Wine Ignored Influencers. Now It Needs Them. The wine industry once mocked influencers. Now, even Forbes is saying we may need them. As wine faces declining consumption and changing buyer behavior, the voices once dismissed as “unserious” are starting to look a lot more powerful. Read the Forbes article → What’s interesting is, we’ve been talking about this shift for a while. Last year, we hosted a webinar with MiniSocial on how wineries can use micro-influencers and user-generated content (UGC) to drive engagement and sales. Here’s what still holds true: UGC outperforms brand content—everywhere Content created by real customers feels more natural—and consistently drives higher engagement across social, ads, and email. Micro-influencers build trust faster Smaller audiences, but far more engaged—and far more believable than traditional ads. Your customers are your best marketers UGC shows how people actually experience your wine&md

Best Wine Club Management Software for Wineries (2026 Quick Guide) Your wine club is likely your most predictable DTC revenue stream. Members buy on schedule. They purchase more outside of shipments. They refer friends. According to Silicon Valley Bank’s State of the U.S. Wine Industry Report, direct-to-consumer revenue, particularly wine clubs, remains one of the most controllable and margin-protective channels for wineries. Yet many wineries are still running their wine club: Manually Across disconnected systems On software not built for winery operations That friction quietly costs money every week. What Wine Club Software Should Actually Do in 2026 At minimum, your system should: 1. Increase retention Flexible club levels and shipment schedules Clear, automated member benefits Customization options that members value 2. Reduce revenue leakage Automated expired card updater Clean billing workflows Fewer manual errors 3. Speed up tasting room enrollment POS-connected s

My positive takeaways from Oregon Wine Symposium 2026 is that the wine industry has no shortage of opportunities right now. What is changing however is how clearly those opportunities are communicated and discovered. As consumers increasingly turn to AI to help them choose what to drink, where to go, and what fits their lifestyle, the wineries that articulate these wins clearly will be the ones that show up in the world of 'AI intent!' Here are my 10 ways the wine business can win in 2026 and why embracing AI now can help make them visible. Top 10 Ways the Wine Business Can Win in 2026 1. Lead with flavor, not labels Consumers want to know what it tastes like, not what it’s called. Clear flavor language helps AI and people understand wines faster. 2. Whites and lighter styles are growth engines White wines and blends align with affordability, freshness, and everyday occasions. Explaining why they fit modern lifestyles improves discovery. 3. “Better for you” ne

AI visibility for wineries is a real opportunity to win, A lot of attention was given last week to headlines suggesting the average price of a U.S. bottle of wine is now around $56. Is that number perfectly representative of every channel, region, or winery? Probably not. Averages don't always tell the whole story. But here’s what is true: consumer price sensitivity is real right now, and consumers are pausing, questioning, and reassessing value more than they have in years. For the win...in a world where consumers increasingly ask AI what to buy, where to go, and what’s worth it, wineries that invest steadily in AI visibility will have a meaningful advantage. This truly isn’t about hype, quick wins, or shortcuts. It’s about committing, over time, to being discoverable, understandable, and trusted in a new search landscape. Visibility can be an economic asset. And for wineries willing to invest in it consistently, it’s a real opportunity to win.

Heading to the Direct To Consumer Wine Symposium in Monterey, California from January 21st to 23rd? We gathered Monterey locals’ favorites - restaurants, libations, and fun things to do - to help you have the best experience while you're in the area! Monterey has an overwhelming number of great choices and we highlight the best of the best. Check out these spotlights by entering access code DTCWS in the HipMaps app. In the app you will see your real-time location on our map, read the locals' inside scoop on each place, link to websites, and get directions! Head to HipMaps.com for app download links and more info - and be sure to come by our booth in the DTCWS trade show to enter to win a free HipMap! 

Vinoshipper empowers businesses throughout the United States, enabling them to extend their reach to a broader customer base. We're dedicated to assisting producers of all sizes from various wine-producing regions, ensuring they have the tools and support to grow. Our commitment places Vinoshipper in a distinctive position to shed light on America's lesser-known yet vibrant wine regions. Prompted by a client inquiry about Missouri, we compiled a report to benefit them and others, revealing the potential within this unique wine market. Highlighting aspects from Norton as the top-selling varietal to a burgeoning club customization scene, our Missouri report offers valuable insights for producers looking to explore new opportunities. View full report here.

Vinoshipper empowers businesses throughout the United States, enabling them to extend their reach to a broader customer base. We're dedicated to assisting producers of all sizes from various wine-producing regions, ensuring they have the tools and support to grow. Our commitment places Vinoshipper in a distinctive position to shed light on America's lesser-known yet vibrant wine regions. Prompted by a client inquiry about Missouri, we compiled a report to benefit them and others, revealing the potential within this unique wine market. Highlighting aspects from Norton as the top-selling varietal to a burgeoning club customization scene, our Missouri report offers valuable insights for producers looking to explore new opportunities. View full report here.

Are compliance checks done in real time? Compliance checks must happen in real time to ensure a smooth transaction for the customer, and to provide a safety net for yourself. This begins with precise age verification. It's essential to confirm that only adults of legal drinking age (LDA) can make purchases online. Subsequently, compliance extends to accurately calculating and applying the appropriate tax rates, taking into account the location of the sale and the destination of the order.  Are the compliance rules automatically setup?  Producers should not have to worry about managing their own set of tax rates, shipping limits, and pre-purchase age verification as this easily leads to mistakes. Compliance solutions should have a built-in tax rate table, working on 9-digit zip codes, so you feel confident all taxes are correct.  Can states rules be manually bypassed? This should be a no brainer, if states rules can be bypassed, you should question how compliant you

The 2023 Videocast is in the books, and what a performance from some of the smartest people in the business who do DTC all day, everyday. Thank you!  Susan DeMatei, President of Wine Glass Marketing,  Andrew Walleck, COO of Wine Access,  Jessica Kogan, Partner of Connect the Dots Collective. What a remarkable collection of talent.  Each panelist shared openly about their views, offering incredible insights and ideas to help the industry and your winery move into the next decade of the business. Some of the highlights: We are approaching the end of the first DTC cycle that began with the Granholm decision, and a new cycle is set to begin. While tasting fees remain high, they can be used as an incentive to attract new consumers to the category. Email marketing will continue to be a part of the DTC trade for the next decade, but SMS text marketing is low-hanging fruit for improved engagement.  The investment in, and emergence of digital marketing and decision-maki