Reimagining Vineyards. Revitalizing Revenue. Reconnecting with Community.  For over 40 years, Allen Land Design has helped shape the beauty and function of Northern California’s iconic wine country. We’ve built bocce courts, tasting patios, and elegant garden  landscapes. But today, every winery has these—and still, many are struggling.  It’s time for something new.  Introducing: “Beyond the Vines” – A New Vision for Wine Country  We are partnering with forward-thinking wineries ready to transform unused or underperforming vineyard blocks (5–25 acres) into innovative, revenue-generating, and community-driven destinations.  Instead of competing with 5–7 tastings in a day, offer your guests a 2–3 hour immersive experience that blends agriculture, art, technology, food, and connection.  What’s Growing Next? (Hint: It’s not just grapes)  Before the grape boom, Sonoma and Napa counties grew:  • Grains (wheat, barley) – Perfect for

The wine club isn’t dying. It’s being rewritten. Wine clubs in 2026 still matter, but the way wineries build and grow them has fundamentally changed. What has changed is the lifestyle of the people in them. In 2026, the strongest force shaping wine club behavior is the Millennial generation — not because they are the only wine buyers, but because the way they live, spend, and subscribe has become the default expectation for everyone else. They are running households, hosting friends, raising families, managing busy schedules, and making more intentional purchasing decisions than any generation before them. That reality is quietly transforming what a wine club needs to be. Why lifestyle now matters more than allocations Wine clubs used to compete on bottles: how many, how rare, how discounted. That’s not how people experience wine anymore. Most members don’t think in terms of allocations or case sizes. They think in terms of how wine fits into their lives &

Sparkling wine is one of the most expressive and technically demanding wine styles. Its character begins with the grape variety, the vineyard, and the production method, but the final sensory signature depends heavily on yeast. Yeast acts as the invisible winemaker, shaping aroma, flavor, texture, and bubble structure throughout both primary and secondary fermentations. Different strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae behave very differently under the challenging conditions of sparkling wine production. Low pH, increasing alcohol, and high pressure create an environment where only the right strains thrive. Equally important, each strain varies in its ability to create and release the flavor compounds that drive complexity and define style. When secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle and is followed by proper riddling, the yeast has an even greater influence on the final profile. To help winemakers better understand the impact of yeast selection, ATPGroup conducted a focused tria

In this WIN Insider Series episode, George Christie interviews Alexandra O’Gorman, Vice President of Community Relations for Foley Family Wines. Alexandra shares her journey from Carmel, California, into the wine industry, working her way through sales, marketing, hospitality, and communications at prestigious wineries, including Flowers Vineyard and Korbel, while earning her MBA from Sonoma State’s Wine Business Institute. Her career is defined by taking risks, embracing change, and continuous learning. Alexandra discusses her current role overseeing community relations at Foley Family Wines, blending social impact, sustainability, and strategic philanthropy. She emphasizes the importance of industry inclusivity, mentorship, and authentic leadership while addressing current challenges like market perceptions, product focus, and member engagement within winery associations. Her insights on connection, community involvement, and focused portfolios provide valuable inspirat

  Sustainable farming practices are essential for protecting the environment, improving long-term agricultural productivity, and supporting healthy communities. In fact, many of the methods highlighted today are shared across a variety of certification programs, from sustainable certifications like SIP Certified to regenerative programs like Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC). While each certification has its own specific requirements, the core principles of responsible farming remain consistent. In this week’s Marketing Tip, we’ll take a closer look at three key areas – Water Management, Soil Health, and Habitat Preservation – and how sustainable farmers manage them to ensure future success. Water Management Water is one of agriculture’s most critical resources. Sustainable farmers work carefully to both use water efficiently and protect water quality.   Efficient Irrigation Anyone who has struggled to keep a plant alive knows that plants

With the hype surrounding AI, it’s hard to know what news matters to today’s DTC wine marketers. I suspect most of us tried using AI for content creation a couple of years ago.   But what has AI done for wine marketers lately, besides confusing us with too many models and few pragmatic uses? The good news is that, amid the usual noise about AI condemning us to a life of misery, the last few months have provided wine merchants with a new generation of valuable survival tools in the form of powerful AI Agents. What the Heck is an “AI Agent?” Leading business productivity tools – including Salesforce, OpenAI, JotForm, and Zapier – now offer their unique interpretations of “AI Agents” that can amplify the results of any sales or marketing team. Intriguing use cases in the wine industry include AI-powered sommeliers, social media assistants, DTC marketing management, and public-facing chatbots, all of which are empowered to represent your

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for flowers and chocolates—it’s also a prime opportunity for wineries to boost sales, attract new customers, and strengthen existing relationships. This holiday of love lends itself perfectly to creative marketing initiatives that showcase wine as the ultimate romantic gift or experience. Here’s how wineries can make the most of Valentine’s Day.  1. Embrace Online Sales with a Valentine's Day Theme Ensure your website is ready to entice Valentine’s shoppers. Update your homepage with romantic visuals and feature special offers prominently. Simplify navigation to make shopping easy, especially for those making last-minute purchases. Incorporate Valentine’s Day-themed SEO keywords to improve search visibility and draw in gift-seekers. Don’t forget to clearly display shipping deadlines and offer expedited options to capture late buyers. Tip: Use Corksy’s personalization tools to create pop-ups

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and your vineyard is blooming with bud break and spring flowers. Springtime is full of photo opportunities around your property and it’s the perfect time to boost your social engagement and following in preparation for the season. A fun way to get your audience involved and growing is with a social media giveaway, but before you hit “post,” let’s review best practices (and laws) regarding promotions and alcohol. Let’s Do Some Required Reading… Here at WineGlass Marketing we (almost) do it all: branding, communications planning, marketing tactics, world-class integrations, data analytics, and more. However, we do not have decades of law education (unless a “Legally Blonde” marathon with Kimchi counts). The following information is for general reference only and is not to be considered legal advice or opinion. Social Media giveaways are a fun way to get your audience engaged with commenting, lik

Best of Show Awarded to Brecon Estate Albariño    June 6, 2023 (Santa Rosa, Calif.) — Winners have been announced for the 2023 Sunset International Wine Competition, which took place in May in Santa Rosa, Calif. Taking the top spot this year is Brecon Estate 2022 Albariño, which judges described as “fresh and bright,” “honeysuckle,” with a “lingering finish.” Ultimately, they concluded, “a very well-made wine.”  Brecon Estate is a boutique estate winery located in the westside hills outside of Paso Robles, Calif. “This particular varietal has been hugely successful for us,” says winemaker Damian Grindley. “It fits so well with alfresco summers in Paso Robles and so many Southern states, as well as the seafood culture of the [San Luis Obispo] Coast. It’s helped put both Brecon Estate and Central Coast Albariño on the map.” He continues, “Its fruit sourcing h