Afternoon Brief, May 17th

Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley Vintner and Investor Brion Wise Acquires Mark Herold Wines: Wise, proprietor of BRION and B. Wise Vineyards, today announces the acquisition of Mark Herold Wines...

Striking New B. Wise Loft Experience Debuts in Napa

Sonoma-Based B. Wise Vineyards Welcomes Visitors for a Unique Experience in Napa Valley NAPA, Calif. (October 12, 2021) – Brion Wise, proprietor of BRION and B. Wise Vineyards, is pleased to announce his newest tasting experience, the B. Wise Loft.  Nestled in a cozy nook on the second floor of BRION’s restored 1876 ‘bank’ barn – one of just […]

We proudly announced the recipients of the inaugural WISE Rising Stars Scholarships during a live presentation at the DTC Wine Symposium last week, celebrating the next generation of DTC wine industry leaders in front of more than 500 winery professionals. As one of the event’s original sponsors, WISE continues to invest in the Symposium’s mission of education, collaboration, and forward‑thinking leadership. The Rising Stars Scholarships extend that commitment—supporting people, developing leadership, and strengthening the DTC community across the industry. The Rising Stars Scholarships received an overwhelming response from across the country. The strength of applications prompted Commerce7 to step in and match one of the scholarships, allowing WISE to expand the program and support additional recipients. Join us as we raise a glass towards this year's recipients! Kelsey Gomes is the DTC Marketing Manager at Lange Twins Family Winery & Vineyards. Upon re

Vineyards communicate long before the fruit shows any stress. Subtle shifts in canopy color, changes in shoot vigor, and even small variations in soil texture can reveal how each block is responding to the season. For growers, the challenge is catching those signals early enough to act with confidence. That’s where strong water monitoring makes a difference. With tools that track soil moisture, water flow, pump activity, and irrigation timing across the ranch, growers can see where vines are holding steady and where attention is needed. Instead of guessing based on visual cues alone, they can match irrigation to the real conditions happening beneath the surface. This approach supports more than efficiency. It protects vine health during heat events, helps stabilize fruit quality, and builds a clearer understanding of each block’s behavior over time. Every vineyard has its own pattern and rhythm. When growers can follow those patterns consistently, they gain a new level of

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

As Napa Valley heads into harvest, vineyard managers face their most decisive irrigation challenge of the year: striking the balance between protecting vine health and preserving grape quality. Too much water at this stage can dilute flavors, push late canopy growth, and increase disease pressure. Too little risks shriveling and uneven ripening. It’s a fine line that growers can’t afford to leave to guesswork. That’s why more vineyards are adopting precision irrigation systems. WiseConn’s DropControl connects soil moisture profiles, flow monitoring, pressure readings, and remote valve control into one platform, providing a real-time picture of conditions across the vineyard. The benefits go beyond efficiency. With data-driven scheduling, growers can keep ripening consistent across blocks, build flavor concentration, and safeguard against late-season heat spikes. In short, they can make irrigation decisions that directly influence vintage quality. For Napa growe

As summer unfolds across Napa Valley, vineyards are entering veraison, shifting their focus from growth to sugar accumulation and flavor development. For winegrowers, this period marks a delicate balancing act: providing just enough water to support berry development while inducing the mild stress that concentrates flavors and enhances wine quality. Historically, irrigation decisions during veraison have relied on experience, visual cues, and sometimes educated guesswork. But with water becoming an increasingly precious resource and quality standards higher than ever, Napa growers are turning to precision irrigation tools that offer deeper insights and control. Why Veraison Demands Precision During veraison, the vine’s water needs become more nuanced. Over-irrigation can dilute berry flavors and increase canopy growth, leading to shading and higher disease pressure. Under-irrigation, on the other hand, risks stalling berry development and causing uneven ripening. This fine line r

GC Lurton Vineyards , Trinite Estate wineries are seeking for enthusiastic, passionate , adaptable sales team associate to join our tasting room. The ideal candidate would have prior sales and customer service experience, focused on in-person selling . Wine education and a passion for wine is essential, verbal and written. Personality-wise, we’re looking for someone who likes to work alongside a small team, is a creative thinker, has a true passion for hospitality, and is focused on building long-term relationships. This year round part-time position will report directly to the Tasting Room Manager. Commissions on Wine Club signups paid in addition to hourly rate. Friday through Sunday are the primary days. See more details and apply here:https://www.wineindustry.jobs/jobs/59855984-tasting-room-associate-at-gc-lurton-vineyards

Wineries know that great wine isn’t just about what’s in the glass—it’s about the people we share it with.  Now, imagine taking that connection beyond the tasting room and into the world.   The WISE Travel Series is designed to help wineries deepen relationships with their biggest fans through immersive travel experiences. Whether it’s sipping Brunello in Tuscany with Ciao Andiamo or sailing through legendary wine regions on the rivers of Europe with Expedia Wine Club Cruises, these journeys create unforgettable moments that strengthen loyalty and build lifelong brand advocates.   Since our wine club members and best customers are already traveling the world, why not join them? Sharing meals, exploring vineyards, and discovering new cultures together fosters an unparalleled bond—one that keeps your winery top of mind and heart.   We’re teaming up with trusted travel partners to make hosting your own winery trip seamless and