Wine Sales Symposium 2025’s roundtable of writers and PR experts explores how storytelling and publicity can shift the narrative. By Laurie Wachter Carl GiavantiDoes media coverage really help sell wine?  That’s the question the roundtable of top wine journalists and PR experts will set out to answer in Mastering Modern Media: How to Secure & Leverage Media Coverage That Drives Sales, one of the first sessions at the May 14th Wine Sales Symposium in Santa Rosa, CA. Moderator Carl Giavanti, a winery publicist and author of Wine Industry Advisor’s interview series, Turning the Tables, will lead the panel discussion by asking six questions about the benefits and pitfalls of media coverage.   What role does media coverage play in helping drive awareness and, ultimately, sales? “It’s always been about storytelling,” says Giavanti, “and even more so today when there’s so much competition, variety and options for adult beverages. Y

In this episode of Wine Industry Insiders, George sits down with the multi-talented and ever-inspiring Deborah Parker Wong — journalist, educator, speaker, wine judge, and newly minted sensory scientist. Deborah shares her remarkable journey from fashion and tech PR to becoming a key voice in the wine industry. She opens up about what drives her work, why she went back to school for her master’s in enology and viticulture, and how she’s connecting Gen Z students to wine through creative, research-driven teaching. Watch now and be inspired by one of the most dynamic voices in the wine world.

San Jose, California, May 13, 2024—LibDib, an innovative web-based distribution platform, is proud to announce its integration and collaboration with Diverse Powered Brands™, the premier centralized B2B global digital catalog for diverse suppliers in the beverage alcohol industry. The collaboration marks a significant milestone in LibDib’s mission to revolutionize beverage distribution by integrating Diverse Powered Brands into its expansive digital marketplace. Diverse Powered Brands, the industry’s trusted resource, connects diverse suppliers, buyers, and industry professionals, facilitating a seamless discovery process across all beverage categories. By incorporating Diverse Powered Brands, LibDib Buyers will now have access to a rich catalog of diverse owners, leaders and makers that reflect the modern consumer’s desire for inclusivity and social responsibility in their purchasing choices. Subscribers in the Diverse Powered Brands digital catalog

7 Ways to Share Your Sustainable Story Once we learned that storytelling helps customers understand your sustainable practices and can increase your sales, we’ve been dedicated to helping you: Write your Sustainable Story. Teach your team about it. Share it with your audience. Throughout the year, we’ve shared tips on how to integrate your sustainable message into every level of your branding and marketing. As the year comes to an end, we’ve put them all together for you below!   1. Does your staff know about sustainability? Did you know that of the 48% of employees in the food and beverage industry who receive regular training, only 4.5% receive training about their company’s mission and values? If you aren't regularly talking to your staff about your company's mission and values, you're missing out on opportunities to create a more informed and dedicated team! Click here to learn about the latest SIP Certified training tool to teach your staf

Happy Women’s History Month! As a female CEO in both the technology space and beverage alcohol industry, I am incredibly proud of this company and its dedication to women in our industries. LibDib’s staff is made up of 45% women. So yay to LibDib and thank you to all the amazing women staffers that contribute to everything we do AND to the men that work with them and support us every step of the way.  It has been widely known (and reported) that the beverage alcohol business, especially at the wholesaler level, has been historically dominated by men. I remember my first WSWA event in 2017. Outside of female models pouring at booths on behalf of suppliers, there were maybe 25 women there. It was a sea of men on the wholesaler side. As a first-timer to the conference, it was very noticeable to me but not something I wasn’t familiar with based on my past experiences working at my family’s winery. As a Maker rep, I dealt with very few women in distrib

Biogenic Amine Toxicity: A Reality for Histamine-Sensitive Consumers

What are biogenic amines and why can they be a problem? By Deborah Parker Wong Most informed wine consumers have accepted the fact that sulfur isn’t the root cause of […]

Navigating the Sustainability Landscape: Which Certifications Matter?

As the labyrinth of wine industry certifications continues to expand, consumers often find themselves without a compass. By Deborah Parker Wong   Nearly half of American adult drinkers of beverage […]

Afternoon Brief, September 8th

One of California’s Most Influential Modern Wineries, Dirty & Rowdy, Is Ending After 11 Years: One of California’s most cutting-edge wine brands is dissolving. Napa’s Dirty & Rowdy Wine Co., which has developed a devoted following for its experimental, genre-defying Mourvedres, is shutting down after 11 years...

With a female leadership program and a renewed membership in Women of the Vine & Spirits, LibDib seeks to further all women in the industry.  San Jose, CA, August 11, 2021 — LibDib, today unveiled the company’s Women’s Leadership Council, a career-growth and educational group designed specifically for the needs of LibDib’s female employees. The ongoing program provides the women of LibDib with tools to improve communication skills, leadership training and regular workshops–all with the goal of empowering employees in the workplace and at home. In an ongoing commitment to building female leaders in the wine and spirits wholesale industry, the company also announced the renewal of their corporate membership to Women of the Vine & Spirits, the global membership organization dedicated to boldly pushing the wine, beer and spirits industry toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive era that empowers all to succeed. “As a female f