We are certainly living in different times—times that are difficult to predict and even harder to plan for. Challenges originating far outside our professional world are quickly impacting our day-to-day operations and, ultimately, your business. Throughout 2026, suppliers across the industry have faced significant disruption, and those challenges have inevitably flowed downstream to our valued wine and spirits customers. While none of us welcome this level of uncertainty, it is also not entirely unexpected given the global environment we’re operating in. Recently, the Wine Industry Network published a timely and insightful article that underscores the importance of preparation. The message is clear: we must plan ahead, secure what we can, and remain ready for continued volatility. Duties, tariffs, currency fluctuations, transportation challenges, and unexpected fees are all contributing to rising costs—and the reality is, no one can predict what will come next. What

What are trade promotion management systems exactly? They are software solutions that centralize depletion allowance tracking, pricing, promotions planning, rebate programs, and billbacks into a single platform. By automating and simplifying traditionally error-prone, manual management of three-tier distribution processes, wineries and importers can reclaim lost profits, boost the bottom-line, and efficiently plan for more successful distributor programs to meet revenue and market goals. But not all three-tier promotion and pricing systems are the same. Tradeparency is the only full-cycle trade management system available to three-tier wineries and importers. What does that mean?   Read the newly released FAQ to learn more about trade promotion management systems, how Tradeparency is different from other tools, who uses Tradeparency, and how we address pricing management for wineries! CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE FAQ NOW

A few years ago at the DTC Wine Symposium, a panelist joked about the modern winery website formula: the guy, the dog, the truck, and the vineyard. Beautiful backdrop, strong lifestyle photography, a thoughtful founder story. Polished, absolutely. Strategically distinct, rarely. The critique wasn’t about branding. It was about structure. Most winery websites aren’t broken, but they aren’t built as decision environments either. Calls to action are unclear, revenue pathways are buried, shipping surprises appear late, and wine club often lives in isolation instead of throughout the buying journey. After auditing winery sites across regions and production sizes, the pattern is consistent: performance is constrained by friction, not effort. Most wineries don’t have a traffic problem. They have a conversion architecture problem. Before increasing ad spend or launching another promotion, run a winery website audit — on your phone. Start at the homepage and move t

Traditional demand for wine has softened, buyers are pickier, and “default growth” is basically gone. Meanwhile, the consumer mindset has changed dramatically—wellness, moderation, and “I want to drink less but still drink well” is becoming the new normal. That combo is tough on the old playbook. But it’s also a huge opening for brands that are willing to pivot with intention (not panic). At BevZero, we see this moment as a reset: a chance to meet people where they are now—and build a portfolio that survives the slump and comes out stronger on the other side with non-alcoholic products. What’s Driving the Slump A few things are happening at once: Wellness is influencing purchase decisions more than ever. People aren’t necessarily “anti-wine”, they’re just more mindful about alcohol consumption. Curiosity has matured into expectation. Today’s no/low-alc shopper isn’t experimenting anymore, they ex

Here’s the truth: strong businesses are built on strong leaders. And while some people seem like “natural leaders,” most great managers don’t just stumble into success. They learn it, practice it, and grow into it. That’s where leadership training comes in. At The Personnel Perspective, we’ve spent nearly 40 years helping organizations bring out the very best in their people. And if there’s one thing we’ve seen over and over, it’s this: investing in leadership training is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make. Let’s dive into the ROI of leadership development and how services like leadership training Boise and leadership coaching programs Boise can transform your workplace, boosting productivity, cutting costs, and creating teams people actually want to be a part of. TL;DR: Getting Returns on Your Leadership Training Short on time? No worries. Here’s the short and sweet of this blog: Leadership t

Team meetings don’t always go the way we want. People talk over each other, others stay silent, and decisions somehow don’t get made. That’s where a skilled facilitator comes in. At The Personnel Perspective, we’ve been helping businesses like yours run smoother, more productive meetings for nearly 40 years. And if you’re based in or near Boise, we’ve got just the thing: expert facilitation training Boise teams trust to get things moving. Not sure what a facilitator actually does or when you’d need one? You’re in the right place. So, What Is a Facilitator? A facilitator is like a meeting coach. They guide the conversation, keep things on track, and make sure everyone has a voice. But here’s the key: they stay neutral. They’re not there to take sides or push their own ideas. Their whole job is to help your team work as one and come to decisions, together. When Would I Need One? Here are a few situations where bringing

This year’s Sustainable Ag Expo packs serious value for your professional development. Whether you’re earning DPR or CCA hours (or both!), we’ve got you covered with a mix of in-person and on-demand sessions designed to fit your schedule. Total CE Hours Available: 13 Online Courses - open through November 28, 202511.5 DPR (incl. 3 L) 13.5 CCA 16 In-Person Seminars - November 11-12 in San Luis Obispo7.5 DPR (incl. 1 L) 17 CCA Proactive Steps for Complying with CA Pesticide Laws and Regulations Tuesday, Nov. 12 | 3:30–4:30 PM Speaker: Mel Graham, County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture Get practical guidance for staying compliant with California’s pesticide use requirements. Learn about common violations, how to avoid them, and what’s coming in 2025 and 2026. Calibration of Vineyard Sprayers Online | Oct. 13-Nov. 28 Speaker: Dr. Andrew Landers, Professor Emeritus, Cornell University Fine-tune your spray precision!

Our Exhibitor community is growing stronger than ever with the return of many of our fantastic Business Members, as well as some exciting new faces! Wondering who you'll meet at the Sustainable Ag Expo this year? Check out the exhibitor map to see who will be there and where you can find them. Come network with these sustainable ag professionals and get up to date on the ever-changing practices, research, and innovations in viticulture and ag business.     Pssst! Want all the event details in one place? Visit the FAQ page to get answers to your Expo questions. Still have questions? Reach out to Hayli@vineyardteam.org

Introduction: From Search to Suggestion Wine consumers aren’t just Googling anymore — they’re asking AI assistants like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity, and Grok where to go, what to drink, and who to trust. If your winery’s online presence isn’t optimized for these new tools, you’re already behind. That’s where AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization) comes in. This guide is a step-by-step roadmap to get your winery ready to be recommended in AI-driven results, and how Corksy Insights can help. What is AIO, and Why Should Wineries Care? AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization) is about making your winery's online presence easy for AI agents to understand, trust, and recommend. Unlike traditional SEO, AIO focuses on the signals that AI tools use to generate answers, not just search results. Local SEO vs Local AIO at a Glance: Local SEO Local AIO Goal Rank on Google/Search engines Be recommended by AI assistants Tools Google Busi

AI is changing how customers discover, research, and buy wine online — and that means your website strategy needs to change with it. We’re moving beyond the days of traditional, keyword-heavy SEO. Today’s search landscape is driven by generative AI — platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Bing Copilot, and Google’s AI Overviews — which don’t just show links. They summarize information, cite sources, and even recommend brands directly in the search results. For wineries, that means success is no longer just about ranking on page one. It’s about becoming the trusted source these AI systems quote, reference, and build their answers from. Here are five practical ways to make sure your winery’s site is ready for the AI era — and positioned to be discovered, cited, and recommended. 1. Make Sure AI Can Access and Understand Your Website AI visibility starts with technical accessibility. If AI crawlers can’t reach or interpret you