly proud of this company and its dedication to women in our industries. LibDib’s staff is made up of 45% women. So yay to LibDib and thank you to all the amazing women staffers that contribute to everything we do AND to the men that work with them and support us every step of the way.  It has been widely known (and reported) that the beverage alcohol business, especially at the wholesaler level, has been historically dominated by men. I remember my first WSWA event in 2017. Outside of female models pouring at booths on behalf of suppliers, there were maybe 25 women there. It was a sea of men on the wholesaler side. As a first-timer to the conference, it was very noticeable to me but not something I wasn’t familiar with based on my past experiences working at my family’s winery. As a Maker rep, I dealt with very few women in distrib