Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas Names Dynamic Nonprofit Leader as Its Executive Director

Napa, CA (July 14, 2021) – The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas announces the appointment of Julie Cohen Theobald as the organization’s incoming Executive Director, effective September 7th, 2021. A transformational and energizing visionary with an extensive background in nonprofits and corporate leadership, Theobald will spearhead efforts and work alongside the Board of Directors for continued […]

The Sonoma County airport is named for him, so is a museum and ice rink. Peanuts creator Charles M. Schultz spent 42 years living and working in Sonoma County, with “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” one of his most famous works. Schultz, during his lifetime, kept an airplane at the airport and was an avid aviator. Snoopy, of course, loved flying too. Schultz was born in 1922 in Minnesota and given the nickname Sparky at a young age. In 1929 the family moved west to Needles, California. The move was said to be prompted by a young cousin’s tuberculosis, which would fare better in a desert climate. Schultz later incorporated Needles into many of his comic strips, particularly those built around Snoopy’s brother Spike, who lived alone in the desert with coyotes and cactus. Their time in the desert was alas short-lived, and Schultz moved back to Minnesota in time for elementary school. This is also where he developed his lifelong passion for ice hockey.

Wine Sales Symposium 2025’s roundtable of writers and PR experts explores how storytelling and publicity can shift the narrative. By Laurie Wachter Carl GiavantiDoes media coverage really help sell wine?  That’s the question the roundtable of top wine journalists and PR experts will set out to answer in Mastering Modern Media: How to Secure & Leverage Media Coverage That Drives Sales, one of the first sessions at the May 14th Wine Sales Symposium in Santa Rosa, CA. Moderator Carl Giavanti, a winery publicist and author of Wine Industry Advisor’s interview series, Turning the Tables, will lead the panel discussion by asking six questions about the benefits and pitfalls of media coverage.   What role does media coverage play in helping drive awareness and, ultimately, sales? “It’s always been about storytelling,” says Giavanti, “and even more so today when there’s so much competition, variety and options for adult beverages. Y

Napa, Calif., August 16, 2022 — Business texting platform RedChirp continues to invest in serving the unique regulatory needs and communication challenges faced by DTC wineries with the acquisition of Vimbibe. Launched in 2020 by Highway 29 Creative, Vimbibe was the first wine industry specific texting platform. RedChirp looks forward to welcoming Vimbibe customers to the rapidly growing RedChirp platform.  "Here at RedChirp, we’re so excited to continue Vimbibe’s mission of revolutionizing DTC communications,” says Jennie Gilbert, Co-Founder of RedChirp. “We look forward to welcoming their customers — some of the very first wineries to embrace the power of text messaging — and growing with them as we raise the bar with effortless compliance, powerful automation, and meaningful integrations.”  “This acquisition is a huge step forward for the DTC wine industry,” says Simon Solis-Cohen, founder o

Dozens of wine industry pros shared insight with Outshinery last year. The first in a 2-part series, check out key items you can implement into your 2021 marketing plan. Did you catch Outshinery’s On the Spot series? If you missed all or some of it, that’s no problem. All the replays are available on our resources page, so check it all out there. There are hours of free content, packed with tips and perspective from some of the most admired voices in the wine industry.  Only interested in the highlights? That’s cool too. We combed through the replays to find a few key nuggets to take with you into 2021. If you get tempted to absorb the full-length corresponding conversation, just click the link to make that happen. Also: watch for part 2 of this series for more moving insight. Sound good? Let’s jump in. Use automation for a seamless customer experience Guest Expert: Ed Feuchuk | Tank Garage Winery Session: Week 6 | How t

Running a wine business is tough. In 2024, the pressures to stay financially strong, operationally efficient, and culturally vibrant are greater than ever. But we don't have to face these challenges alone -- we can learn from the best and brightest winery leaders who have been there and done that. InnoVint sat down with top winery CEOs, COOs, finance leaders, and winemakers to share their secrets for how to run a financially, operationally, and culturally healthy winery. You can now access all three events on demand! Here's a look at what these expert panelists shared: FINANCIAL HEALTH: Strategies for Sustainable Winery Growth with Peter Willmert (CEO, Hudson Napa Valley) and Rick Lawson (Dir of Finance, Shafer Vineyards) Critical financial metrics to track such as cash flow and profit margins.  Adjusting business strategies in response to emerging industry trends.  Utilizing advanced technology to monitor financial performance. OPERATIONAL HEALTH: Best Practices fo

On July 24th, join Remi Cohen (CEO, Domaine Carneros), Janie Brooks Heuck (Managing Director, Brooks Wine), and Ashley Leonard (CEO, InnoVint) to discuss the vital role of organizational culture in winery success.  Register to save your spot and get the recording!  

Throughout July, InnoVint is bringing together top winery CEOs, COOs, finance leaders, and winemakers to share their secrets to running a successful, healthy wine business. The Healthy Winery Webinar Series consists of three events, each dedicated to exploring a critical dimension of winery health: financial, operational, and cultural. Join the discussion and get practical tips to bring back to your own winery, regardless of your role. Event 1: Financial Health - Strategies for Sustainable Winery Growth Tuesday, July 9th at 11:00 AM PDT Peter Willmert, CEO, Hudson Napa Valley Rick Lawson, Director of Finance, Shafer Vineyards Event 2: Operational Health - Best Practices for Efficient Winery Operations Monday, July 15 at 1:00 PM PDT Juan Munoz-Oca, COO, Marchesi Antinori Ryan Pennington, COO, L’Ecole Event 3: Cultural Health - Building and Nurturing a Positive Winery Environment Wednesday, July 24 at 11:00 AM PDT Remi Cohen, CEO, Domaine Carneros Kyle Altomare, Winema

Verallia USA and Domaine Carneros Join Forces in Sustainable Wine Packaging Initiative Verallia USA, a leading producer of glass packaging solutions, proudly announces its collaboration with Domaine Carneros, a renowned winery committed to excellence and sustainability in the wine industry. This partnership marks a significant step towards reducing environmental impact while maintaining high standards of quality and innovation. Domaine Carneros, known for its exceptional traditional method sparkling wines, values the importance of sustainable practices in winemaking. According to Remi Cohen, CEO at Domaine Carneros, "Glass bottles are an essential component of our wines. They not only produce a beautiful presentation and package but also provide the durability needed for our sparkling wines." As part of this collaboration, Verallia USA is introducing a 830g traditional sparkling wine bottle, which is 70g (2.47 oz) lighter than the standard 900g (31.74 oz) US Traditional Meth

The North Bay Business Journal’s Wine Industry Conference is one of the publication’s annual networking events that’s taken place for over two decades. The wine-centric soiree brings in a variety of attendees with wine industry backgrounds, as well as attendees from other general business backgrounds in the North Bay. It acts as a great hub of knowledge and networking for the North Bay Business Journal community, featuring expert keynote speakers and panelists each year. This year’s theme is, “Elevating Your Wine Business through Strategic Succession Effective Distribution and Innovative Marketing.” Joining us at the conference will be Keynote Speaker Remi Cohen, CEO of Domaine Carneros Winery, presenting: “Strategies for Success — Mentorship, Succession, and Business Continuity Planning for the Future.” To follow, Tahlia Suggs, Marketing Apprentice at Price Family Vineyards & Estates, and Courtney Guntz-Summer, Assistant Direc