Bracing for Battle: How Using War Games Can Help Bolster Wine Businesses

Develop strategies to anticipate, adapt and act before challenges become crises The wine industry is facing a storm of challenges, from declining

Over the past few years, wineries have seen tasting room visits decline as consumer habits shift. With more options than ever, visitors are looking for something special—experiences that go beyond just sampling wine. For many wineries, this means rethinking how they engage guests and creating a place people want to come back to. This guide explores how wineries across the country are turning their tasting rooms into destinations—balancing local charm, modern convenience, and genuine hospitality. Create Unique, Social Experiences In today’s market, wineries that stand out provide more than just a tasting—they create memorable, shareable experiences that make guests want to stay longer and come back. Enhancing the Atmosphere with Music: Music adds energy and can make an ordinary tasting feel like an event. Hosting live music, whether it’s a local band or acoustic performer, brings people together and keeps them engaged. Many wineries schedule music on weeke

Secure Your Tickets The last Sip & Savor Friday of the year is coming up, and you're invited to help us close out the season in style — with a special Family Night celebration! Join us on Friday, September 26th from 5:00 – 8:00 PM for a relaxed evening of wine, food, and fun for all ages. Here’s what’s in store for this special send-off:  Enjoy a tasting flight featuring wines from four of our fantastic member wineries: Bienvenue, Black Kite, Bucher, and Fat Dragon — all at your own pace  Savor delicious Southern-inspired eats from Bayou on the Bay, available for purchase on-site  Take advantage of $20 advance tickets ($25 at the door) — a great value for an evening of discovery and enjoyment Wine-by-the-glass specials and bottles available for purchase directly from the wineries Family-friendly fun including a bounce house, face painting, lawn games, and more! Whether you're sipping with friends or bri

Secure Your Tickets The last Sip & Savor Friday of the year is coming up, and you're invited to help us close out the season in style — with a special Family Night celebration! Join us on Friday, September 26th from 5:00 – 8:00 PM for a relaxed evening of wine, food, and fun for all ages. Here’s what’s in store for this special send-off:  Enjoy a tasting flight featuring wines from four of our fantastic member wineries: Bienvenue, Black Kite, Bucher, and Fat Dragon — all at your own pace  Savor delicious Southern-inspired eats from Bayou on the Bay, available for purchase on-site  Take advantage of $20 advance tickets ($25 at the door) — a great value for an evening of discovery and enjoyment Wine-by-the-glass specials and bottles available for purchase directly from the wineries Family-friendly fun including a bounce house, face painting, lawn games, and more! Whether you're sipping with frie

by Miguel SandovalWhen people think about Wine Fulfillment, they often imagine the final mile—packages arriving on doorsteps like shiny new pickups rolling off the lot. It’s the glamorous part. Cue client smiles, thank-you emails, corks popping, and the sweet smell of success. But before we get to the harvest (aka delivery), there’s some serious groundwork that has to happen. And at the heart of that is receiving—the engine under the hood, the plow before the plant, the grease that keeps the gears turning. Let me break it down. Receiving: The Tractor That Starts the Season Receiving is the first step in the lifecycle of a product here at Copper Peak Logistics, and just like in farming, if you don’t prep the soil right, you can forget about a good crop. In logistics terms, receiving is the moment your inventory rolls in and we say, “Alright, let’s get to work.” We inspect it, sort it, scan it, and make sure everything is just as it should

Make plans now to be at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens for one of Sonoma County's most anticipated wine and food events on June 21! Take advantage of early bird pricing through April 30 at TasteofSonoma.com. Get tickets here.   Please note: We are unable to accommodate guests under the age of 21, including infants and children. Pets are not permitted, only service animals will be granted entry.  Check Out the Themed Lounges Enjoy the Bounty of Sonoma County at These Experiences Explore all of the fun planned inside the themed lounges at Taste of Sonoma. Get ready for summer sipping, delectable treats, interactive games, and more!  

The wine industry is steeped in tradition, but let’s be real—it’s time to shake things up. Younger demographics aren’t buying into the same old wine marketing tricks or outdated experiences. Want to grab their attention (and their dollars)? Then it’s time to think bold, fun, and modern. You Don’t Have to Do It All—Start Small and Stay True to Your Brand Attracting younger wine lovers doesn’t mean you need to overhaul everything or abandon your roots. Instead, consider making a few strategic shifts that align with your brand. Maybe your website keeps the traditional tasting notes, but you have fun with social media. Maybe your weekends are reserved for 21+ reservation-only tastings, but your weekdays are more relaxed and family-friendly. The key is finding what works for you and your audience. Now, let’s dive into some ideas. 1. Flex Your Wine Club Options Your wine club isn’t working for everyone. Sure, your loyal members lov

Activations Will Bring Sonoma County Wines to One of California’s Fastest Growing Regions Building on its growing success in bringing world-class Sonoma County wines to new and divergent audiences, Sonoma County Winegrowers has announced it has agreed to become the official sponsor for Acrisure Arena and the Coachella Valley Firebirds.  “This is an exciting new opportunity to showcase and share our Sonoma County wines in a vibrant community with people who clearly love the arena and the team,” said Karissa Kruse, president and chief executive officer of the Sonoma County Winegrowers. She added, “Our focus is to reach new audiences in different settings to create memorable experiences and with this new partnership we will accomplish that in a big way in the Coachella Valley.” Acrisure Arena is a world-class entertainment venue strategically located in the Coachella Valley in Southern California within 90 miles of more than 8.5 million residents. Since

Depending on your wine or spirits brand, the cocktail of channels you depend upon to drive volume in 2025 may look different than it did five years ago. You might lean more heavily upon E-Premise and Direct to Consumer sales. Still, nothing moves cases like a placement in strategic national accounts, regional chains, and high-volume independents in the right markets. The natural consequence of devoting more attention to emerging channels is less time to devote to traditional 3-tier sales strategy without investing in more resources. Under these constraints, it’s more important than ever to focus your team’s efforts in the market with a well-researched, highly-targeted plan of attack.  A crucial roadmap resulting from this research is a Key Account Target (KAT) list. By selecting the accounts capable of driving the most volume for your brand and focusing your sales team’s time and efforts — to the neglect of the rest of your available account universe &mda

Over the past few years, wineries have seen tasting room visits decline as consumer habits shift. With more options than ever, visitors are looking for something special—experiences that go beyond just sampling wine. For many wineries, this means rethinking how they engage guests and creating a place people want to come back to. This guide dives into fresh ideas to help your winery stand out, turning it into a destination where visitors feel welcome, excited, and connected to what you offer. Create Unique, Social Experiences In today’s market, wineries that stand out provide more than just a tasting—they create memorable, shareable experiences that make guests want to stay longer and come back. Enhancing the Atmosphere with Music: Music adds energy and can make an ordinary tasting feel like an event. Hosting live music, whether it’s a local band or acoustic performer, brings people together and keeps them engaged. Many wineries schedule music on weekends to attr