In this WIN Insider Series episode, George Christie interviews Courtney Benham, Owner and President of CNB Family of Wines, alongside team members Nina and Remy. Courtney shares his journey from Bakersfield farming family to wine industry leader, discussing the evolution of his brands including Blackstone and Martin Ray. The conversation highlights CNB’s innovative Rookie Club—a new wine club concept targeting millennials and Gen Z with approachable pricing, easy subscriptions, and casual events like trivia nights. They also address current industry challenges including distribution pressures and economic headwinds, emphasizing how passion, relationships, and adaptability are essential for family wineries to thrive in today’s complex market.

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

Wine Industry Network (WIN) broadcast the third session of the 2022 Growing Forward series on Wednesday, November 16. The webinar featured winegrowers and vineyard experts sharing their experience as early implementers of new vineyard technology and techniques.  Moderated by Lance Donny, CEO of AgCode, speakers included Courtney Preston Shifflett, Viticulturist North Coast of The Duckhorn Portfolio, Greg Gonzalez, Director of Central Coast Farming of Foley Family Vineyards and Rob Whyte, COO of Renteria Vineyards. The panel was able to share their experiences as early implementers of new vineyard technology and techniques including pitfalls to avoid, what surprised them, the results they achieved, and their recommendations for others considering adoption. The webinar was free to attend and included a live chat with the speakers. Both the webinar and live chat is available for on-demand replay. The webinar was made possible with the support session sponsors, AgCode and Opti-Harvest

Registration is now open for the Growing Forward Webinar which is set to broadcast November 16, 2022 at 9:00am. Registration is free for wine industry professionals. There is a great deal of new technology and science becoming available to winegrowers each year, and it can be a daunting task to figure out which to prioritize and how to prepare for implementation while managing costs and expectations.  We have put together a panel of three speakers representing vineyards that have adopted new growing technologies or methods over the recent seasons. This panel of winegrowers and vineyard managers will share their experiences as early implementers of new vineyard technology and techniques including pitfalls to avoid, what surprised them, the results they achieved, and their recommendations for others considering adoption. It will be presented by Courtney Preston Shifflett, Viticulturist North Coast of The Duckhorn Portfolio, Greg Gonzalez, Director of Central Coast Farming of Foley F

Lessons from Early Implementers  There is a great deal of new technology and science becoming available to winegrowers each year, and it can be a daunting task to figure out which to prioritize and how to prepare for implementation while managing costs and expectations.  We have put together a panel of three speakers representing vineyards that have adopted new growing technologies or methods over the past couple of seasons. This panel of winegrowers and vineyard managers will share their experiences as early implementers of new vineyard technology and techniques including pitfalls to avoid, what surprised them, the results they achieved, and their recommendations for others considering adoption. Register here.  Session Panel: Greg Gonzalez, Director of Central Coast Farming / Foley Family Vineyards Courtney Preston Shifflett, Viticulturist North Coast / The Duckhorn Portfolio Rob Whyte, COO / Renteria Vineyards 

Session Three in our Growing Forward Vineyard & Grower Educational Series. There is a great deal of new technology and science becoming available to winegrowers each year, and it can be a daunting task to figure out which to prioritize and how to prepare for implementation while managing costs and expectations. We have put together a panel of three speakers representing vineyards that have adopted new growing technologies or methods over the past couple of seasons. This panel of winegrowers and vineyard managers will share their experiences as early implementers of new vineyard technology and techniques including pitfalls to avoid, what surprised them, the results they achieved, and their recommendations for others considering adoption. Session Panel: Greg Gonzalez, Director of Central Coast Farming / Foley Family VineyardsCourtney Preston Shifflett, Viticulturist North Coast / The Duckhorn PortfolioRob Whyte, COO / Renteria Vineyards  Date: Wednesday, Novem

Amici Cellars Announces the Promotion of Dante West to Associate Winemaker and the Appointment of Sean M. Quinn as Associate Production Winemaker

(Napa Valley, Calif.)—April 26, 2022—Amici Cellars today announced the promotion of Dante West to associate winemaker, working alongside Amici winemaker Tony Biagi and consulting winemaker Matt Courtney in crafting the […]

Amici Cellars Announces the Appointment of Matt Courtney as Consulting Winemaker

(Napa Valley, Calif.)—March 22, 2022—Amici Cellars today announced the appointment of Matt Courtney as consulting winemaker for the Calistoga-based winery. Courtney, who brings more than 20 years of experience, will oversee […]

Join us on Wednesday, January 13th for a live videocast and release of the 20th annual State of the Wine Industry Report. This will be the first opportunity in 2021 to fully review the impact and magnitude of events that took place during 2020.  Equally important, it will provide viewers with predictions about business conditions and consumer changes in 2021 and beyond.  Some topics the panel will discuss include: The consumer you knew in 2020 isn’t the same consumer that will emerge in 2021. How will your winery capitalize on the opportunity? Wine sales will improve in some channels and deteriorate in others. Are you investing in a channel that will give you the most incremental lift? What will define winning and losing strategies in a post-COVID world that will include flat growth in total wine sales? Starting 2020 with acute oversupply should imply lower grape pricing for an extended term under normal conditions, but nothing about 2020 was normal. How will grape