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

The calendar flip from 2024 to 2025 heralded several new packaging regulations, rulemaking updates, and bills with significant implications for consumer packaged goods in North America and Europe. Recent packaging legislation is reshaping packaging requirements for waste reduction, recyclable materials, circularity, and sustainability. However, actions by the Trump Administration may defer regulatory action at the U.S. federal level and shift packaging-related policies. EPR Packaging Laws Five U.S. states—California, Colorado, Oregon, Maine, and Minnesota—have passed extended producer responsibility laws for packaging. While each state's requirements vary, they share common goals of reducing packaging waste, enhancing recycling efforts, and holding producers (e.g., brand owners) accountable for the life cycle of their products. Since the start of the year, nine states have introduced or re-introduced EPR packaging bills. They include Washington, Tennessee, Hawaii

One of the larger industry trends reflected here at LibDib is the proliferation of craft tequila and mezcal brands. These brands have amazing stories behind them and we love supporting small importers and distilleries. So do our retail, bar and restaurant customers throughout our 15 states.   Here’s a sample of a few of the most amazing craft tequila and mezcal brands: Black Sheep Tequila: For spirits connoisseurs craving a taste for something new, yet extraordinarily steeped in tradition, Black Sheep Tequila provides a line of tequilas produced entirely from the labor-intensive, centuries-old, hands-on process. This tequila is sourced from only the highest-quality 100 percent Weber Blue Agave and is traditionally handcrafted to create the perfect balance of flavors. Additive free, Black Sheep shares clean unique styles of tequila, including the famous Still Strength Aged 15 Year Extra Añejo, Barrel Strength Extra Añejo, Extra Añejo, Añejo, Reposa

FUTA CREDIT REDUCTION STATES RELEASED FOR 2023 Employers in California to Pay Higher FUTA Tax Rates Retroactively Employers in California, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands will pay higher Federal Unemployment Act (FUTA) taxes in January 2023 for wages paid in 2022 due to unpaid federal loans. The Department of Labor & IRS recently announced that the Credit for FUTA taxes will be reduced for employers in these states. This results in an adjusted higher net tax rate. This increase will be based on FUTA taxable wages paid in the affected jurisdictions during 2022. This adjusted higher net rate must be calculated retroactively for 2022 and paid in January of 2023. California Employers will pay an additional 0.3% on FUTA taxable wages (first $7,000 of taxable wages times 0.3%, or up to $21 per employee) when the 2022 Form 940 is filed. According to IRS regulations, any increased FUTA tax liability due to a credit reduction is considered incurre

Recently, LibDib announced that our tenth state is now live for Makers. New Jersey is now open to any and all wine and spirits brands looking for distribution in the state (and will be open to Buyers soon!) As I sit back and think about the incredible accomplishment of opening 10 states to distribution in 5 years, I am amazed at what LibDib has done. This March we celebrated our 5-year anniversary, which in start-up land is quite an accomplishment. This summer our team will finally gather in person to celebrate this half-decade milestone.  As we document our incredible growth, I thought it would be fun to share facts about each LibDib market. As I look through the list of states where we offer three-tier compliant distribution, I am in awe of our platform that was completely built from the ground up.  The beverage alcohol business in the United States is really complicated and varies by state, by product, and sometimes even by county. In one state, somethi

Wholesale alcohol distributor, LibDib, now in 10 markets, allowing all Wine and Spirits brands to use one online platform for distribution  San Jose, CA, March 29, 2022--LibDib today announced that the company is now a licensed wholesale alcohol distributor in the state of New Jersey. The market is now open to all licensed wine and spirits producers seeking distribution in the Garden State. The announcement follows LibDib’s most recent expansion into Texas, Connecticut, and Maryland, and marks the distributor’s 10th U.S. market.  “With the addition of New Jersey, LibDib now offers three-tier distribution in all major U.S. markets,” said Cheryl Durzy, Founder and CEO of LibDib. “We’ve grown to 10 states over the past 5 years and we will continue our path as we bring three-tier distribution to any and all wine and spirits brands.” LibDib’s three-tier compliant, web and mobile-based distribution is now available in California, Colo

The company celebrates the day the industry was changed forever with a new and efficient three tier e-commerce marketplace for all wine and spirits brands  San Jose, CA, March 22, 2022 — LibDib today celebrates the fifth anniversary of the launch of its groundbreaking wholesale alcohol distribution business and e-commerce platform. On March 22, 2017, LibDib forever transformed three-tier distribution when the industry’s first web-based distribution platform went live at 9am PST. Open to all wine and spirits Makers, LibDib has grown significantly over the past five years and now distributes more than 10,000 wines and spirits to Buyers across the U.S. LibDib reaches almost 50% of the U.S. population in nine states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin. “The past five years have been an incredible journey,” said LibDib founder and CEO, Cheryl Durzy. “We set out to give ALL brands a path

Afternoon Brief, January 31st

The Next Normal—DtC Shipping Reverts to Pre-Pandemic Predictions: The 2022 Direct to Consumer Wine Shipping Report has been released, and the industry is likely breathing a collective sigh of relief. The report, an annual collaboration between Sovos ShipCompliant and Wines Vines Analytics, shows the industry slowly returning to its pre-pandemic state...

Wine and Spirits brands can now secure and manage distribution in 9 markets via one platform  San Jose, CA, November 22, 2021 – LibDibTM today announced that the company is now a licensed wholesale alcohol distributor in the state of Maryland. LibDib has opened the market to any wine and spirits producers seeking distribution. The announcement follows LibDib’s recent expansion into Texas and Connecticut.  “It’s an exciting day for LibDib and the industry at large, as three-tier distribution is now available to ANY wine or spirits Maker in 9 states,” said Cheryl Durzy, Founder and CEO of LibDib. “Maryland is a key East Coast market and with the addition of Maryland, Makers can now easily work a larger region, making sales and marketing even more efficient for their brands.” LibDib’s three-tier compliant, web-based distribution is now available in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York,

Afternoon Brief, November 16th

Drizly Teams with 7-Eleven to Offer On-Demand Alcohol Delivery from Over 1,200 Stores: Following a successful pilot program with 190 stores, over 1,200 7-Eleven stores across Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington now offer delivery via Drizly...