This blog post summarizes the process by which licensed wineries can obtain local government approval for events in Napa County held pursuant to their California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (“ABC”) Type 93 Estate Tasting Permit. As discussed in our prior post, last year Governor Newsom signed into law AB720, granting California wineries that hold an ABC Type 02 winery license the ability to host events, up to 36 times per year, where they exercise tasting room privileges for wine manufactured by or for the winery on either: (1) property adjacent to the licensed premises or (2) a nonadjacent vineyard provided that such property or vineyard is owned by or under the control of the winery. (Cal. Bus. Prof. Code 23399.03.) Neither ABC nor Napa County have provided guidance as to what degree or proof of “control” is required. Under AB 720, these new Type 93 estate tasting events are also subject to local land use controls that can “restrict, but no

Domaine Della 2023 Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir Takes Top Prize  November 18, 2025 — Winners have been announced in the 2025 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging, Domaine Della 2023 Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir took the top prize. It was also awarded Best of Show Red Wine and Best of Monterey County AVA. Coming in at 98 points, judges praised the wine as “warm and spicy” with “fig and nutmeg.” Other descriptors included “meaty,” “prosciutto,” and “dried rose petal.”  With entries from across the globe, the Harvest Challenge bases judging on a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions and grapes that combine to give personality to the wine.  In other competitions, this terroir is ignored. At the Harvest Challen

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

Every winemaker knows that fermentation is a delicate dance between art and science. Behind every great wine lies a thriving microbial ecosystem—some organisms we invite, others we need to keep far away. Mastering that balance is what separates clean, stable wines from those plagued by faults, spoilage, or inconsistency. Fermentation: Harnessing the Right Microbes During alcoholic fermentation, controlling microbial populations ensures your chosen yeast strain dominates the process. This helps achieve a complete and predictable transformation of sugars into alcohol and COâ‚‚ without unwanted by-products that can dull aroma or flavor. In malolactic fermentation, Oenococcus oeni converts malic acid to the softer lactic acid, reducing sharpness and enhancing mouthfeel. But MLF is also a vulnerable moment: the wine’s natural defenses are low, and spoilage microbes can easily gain ground. When MLF isn’t desired, those bacteria must be inhibited completely to protect the wi

Afternoon Brief, September 25

What Happens When a Wine Goes Viral? How does a wine go viral? Is it pure luck, or a predictable equation?

In this WIN Insider episode, George Christie interviews Maggie Zeman, a seasoned PR and marketing professional who transitioned from Washington DC’s State Department to Silicon Valley tech, before founding The Barn Group in Northern California’s wine industry to then merge with a larger PR firm and expand her role nationally. Maggie shares insights on the wine sector’s current challenges, emphasizing that the industry faces a marketing problem, not a product problem, requiring targeted communication strategies to engage younger consumers and adapt to evolving behaviors. The conversation covers the dramatically changed media landscape—from traditional wine writers to freelance-driven ecosystems, influencers, and digital creators—plus how AI and new platforms are reshaping media relations. Maggie discusses the importance of mentorship, intergenerational learning, and the challenges remote work poses for career growth. Despite industry headwinds, she remain

Owning a vineyard is often a dream fulfilled. For many, it comes through inheritance or a generational land transfer—something that feels personal, informal, and steeped in trust. But when it comes to land ownership, tradition doesn’t always align with legal boundaries. And assumptions can turn into very real (and very expensive) surprises. Ray Carlson & Associates has seen it all: vines planted over property lines, unrecorded easements that limit development, and inherited parcels with boundary lines that haven’t been surveyed in decades. If you're managing—or selling—a vineyard you didn’t originally design or develop, a professional land survey might be the most important tool you didn’t know you needed. Old Maps, New Problems Vineyards passed down through generations often rely on outdated parcel maps, oral agreements, or informal knowledge of the land. That might have worked in the past—but it doesn’t fly with mode

Learn innovative methods for managing bird and vertebrate pests in vineyards. Bart Haycraft (Jackson Family Wines) and falconer Pogerof Scott discuss using falconry to deter birds. Chad Foster (Maverick Farming) shares his use of an autonomous bird laser deterrent. Kevin Garcia Lopez and Sarah Lord (Cal Poly) will present their barn owl research, focusing on nest box occupancy and how changes in vineyard habitat affect foraging behavior. The event will feature a live falconry demonstration and give attendees the opportunity to view a bird laser, including the autonomous bird laser deterrent system. Speakers: Bart Haycraft, Jackson Family Wines Pogerof Scott, Falconer Chad Foster, Maverick Farming  Joseph Traut, Cypress Agritech Graham Evans, Cypress Agritech Riley Boylan, Cypress Agritech Kevin Garcia Lopez, Cal Poly Sarah Lord, Cal Poly CE Approved: DPR 2 - O; CCA 2 - IPM

A new standard for boutique luxury is emerging in Napa Valley with The Elene, an extraordinary retreat concept by Mosaic Hotel Collection, known for its distinctive, inspired local experiences. Nordby Construction is honored to lead the endeavor of bringing this remarkable vision to life with uncompromising craftsmanship and detail. Situated on 3.5 acres within the Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve, this 50-room resort, including four expansive suites. The resort layout seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor spaces to embrace the region’s natural beauty, balancing contemporary elegance with relaxed charm. Guests will enjoy a fine-dining restaurant, an all-day café, a heated pool, and a cycling program with a bike barn. From the start, The Elene was conceived as a bespoke retreat, reflecting the sophistication of Napa’s wine country while integrating advanced sustainability practices. With this in mind, the project required a construction partner well-versed in comple