Online gifting is one of the fastest-growing ecommerce categories, and wine is right at the top. The truth is, the brands winning in this space aren't just riding the trend. They're building dedicated gifting infrastructure to squeeze every last drop from tis big opportunity. Wineries and beverage brands that invest in purpose-built gifting tools like Zest typically see significant gift sale growth in their very first holiday season. And those that scale over multiple years are seeing 30–75% year-over-year growth through channels like concierge gifting and self-service corporate gifting. Clif Family Winery is one brand that made the shift (and hasn't looked back). "Gifting orders were pretty much always high-touch and handled over the course of several calls and emails. Now, we can sell gifts while we sleep, which we see happen all the time!"  — Katie Taylor, Gifting & Subscriptions Sales Manager, Clif Family Winery Curious why wine keeps sh

HOW TO KEEP YOUR BRAND TOP OF MIND WHEN CUSTOMERS ARE DROWNING IN HOLIDAY EMAILS The inbox in December isn’t a communication tool—it’s a full-contact sport. Every brand, from the global megastore to the local dog bakery, is shouting their way into people’s attention span with flashing subject lines, endless exclamation points, and “40% OFF” hysteria that blurs into static. Consumers don’t read; they scan for relief. According to Mailjet’s 2024 BFCM report, holiday email volume jumps nearly 80% between Thanksgiving and Christmas, while average open rates drop to 13–15%—a statistical cry for help. But the real problem isn’t quantity—it’s tone. Every brand is talking at their audience instead of with them. The louder the messaging, the less people listen. Leading with prices and panic doesn’t inspire trust; it triggers fatigue. That’s your opportunity. The brands that win the inbox aren’t the

Wine clubs have long been the backbone of direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales. But with shifting consumer expectations and the rise of subscription culture, from streaming services to meal kits, wineries are rethinking the traditional club. Subscription models promise flexibility for customers, stability for wineries, and in many cases, less operational strain. We asked four leading technology providers (Awtomic, Commerce7, OrderPort, and VinSuite) to share their insights on how wineries can successfully add or adapt subscriptions. We also gathered a few winery examples to show how creative models are being used today. This list is in no way exhaustive, there are many winery DTC software/SaaS providers with options, and the landscape is continuously evolving. For a deeper dive, check out this article by WineBusiness Monthly with all the providers, trends, and a very helpful comparison chart. What Are Wine Subscriptions? At their core, wine subscriptions are a modern twist on the tradi

I can't seem to get this image out of my mind. Last Thursday afternoon in St Helena, California, Clif Family Winery very generously hosted an Enolytics user group, where we sat down with a table full of customers to talk through the 2.0 update of our software. You can see what happened. People came, maybe some you know personally, to ask questions and find answers and work better and more efficiently. They brought their laptops and water bottles and coffee. They settled in for a work session, sure, and they exchanged business cards and tips and stories peer to peer. Maybe even friend to friend. Which is exactly what we were aiming for. So much so, that we're going to do more of these community gatherings: we're looking at you, Central Coast of California, and Virginia, and Lodi, and and and. Want us to come to you? Drop me a note, and let's get it on the calendar. We learn better, and work better, and create better, altogether after all. I look forward to that. Thank y