As the newly crowned NCAA basketball national champions make their media rounds, you might think that NIL is just about athletes getting paid to play. But NIL is a legal concept that encompasses an individual's right of publicity and allows all individuals, not just student-athletes, to control and profit from the commercial use of their identity NIL, short for Name, Image, and Likeness, has grown far beyond endorsement deals for athletes. It’s about the core pieces of your identity: your name, your face, your voice, and the ways you present yourself to the world. In a digital world where anyone can build an audience (or be impersonated by AI), those things have real value for everyone. On March 26, 2026, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) launched a new resource page that centralizes guidance on navigating name, image, and likeness in connection with trademarks and related intellectual property issues. This is a helpful first stop for understanding how branding an

These wineries and leaders are setting the standard for innovation, engagement, and operational excellence across our community. Active Participant 🔹 Galen Becker Drace — Arkenstone Estate Winery Continuous Learner 🔹 Angela Walker — Corison Winery Community Champion 🔹 Truman Prewitt — Sculpterra Winery & Vineyards  The Unity Award 🔹 Karen Darling — Bella Vineyards Feedback MVPs 🔹 Adam C. — Somerston Estate 🔹 Marian Kildahl — Imagery Estate Winery  Super Users 🔹 Harry Bagnaschi — Treasury Wine Estates 🔹 Doug M. — The Duckhorn Portfolio 🔹 Jessica Hartin — JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery Early Adopter Excellence 🔹 Far Niente Wine Estates 🔹 Hess Persson Estates  🔹 Laurel Glen Vineyard 🔹 Sangiacomo Family Wines Transformation Champions 🔹 Alyssa Kosan 🔹 Eric Mueller — Antica Terra 🔹 Kevin Jessen — Firstleaf User of the Year 🔹 Rebbecca Ingalls — Crimson Wine Group Congratulations to our 2026 honorees! Lea

When the Super Bowl and Olympics approach, we celebrate the performance we see on the field. What we don’t see is the year-round conditioning, repetition, and skill-building that made that performance possible. Winning teams don’t train only when the lights are brightest. They train all year long. The same principle applies to winery DTC teams. Downtime Is Where Advantage Is Built Periods of slower visitation or economic uncertainty can feel like a signal to pause. But research shows that the opposite approach separates leaders from laggards. A landmark study published by Harvard Business Review analyzed more than 4,700 companies across multiple recessions. The findings were striking: “Only 9% of companies emerged from recession stronger than before.” Even more telling: “Companies that balanced cost discipline with continued investment in people and capabilities recovered faster and gained market share.” Training Is a Growth Strategy,

by Stacey HeuerAs we approach Thanksgiving, it’s a time to pause and reflect on the past year—the lessons we’ve learned, the challenges we’ve navigated, and the many things we have to be grateful for. For those of us in the wine industry, this reflection feels especially meaningful. The past year has asked us to adapt, to rethink long-standing traditions, and to find new ways to connect with customers and one another. We’ve witnessed shifting consumer preferences, evolving markets, and the uncertainty that naturally comes with change. Yet through it all, I’ve seen incredible determination, creativity, and collaboration across our community. These qualities remind me that, while the landscape may shift, what truly endures is our shared passion for the craft, our resilience in the face of challenge, and the strong sense of camaraderie that binds us together. In that spirit, I’d like to share what I’m especially thankful for within our wine

76 Restaurants from across the country and Mexico receive inaugural ‘Magnum Award’  SANTA ROSA, Calif. (September 2, 2025) – Seventy-six restaurants spanning from Graton, California, to Greenwich, Connecticut, are being honored with the 2025 Sonoma County Magnum Award for their exceptional support and promotion of Sonoma County wines.  Earlier this year, Sonoma County Winegrowers launched this new initiative to recognize restaurants that demonstrate outstanding support for Sonoma County wines and showcasing Sonoma County as a world-class wine region. Each restaurant will receive a uniquely etched magnum bottle, symbolizing their role as an ambassador for Sonoma County’s farmers, winemakers, and wines. During the year, Sonoma County wineries submitted nominations of restaurants they felt were deserving of recognition. Input was also provided by partners, trade, and sommeliers from throughout the country. Restaurants were selected based on key crit

Our latest Sustainable Winegrowing podcast episode brings together two of Turrentine Brokerage’s leading experts—Audra Cooper, Director of Grape Brokerage, and Eddie Urman, Central Coast Grape Broker—to explore how the wine industry can navigate a market defined by oversupply, shifting demand, and the growing push for sustainability. Listen to the full episode Play Episode 269: From Surplus to Strategy Meet Your Hosts Audra Cooper With nearly two decades at Turrentine Brokerage, Audra leads our grape brokerage team. A Central Coast native with a background in Agricultural Economics (CSU Fresno) and strategic management, Audra champions data-driven strategies to keep clients ahead of market shifts. Eddie Urman A Paso Robles native and Cal Poly alum, Eddie brings over ten years of vineyard management and brokerage experience to his role as Central Coast Grape Broker. Known for his deep grower relationships and hands-on market analysis, Eddie helps clients turn changin

A well-told story can transform casual buyers into lifelong fans. Your winery’s brand isn’t just about the wine—it’s about the moments it becomes a part of. The way your customers experience your brand, whether visiting your tasting room, joining your wine club, or opening a bottle at home, determines whether they come back for more.  Your Winery’s Story: More Than Just a Bottle of Wine What do you want people to feel when they experience your wine? Not just when they taste it—but when they visit your winery, when they join your club, when they open a bottle at home with friends. Do you want them to feel like they’re part of something special—a family tradition passed down for generations? Do you want them to feel like an insider—someone who discovered a bold, independent winery rewriting the rules? Do you want them to feel inspired—that every sip connects them to the land, the craft, and the passion behind it? Find Your

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