Do you know a family — or are you part of one — that has been farming in Sonoma County for 100 years or more and is still growing winegrapes today? If so, we want to hear from you! The Sonoma County Winegrowers Century Club celebrates these heritage farming families, honoring their enduring contributions to our region’s rich agricultural history and ongoing commitment to cultivating exceptional winegrapes. If you’d like to make a nomination, please email the following information to caroline@sonomawinegrape.org: Family/company name Year family began farming in Sonoma County Agricultural products family has farmed in the past, and when Agricultural products family farms today Where family farms within the county How many acres currently farmed Each family honored in the Sonoma County Winegrowers Century Club receives a commemorative pin, a special vineyard sign to display on their historic property, and a congressional resolution from Representative M

A “generic” label design might sound uninspired at first – but not when it comes from the hands of Caroline Becker, Head of Prepress & Marketing at CCL Label Trittenheim, where the labels were also brought to life. The concept perfectly balances creativity, technical finesse and visual storytelling.  These wine labels bring together romantic symbolism and modern branding through the depiction of an angel with a bow and arrow – a clear nod to Cupid, the classical figure of love and attraction. In this context, the angel becomes a playful metaphor: just as Cupid’s arrow makes hearts fall in love, this label aims to make consumers fall in love – first with the label and then with the product. (Read more about the power of labels in article “Choosing Wine is an Emotional Decision“!) Visually, the angel adds a sense of timeless elegance, while the bow and arrow bring movement and impact, reinforcing the emotio

Are Sulfites in Wine Bad for Your Health? With the ominous contains sulfites label that accompanies most wine bottles, consumers have grown wary of sulfur in wine. Despite the recent push for natural and sulfite-free wine, these titles create havoc for winemakers who do not use these descriptors. What most don’t realize is that sulfur is a byproduct of fermentation. Thus, sulfur not only plays a role in maintaining the freshness and flavor of wine, but its presence is a natural part of the winemaking process. The Use of Additives in Wine Throughout the Years While natural wine has become a trendy concept, the product itself isn’t new; wine labels that tout their product as natural merely are referring to the traditional methodology of making wine from unaltered grape juice with no additives, which stands in contrast to other wines found on your local supermarket shelf. Some use many of the 62 government approved additives [CFR 24.246], such as fake