Preserving the Montado: A Commitment to Biodiversity and Culture On this International Day of Forests, we celebrate the Montado, one of the world's most precious and biodiverse ecosystems. This unique landscape, found in southern Portugal and other Mediterranean regions, showcases a harmonious blend of nature and human ingenuity. The Montado is an agro-silvo-pastoral system that has thrived for centuries. Protected by some of the world’s oldest laws—dating back to the 7th century and refined in the early 13th century—its cork oaks and holm oaks are cherished cultural and natural treasures. These trees not only support local livelihoods but also provide critical environmental benefits. Beyond its rich cultural significance, the Montado plays a vital role in carbon sequestration, water regulation, and biodiversity conservation. Its tree cover helps absorb COâ‚‚ from the atmosphere, mitigating climate change, while its unique ecosystem maintains soil health, prevents

The 5th Annual Par Then Bar Open® (PTBO) Golf Tournament is back on May 16, 2025, at Eagle Vines Golf Club in American Canyon—and this is your chance to be part of an exclusive wine industry tradition that blends competition, camaraderie, and connection. Why Play in PTBO? This one-of-a-kind industry event, presented by APS Packaging & MBF North America, is more than just a golf tournament. It’s a chance for winery professionals, suppliers, and service providers to step away from the daily grind and enjoy a fun, relaxed atmosphere while building meaningful industry connections. With a field of industry professionals from across the wine sector, PTBO creates the perfect setting for networking—whether it’s chatting between holes, sharing a meal at the post-game dinner and awards ceremony, or celebrating at the after-party with music and an open bar. What Are the Requirements? Wineries are welcome to play in the tournament for free! A compl

Par Then Bar Open Golf Tournament: Where Wine Industry Networking Meets Opportunity Beyond branding—connect with key decision-makers in a relaxed, high-impact setting The Par Then Bar Open® (PTBO) Golf Tournament, presented by APS Packaging & MBF North America, will be held on May 16, 2025, at Eagle Vines Golf Club in American Canyon. The tournament is celebrating its 5th anniversary this year, so it is your chance to be part of an exclusive wine industry tradition that blends competition, camaraderie, and connection. This event is more than just a day on the greens—it’s a unique opportunity for wine industry vendors to build valuable relationships, enhance brand visibility, and foster meaningful relationships within the wine and spirits community.  Why Sponsor PTBO? Sponsoring PTBO isn’t just about having your logo on a sign—it’s about engaging directly with key decision-makers in a relaxed and social setting. With attendees ranging f

Imagine a warm and sunny day in May. You're walking across the green fairway of a golf course (or riding in a cart if you prefer), surrounded by vineyards and oak-studded rolling hills. When you arrive at the tee, there's a gathering of friends and colleagues. You mingle—catching up with old friends or meeting new ones. You stop at a booth to snag a glass of sparkling wine or limoncello and place a bet on how many capsules are in the jar; if you're right, it could win you a prize. When it's time for your foursome to tee off, you move on through the course to the next tee, where more fun awaits. The day ends at the clubhouse with a full dinner, awards ceremony and a party with the DJ spinning music for dancing, drinking and good vibes. This scenario isn't just a daydream or another weekend golf game in wine country; it's an entirely different experience designed to provide a casual environment for the hard-working folks in the wine and spirits industry to h

Amidst rolling hills and acres of vineyards, a new chapter in winemaking is being written with the construction of Arrow&Branch Winery on L’attitude Vineyard in the Oak Knoll American Viticultural Area of Napa Valley. Designed by award-winning architecture and land planning firm Taylor Lombardo Architects, the new 13,000-square-foot winery structure seamlessly blends form and function. Land planning was done by Donna Oldford, owner of Plans4Wines. A notable feature of the state-of-the-art, white-glove winemaking facility is the innovative layout designed by winemaker Jennifer Williams for efficiency and workflow optimization to ensure the highest quality of winemaking. The covered crush area offers space for air circulation while providing protection from the elements, allowing for optimal grape processing regardless of weather conditions. The fermentation area has been strategically positioned to maximize space and ensure temperature control. With a roof peak of 42 feet, t

Afternoon Brief, February 22nd

Former Employee Arrested in Nov. Vandalism of Woodinville Winery and Draining 24K Bottles of Wine: Detectives arrested a former employee suspected of breaking into and draining roughly 24,000 bottles of wine at a Woodinville winery in November 2023...

M. A. Silva USA was the first California cork supplier to join the ClimateSmart™ program and receive the Green Business certification. Our beliefs in sustainability are shown through our actions, and are proven through the quality of our cork stoppers, the partnerships we build, and our contribution to an increasingly greener world. M. A. Silva is dedicated to protecting the environment, and helping our customers do the same.  We invite you to learn more about the importance of the worlds cork forests and the vital role they play in environmental sustainability. Cork Forests: Guardians of Ecological Balance Cork forests, often overlooked in discussions about the world's ecosystems, play a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of our planet's ecology. These unique forests, found predominantly in the Mediterranean region, are home to a myriad of species and offer an array of environmental benefits. In this blog, we will explore the importance of cork fore