Recent news headlines out of France regarding wine barrel management and leasing mainstay H&A Group have sparked concerns within the global wine industry, with potential significant impacts to the domestic and local wine industry’s barrel financing programs. H&A, a Bordeaux‑based barrel leasing company with a substantial international footprint, has reportedly been placed into judicial liquidation by the Bordeaux Commercial Court in early April, after unsuccessful restructuring efforts.[1] With thousands of clients worldwide—including wineries in California—the liquidation of H&A may have significant legal, financial, and operational implications for wine producers that relied on its barrel leasing and financing structures. For approximately two decades, H&A operated as a specialized financer of wine maturation, allowing wineries to access barrels without the need for substantial upfront capital expenditures. Through barrel lease and resale agreements, H&A worked

The decade bet: why spirits supply chain decisions in 2026 will define who wins in 2035 Spirits supply chain decisions aren’t just operational anymore—they’re long-term bets. What you decide in 2026 will shape: What inventory you’re sitting on in 2030 Which brands you can scale (or can’t) How much working capital is tied up for years Whether you can respond when demand shifts The challenge? Long aging cycles mean today’s decisions are locked in long before the market reveals what actually works. That’s why leading spirits companies are shifting from reactive planning to long-range, scenario-driven strategies, connecting demand, supply, and capital decisions earlier than ever. We break down what’s changing, and what it takes to stay ahead. Read the full article here › #SupplyChainPlanning #Forecasting #BeverageIndustry #BevAlc #SpiritsIndustry #LongTermPlanning #InventoryStrategy #DemandPlanning

A Full House at Emeritus Wine business professionals gather to network, sip, and hear from Jeff Clark  Last week at Emeritus Vineyards, wine business professionals gathered for a sold-out event to discuss one of the most pressing topics in today’s market: access to capital and financing strategies.   The conversation?  Candid.  Insightful.  Practical. The networking?  Focused.  Engaged.  Productive. This wasn’t surface-level discussion - it was real dialogue about the decisions shaping wineries and wine businesses right now.  The Wine Business Group  This is the Wine Business Group, run by AWG Wine Advisors and Women for WineSense. We are a collaborative network for anyone interested in wine business. Each quarter, we get together to discuss the latest industry trends, tackle emerging business topics, and build valuable connections.  AWG Wine Advisors’ Next Event  Welcome to AWG Wine Advisors' firs

The 2026 State of the U.S. Wine Industry Report, published by Silicon Valley Bank and authored by Rob McMillan, provides a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of current conditions in the U.S. wine market. Built on more than 25 years of industry research, the report combines results from SVB’s annual winery survey, its Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) survey, demographic and cohort consumption modeling, and a wide range of third-party wholesale, retail, and population datasets. The conclusion is clear: while the industry continues to face structural headwinds, wineries are not experiencing these conditions equally. A widening performance gap has emerged between those adapting to changing demand and those struggling to do so. 2025 Performance: A Difficult Year for Many By nearly every measure, 2025 was a challenging year for the U.S. wine industry. Roughly half of the surveyed wineries rated the year negatively, citing slowing demand, rising costs, margin pressure, and inventory ch

Selling your business is a monumental decision. Whether you’re ready to retire, pursue new ventures, or capitalize on your business’s value, the process requires careful planning and preparation. Selling a business is more than a financial transaction; it’s a personal one, too. Your hard work and dedication have built something remarkable, and transitioning that legacy deserves a thoughtful approach. This guide will walk you through the key steps to prepare for a sale, maximize the value of your business, and ensure you’re ready for what comes next. Are You Truly Ready to Sell? The first step in selling your business is determining whether you’re ready to part ways. This involves both financial readiness and personal readiness. Financial readiness requires an honest evaluation of the funds you’ll need for the next stage of your life. Can the sale price meet your financial goals, whether it’s supporting a new venture or funding your re

For wineries, year-end is not simply an accounting exercise. It is the point at which financial discipline either shows up or years of small compromises finally catch up. Too many wineries treat year-end close as a compliance task: get the books to the tax preparer, have them file the returns, move on. That mindset is increasingly risky, given that you are operating in a challenging market. Margins are under pressure, inventory is expensive to carry, cash flow is tight, and lenders and partners expect better visibility than ever before. A clean, accurate year-end close is no longer optional. It is the foundation for survival and strategic decision-making in today’s wine market. Start Where Most Problems Begin: The Balance Sheet If your balance sheet is not clean, nothing else matters. At year-end, every winery should have: Fully reconciled bank and credit card accounts A realistic assessment of accounts receivable (what will actually be collected) Accounts payable that reflect

If peak seasons make or break your operation, you’ve seen how quickly a smooth-running warehouse can get overloaded. Orders pile up, aisles tighten, and your main forklift fleet hits its limit. You need more capacity fast, but you don’t necessarily need more equipment all year long. That’s exactly where a smart short-term rental strategy comes in. With one of the largest material handling rental fleets in the West and dozens of locations spanning across California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Montana, Papé Rents helps businesses add flexible surge capacity without locking up capital in equipment that sits idle once the rush is over. Start with Historical Data Effective seasonal surge planning starts long before the first big order drops. Look at your historical data: Daily order volumes and lines picked Dock-to-stock times Overtime hours Equipment utilization by truck type As you monitor your workflow over time, patterns start to emerge. Maybe ou

Unlocking the power of visual storytelling in seasonal promotions The holiday season transforms casual browsers into high-intent buyers, making it the most lucrative period for beverage brands. With consumers spending over $240 billion online during recent holiday seasons, strategic campaigns during this window can generate extraordinary returns, often 3-5 times your marketing investment. Understanding how to capitalize on this global opportunity requires more than festive packaging. Successful brands combine data-driven insights with compelling visual content, strategic timing, and multi-channel execution to maximize their holiday revenue potential and enhance their market reach. This guide reveals the proven strategies and measurable tactics that turn seasonal campaigns into business-transforming growth engines. Get the full story

In today’s challenging economic climate, many wineries are rethinking their operational strategies. Rather than continuing to rent or lease, owning your space can be a transformative decision that positions your winery for long-term success. With the support of SBA 504 loans from TMC Financing, this isn’t just a dream—it’s an achievable reality. The Benefits of Owning Your Space Financial Stability and Predictability Owning your own property means you’re not subject to sudden rent hikes or lease uncertainties. SBA 504 loans provide long-term, fixed interest rates with fully amortized payments over 25 years and no balloon payments, offering financial predictability that’s vital for planning your winery’s future. Cash Flow That Works for You With as little as 10% down for established businesses (15% for single-purpose facilities or start-ups), you can preserve your working capital to invest in other critical areas. This structure helps ensure you

Knowledge Is Power.  Small business owners spend their days concentrating on their particular specialty, but there’s one thing they have in common: they all have to contend with a host of similar workforce issues. Below, we've provided the top three business resources you should use to tackle common challenges like business planning, securing funding, and navigating day-to-day operations with greater confidence and clarity. Whether you're just getting started or looking to take your business to the next level, these tools can help you build a strong foundation and make informed decisions every step of the way. _________________________________________________________________ The Small Business Administration (SBA) The SBA offers a plethora of advice about planning, launching, managing, and growing a small business. They offer a useful guide to writing your business plan. The SBA’s Create Your Business Plan section of its website is an excellent place to s