Why the structure under your numbers is probably wrong — and what to do about it. If your QuickBooks file feels hard to use — the reports don't make sense, the numbers don't add up, and you're not sure who to ask — that's not a QuickBooks problem. And it's not a you problem. It's a structure problem. And it starts with a false assumption that's been passed down through the wine industry for decades. Winery Accounting Is Not the Same as Vineyard Accounting The assumption is that winery accounting should be simple. It makes sense when you trace it back. A lot of wineries started as vineyards — and for a vineyard that's only growing and selling grapes, the accounting really is simple. One product, one channel, straightforward books. But a winery is a manufacturer. You're buying grapes, transforming them into wine, aging that wine over multiple years, packaging it, and selling it through several different channels — tasting room, wine club, wholesale — each with very different margins. The

A challenging year demands precision It is July 17th, and harvest is already underway. 2026 is the earliest vintage in nearly half a century, and that’s presented some unique challenges. As a viticulture consultant specializing in irrigation, I wanted to go under the hood and talk about how we managed this growing season. Specifically, I wanted to illuminate what technologies we used and how we used them to get us here…to harvest…in July.  Get ready for it…soil moisture We talk a lot about soil moisture and for good reason. Soil moisture probes let you know how much water is in your soil, where the water is, where roots are active, and how irrigations behave in your soil. If there was one piece of equipment that was imperative this year, soil moisture probes are it. The reason being that this year, in addition to being early, was relatively wet. Even here in the Central Coast we got a solid amount of rainfall with much of it falling in late winter/early spring. Rainfall makes a lo

What it is, how it works, and the steps to apply If you are dealing with vine loss from red blotch or other qualifying conditions, the USDA Tree Assistance Program can provide meaningful financial support to help you replant.  This program is valuable, but it is not simple. Success depends on getting the details right from the beginning. This guide walks you through exactly what to expect and the steps you need to take. What TAP is TAP is a USDA cost share reimbursement program. It helps cover the cost of removing and replacing vines that are no longer commercially viable. Important to know: This is not an upfront payment program You must be approved before starting work You are reimbursed after the work is completed and documented Who qualifies You may qualify if: Your vines are no longer commercially viable The loss exceeds 15 percent of your planting You own or lease the vineyard and have a crop interest A key point that often causes confusion: Even if vines are still phy

In a tighter wine market, preventable vineyard loss is no longer just an operational headache. It is a margin issue. For many vineyard owners and managers, 2026 is not a year for loose ends. Grape contracts are harder to count on. Buyers are more selective. Some blocks are being farmed with tighter budgets, while others are being looked at with a hard question: does this acreage still make sense? That changes how growers think about loss. Deer browsing along a wooded edge, a low spot under a gate, or recurring animal pressure in one corner of the vineyard may not feel dramatic at first. But when the fruit in that block has a real path to market, even small losses matter more than they used to. “Growers are looking hard at every input right now,” said George Horetsky, senior sales representative at Trident Fence. “If a vineyard block has fruit that is contracted, estate-designated, or otherwise marketable, you can’t afford to lose part of it to a problem you could have prevented.” The b

Vineyard managers spend considerable time evaluating vines, irrigation systems, and equipment, but trellis infrastructure often receives less attention until problems begin to emerge. Rotting wood posts, rusting steel, and repeated repairs can quietly increase maintenance costs and labor demands over time. Concrete trellis posts offer a different approach. Designed to withstand heavy crop loads, mechanical harvesting, pests, disease pressure, and changing weather conditions, prestressed concrete posts can provide long-term stability while reducing the need for replacement and repair. For vineyards focused on maximizing the lifespan of their infrastructure investments, selecting materials designed for durability may deliver savings well beyond the initial installation.

Potential early harvest: How is the market responding? With vineyard development across California continuing well ahead of a normal timetable, harvest 2026 now feels just around the corner: This month’s California Report details how suppliers and buyers of bulk wine and grapes have been responding. Many growers are starting to consider calling a halt to farming their uncontracted vineyards, if they have not done so already, which could curb desirable grape availability for those buyers planning a late-season purchase. While April and May temperatures were mainly within a normal range, precipitation levels swung from above average in April to below in May, before the Coast received some heavy rain events toward the end of the month. April-May rainfall has led to some reports of shatter and mildew, the latter of especial concern given the number of vineyards already mothballed. This month’s report assesses vineyard conditions by region and considers what kind of harve

Vibes more positive, not yet the hard facts and figures An unseasonably warm start to spring in California has accelerated vine development in the growing areas to a marked extent: This month’s report relays the latest news from the vineyards – and how it may, or may not, affect the bulk wine and grape markets – and delves deep into the California Department of Food & Agriculture’s Preliminary Grape Crush Report for 2025, published last month. The state’s smallest winegrape harvest in 26 years, combined with some improved mood music regarding case-good sales – if lacking hard figures to support it – has helped create a feeling that the wine industry is headed in the right direction. Before the sunlit uplands are reached, however, more painful rightsizing must occur, and we continue to see vineyards removed and mothballed, crush and storage capacity taken offline, and companies shrinking, merging, or shuttering altogether. In the shorter te

The later-than-usual release of the Grape Crush Report had everyone doing what this industry does best: guessing. And when the number finally dropped, it landed somewhere between “not great” and “not nearly low enough to matter.” At approximately 2.6 million tons, the 2025 crush came in higher than most had hoped, and, more importantly, higher than many believe the market actually needs. The Facts: What the Crush Report Tells Us Data released by the California Department of Food and Agriculture shows that the 2025 grape crush totaled approximately 2.6 million tons. That represents a decline of just over 8% from the prior year and marks the smallest crop since the late 1990s. On the surface, that’s a meaningful shift. After several years where production consistently exceeded 3 million tons, supply is clearly beginning to respond. But the details matter. Key premium varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir all declined, while certain

NAPA, Calif., (Nov. 26, 2025) – VA Filtration Services’ Scientific Approach, Innovative Solutions from Napa Valley At VA Filtration Services, our mission is to empower winemakers to produce wines of the highest sensory quality. One of the challenges in modern winemaking is managing undesirable levels of pyrazines, particularly methoxypyrazines, which can impart green, herbaceous aromas that mask fruit character and complexity. Winemakers are left with two options: cover up the pyrazine (and potentially other attributes) or remove it through advances in pyrazine remediation practices. The Problem: Pyrazines in Wine Methoxypyrazines are naturally occurring compounds in certain grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. While subtle concentrations can add a sought-after freshness, excessive amounts lead to pronounced bell pepper and grassy notes, often perceived as faults—especially in premium reds. Often pyrazines present in wine due to enviro

Meta Ads, Miracle Results If your holiday Meta ads felt like lighting money on fire in a festive candle, that’s not because social is dead. It’s because your targeting and flighting were built for wishful thinking, not gifting intent. The fix isn’t magic. It’s method. You can absolutely turn Meta into a gift-selling machine between Thanksgiving and New Year—if you understand what actually drives intent and how to spend wisely when every other brand on earth is screaming for attention. What follows is a ruthless, winery-specific playbook for the six-week window between Thanksgiving and New Year that prioritizes intent, protects margin, and leans on real benchmarks instead of folklore. First, reality: volume is there, but it clusters Holiday ecommerce keeps breaking records, with online spend hitting roughly $241.4B from Nov 1 to Dec 31 and mobile responsible for the majority of transactions. (Adobe Newsroom) Translation: your customers are buying on their