Small but mighty. That's the phrase that kept coming back to me throughout last week's webinar. The three panelists who joined us are running lean DTC teams — Chelsea Leniart, Wine Club Manager at Scheid Family Wines, Hilary Berkey, Director of Sales, Marketing and Operations at Emeritus Vineyards, and Kristy Quigley, Operations Manager at Alma Rosa Winery. "Lean teams" meaning two or three people deep. At the most. The outsized results they're seeing, in a market that everyone agrees is hard, are genuinely remarkable. Here's some highlights and takeaways from  what they shared in last week's webinar. On Wine Club Customization The fear is that if you give members flexibility, they'll race to the bottom and swap out for your cheapest wines.  What Chelsea actually found was the opposite.  By studying what members customized in the previous year's March run, she reshaped this year's offering mor

“What can I do right now to help my winery sell more wine and, frankly, stay in business?” We know how many of our colleagues and friends are asking this question. We see and to hear it as an urgent problem that needs immediate attention. Which is exactly why we put together tomorrow’s FREE webinar, on better tools and strategies for navigating a tough market. There’s still time to sign up here. We’re particularly excited to shine the spotlight on three smart industry pros as they share their own strategies and toolkits. Here are some highlights to start: Chelsea Leniart, Wine Club Manager at Scheid Family Wines, will talk about inventory management and boosting Club revenue through projected customizations. Hilary Berkey, Director of Sales, Marketing and Operations at Emeritus Vineyards, will talk about hyper-segmentation in outbound sales, and the "side effects" of ideation for different teams. Kristy Quigley, Operations Manager

A Full House at Emeritus Wine business professionals gather to network, sip, and hear from Jeff Clark  Last week at Emeritus Vineyards, wine business professionals gathered for a sold-out event to discuss one of the most pressing topics in today’s market: access to capital and financing strategies.   The conversation?  Candid.  Insightful.  Practical. The networking?  Focused.  Engaged.  Productive. This wasn’t surface-level discussion - it was real dialogue about the decisions shaping wineries and wine businesses right now.  The Wine Business Group  This is the Wine Business Group, run by AWG Wine Advisors and Women for WineSense. We are a collaborative network for anyone interested in wine business. Each quarter, we get together to discuss the latest industry trends, tackle emerging business topics, and build valuable connections.  AWG Wine Advisors’ Next Event  Welcome to AWG Wine Advisors' firs

We proudly announced the recipients of the inaugural WISE Rising Stars Scholarships during a live presentation at the DTC Wine Symposium last week, celebrating the next generation of DTC wine industry leaders in front of more than 500 winery professionals. As one of the event’s original sponsors, WISE continues to invest in the Symposium’s mission of education, collaboration, and forward‑thinking leadership. The Rising Stars Scholarships extend that commitment—supporting people, developing leadership, and strengthening the DTC community across the industry. The Rising Stars Scholarships received an overwhelming response from across the country. The strength of applications prompted Commerce7 to step in and match one of the scholarships, allowing WISE to expand the program and support additional recipients. Join us as we raise a glass towards this year's recipients! Kelsey Gomes is the DTC Marketing Manager at Lange Twins Family Winery & Vineyards. Upon re

YOU'RE INVITED! Wine Business Group Roundtable This month, join AWG Wine Advisors and Women for WineSense at Emeritus Vineyards to enjoy complimentary wine, snack on hors d'oeuvres, discuss trending industry topics, network, and hear from this meeting's guest speaker, Jeff Clark! WHEN: February 19th 4 - 6pm WHERE: Emeritus Vineyards Sebastopol, CA MEET THE SPEAKER Jeff Clark is a commercial and private banking veteran with extensive lending experience to the wine/beer/spirits industry nationwide, ranging from small, family operations to publicly traded companies.  His company, Bear Republic Capital, provides debt and equity sources from a broad network of providers.  As a speaker, Jeff has presented at various organizations, including CalCPA, the American Craft Spirits Association, and the Craft Beverage Expo. 

Afternoon Brief: New Study Shows Pierce’s Disease Investment Saves Winegrape Growers $56 Million Annually

According to a study released today, the California Department of Food and Agricultures Pierces disease (PD) and glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) prevention, control and research efforts save California winegrape growers $56 million annually by reducing losses from the fatal grapevine disease...

Afternoon Brief: Ontario Threatens to Ban US Alcohol in Tit-for-Tat Response to Tariffs Threat

Premier Doug Ford has told the Liquor Board of Canada to clear US alcoholic drinks off retailers shelves if the tariff threat becomes reality...

Wine’s Most Inspiring People 2025: Kirk Lokka — Building a Better Viticultural and Economic Future for Sonoma County

By Kathleen Willcox For insiders in Californias wine business, Kirk Lokka has been a beloved figure for decades, but the detail-oriented, low-key and

Sonoma County Winegrowers Focus on Creating Experiences to Engage New and Existing Wine Lovers SANTA ROSA, Calif. (January 17, 2025) – For over a decade, Sonoma County Winegrowers has been at the forefront of innovation, forging powerful partnerships with iconic brands like John Deere, Ford Pro, Wilbur Ellis, Landry’s, and the San Francisco Giants. As unveiled at this week’s annual Dollars & $ense meeting, held virtually, 2025 marks a year dedicated to “Renewing, Building, and Growing” these renowned programs, expanding their reach, amplifying the Sonoma County story, and setting new benchmarks in excellence. As Karissa Kruse, president and chief executive officer of Sonoma County Winegrowers, started her presentation with a review of the past twelve years since she joined the organization, it was clear that the results in building the brand’s visibility over the years has been successful. From being world leaders in sustainability, to sports ma

Trying to manage the weeds in your vineyard? John Roncoroni, Weed Science Farm Advisor Emeritus with the University of California Cooperative Extension, Agriculture and Natural Resources covers control practices including biological, mechanical, cultural, chemical, and perhaps in the future, electrocution. Although weeds rarely compete with vines, they can host insect and vertebrate pests and get in the way of pruning crews, increasing labor costs. Listen in for John’s number one tip to better manage weeds in your vineyard. LISTEN IN Resources:           128: A New Focus on Weed Management (Rebroadcast) 26th IPM Seminar #1: Sustainable Weed Management for Vineyards and Vineyard Ponds Herbicide-resistant weeds challenge some signature cropping systems (Journal article) John Roncoroni MAINTAINING LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT: Herbicide-resistant weeds challenge some signature cropping systems Post-harvest Weed Control with Napa RCD and John Roncoroni (video) Sus