Let’s be honest: There’s a certain magic to pouring wine in your own tasting room—the clink of glasses, the sunlight through the vines, the laughter echoing off the barrel room walls. But what if you could bottle that magic and uncork it anywhere in the world? Today’s top-performing wineries aren’t just waiting for guests to walk through their doors. They’re packing their corkscrews and passports, finding their biggest fans where they live, work, and play—from the next city over to the far side of the globe. Welcome to the golden age of wine roadshows—and, now, globetrotting wine adventures! Why Travel? Because Wine Is About Connection Wine is the ultimate connector. It brings people together and creates memories, whether it’s a backyard BBQ in Austin or a sunset dinner on the Amalfi Coast. Your most devoted club members and best customers crave those connections—and they’re hungry (and thirsty) for experiences that go b

Wineries know that great wine isn’t just about what’s in the glass—it’s about the people we share it with.  Now, imagine taking that connection beyond the tasting room and into the world.   The WISE Travel Series is designed to help wineries deepen relationships with their biggest fans through immersive travel experiences. Whether it’s sipping Brunello in Tuscany with Ciao Andiamo or sailing through legendary wine regions on the rivers of Europe with Expedia Wine Club Cruises, these journeys create unforgettable moments that strengthen loyalty and build lifelong brand advocates.   Since our wine club members and best customers are already traveling the world, why not join them? Sharing meals, exploring vineyards, and discovering new cultures together fosters an unparalleled bond—one that keeps your winery top of mind and heart.   We’re teaming up with trusted travel partners to make hosting your own winery trip seamless and

Can you believe it’s March? Soon rain will abate, buds will break, and Q2 will be here before we know it along with, hopefully, tourists. This blog starts by summarizing a recent Forbes study about travel plans this year, and then we wrap up with a summary of some trends we think you can build upon this year. Will the political climate once again hijack all of America’s attention and make people wary of venturing out? Or will it be more likely to scare us to other countries for a respite abroad? If tasting room traffic is down this year as it was last year, it is even more important to know what consumers are looking for in the hopes of developing programs consumers want. The smart winery will be continually testing different experiences this year to try and attract the right customer to their brand. This blog starts summarizing a recent Forbes study about travel plans this year, and then we wrap up with a summary of some of the trends we think you can build upon this year

TRENDS SHAPING TRAVEL IN 2024 Can you believe it’s summer? Soon Memorial Day will be here before we know it along with, hopefully, tourists. This blog starts by summarizing a recent Forbes study about travel plans this year, and then we wrap up with a summary of some trends we think you can build upon this year. Will the political climate once again hijack all of America’s attention and make people wary of venturing out? Or will it be more likely to scare us to other countries for a respite abroad? If tasting room traffic is down this year as it was last year, it is even more important to know what consumers are looking for in the hopes of developing programs consumers want. The smart winery will be continually testing different experiences this year to try and attract the right customer to their brand. This blog starts summarizing a recent Forbes study about travel plans this year, and then we wrap up with a summary of some of the trends we think you can build upon this y

     Wine Road Unveils Exciting New Ambassador Program to Celebrate Sonoma County!  For Immediate Release  February 15, 2024  Northern Sonoma County, CA – It's not just any road; it's the Wine Road! We're thrilled to announce a new way for wine lovers, educators, and hospitality heroes to dive deep into the world of Sonoma County's liquid treasures. Drumroll, please... introducing the Wine Road Ambassador Program! 🍇🎉  Almost as rich as a glass of vintage Cabernet Sauvignon, Wine Road's history stretches back nearly half a century. We've spent decades helping folks saunter through Sonoma County's awe-inspiring vineyards, and now we’re serving up an opportunity to get even closer to the magic that makes our corner of the world so sip-worthy.  Whether you're a local hospitality maestro, a wine educator with a thirst for viticulture knowledge, or a wine enthusiast plotting your next escapade among the vin

Happy New Year! It is time to dust off the employee handbook, review your policies and procedures, and make sure they comply with all the new laws, regulations, and interpretations that have either already gone into effect or will in early 2024. Below, we have identified our “top 10(ish)” changes.  Please keep in mind there were hundreds of laws, regulations, and changes implemented at the local, state, and federal levels throughout 2023.  So, if you need a handbook/policy review or have any questions, please call.  1. California and Local Minimum Wage Raised – In addition to the gradual increase to minimum wage by the state, several Sonoma County cities have increased minimum wage beyond that required by the state.  Below is a table that describes the state and local city requirements:                     Locality Effective Date All Employers California 1/1/2024 $16.00 Santa Rosa 1/1/

CLUBS VS SUBS LET’S DISCUSS IF IT IS TIME TO MOVE YOUR WINE CLUB TO A SUBSCRIPTION. Unless you’ve lived in your cellar for the past five years, you’ve noticed we live in a subscription economy. We have subscriptions for food, clothing, pets, razors, socks, movies, sports, makeup, and almost anything. You name it, and there is a box that can be delivered with options on your schedule. How sustainable is this trend? Will we forever be ordering small packages in bright boxes with sample sizes, or is this just a fad? And is the decrease in wine clubs part of it? WHAT IS A WINE CLUB? Let’s start by defining a wine club. This recurring sales model provides wineries with a direct channel to reach high-value consumers and bypass traditional distribution channels. They are structured to offer repeat customers a winery-curated selection of wines at a small discount delivered to their homes monthly or quarterly. Key prospects for club membership are customers who have pu

Blind spot warnings, automatic braking systems, park assist technology, cruise control, battery powered motors...our cars are full of new technologies and tools to assist drivers in staying safe and making driving easier. In addition, some of these same technologies are used in planes, trains, trucks and boats. Don’t the forklift operators in your warehouse operations also deserve assistance in performing their jobs? According to industry figures: On average, 100 forklift operators per year die in warehouse operations, with 42% of those deaths occurring due to the truck tipping over. An estimated 110,000 forklift accidents occur each year with 20,000 resulting in serious injury and 25% of those are due to forklifts overturning. Almost 80% of forklift accidents involve a pedestrian. 13.6% of all product damage claims are the result of forklifts hitting product; hundreds of millions of dollars in facility, racking and equipment damages happen each year because of forklift accidents

With the start of the new year, it is time to dust off the employee handbook, review your policies and procedures, and make sure they comply with all the new laws, regulations, and interpretations that have either already gone into effect or will in early 2023. Below, we have identified our “top 10” changes. Please keep in mind there were hundreds of laws, regulations, and changes implemented at the local, state, and federal levels throughout 2022.  So, if you need a handbook/COVID-19 policy review or have any questions, please call. 1. California and Local Minimum Wage Raised – In addition to the gradual increase to minimum wage that has been in effect under California law, several Sonoma County cities have increased minimum wage beyond that required by the state. Below is a table that describes the state and local city requirements: Locality Effective Date Employers With 26 Or More Employees Employers With Less Than 26 Employees California 1/1/2023 $15.5