This year’s event will be held as a virtual meeting on Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Join us for a recap of Sonoma County Winegrowers’ and Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de los Viñedos’ activities in 2025, along with a preview of exciting plans for the year ahead. Turrentine Brokerage will also present during the meeting, and we will recognize outstanding contributions with the Nick Frey Community Contribution Award. Click here to register.

The right tools can make a winemaker's job easier and craft a better product. But staying abreast of technological advancements takes time, and testing alternative tools requires repetition to build confidence in the results. Perhaps that’s why so many winemakers rely on the winemaking community for recommendations on new ways to process grapes and create wines. McFinn Technologies’ Bowpeller pump has earned a reputation as a superior choice for gently moving juices, especially during pump overs. Its modern design delivers low-shear, non-disruptive juice handling that minimizes damage to skins and seeds, helping to avoid harsh tannin extraction or oxidation and improving wine quality. Bowpeller pump at Duckhorn's Goldeneye winery “A standard centrifugal pump has blades that slap the liquid and make it change direction by 90 degrees and a casing that allows damaging re-circulation,” says John McGinn, co-owner of McFinn Technologies. “The design

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

At the edge of the coastal redwoods lies a ranch where two young doctors from upstate New York, Marguerite (known as Beba) and Paul Frey, settled on 95 acres to raise their family. Their home is nestled between the Mendocino and Coastal mountain ranges in a narrow valley that opens into Mendocino County’s Redwood Valley. The headwaters of the Russian River lie just 5 miles north, past a Buddhist monastery, and upward into the mountains. The Frey family grew to twelve children amid the valley’s natural beauty and abundant native plants and wildlife while its vineyards and gardens thrived in the fertile soil.  “My mom and dad bought the ranch in 1962, the year I was born,” says Frey Winery winemaker Paul Frey (the younger). “Then they got all of us kids out there to plant the vineyards in 1967. We started making wine in 1978 and became an official bonded winery in 1980. Our wineries were organic from the beginning ― before the term organic was defined

Afternoon Brief, April 17th

Ackley Brands Acquires Washington Wineries Columbia Winery and Hogue Cellars: Ackley Brands, a family-owned company based in Seattle that owns and operates premium beverage brands in the Pacific Northwest, has announced its acquisition of Columbia Winery and Hogue Cellars from Gallo...

This year, the Sonoma County Winegrowers recognized the winegrowing community for a decade of sustainability and leadership at its annual Dollars & $ense meeting and tradeshow on January 31st, 2024. We also acknowledged three outstanding members of our community for their commitment to sustainable farming, winemaking, and contributions in advancing the Sonoma County agricultural community. We are proud to honor John Segale with this year’s Nick Frey Community Contribution Award, Jim Pratt with this year’s Sustainable Farmer Award, and Ron Rubin with this year’s Sustainable Producer Award. Thank you, John, Jim, and Ron, for all that you do for Sonoma County and our winegrowing community!

We are incredibly grateful to our growers, wine and industry partners for joining us at the 32nd annual Dollars & $ense! This event would not have been a success without the help of our guest speakers. Thank you for sharing your expertise and insights: Dr. Christopher Thornberg Global Economist and Founding Partner of Beacon Economics Todd Azevedo Global Wine & Grape Broker for Ciatti Company Dennis Tootelian Owner of Tootelian & Associates Congratulations To Our 2022 Nick Frey Community Contribution Award Recipient! We are honored to present Congressman Mike Thompson with the Nick Frey Community Contribution Award. We are grateful for his commitment to preserving and strengthening our farming and grape-growing community in Sonoma County. The Sonoma County Winegrowers team is grateful to all our attendees, tradeshow exhibitors, and speakers for another successful event. Please save the date for our next Dollars & $ense meeting on February 1st, 2024!

Global Leader in Sustainability Cements its Legacy with Game Changing Innovation Accelerator SONOMA, Calif. (February 17, 2023) – Karissa Kruse, president and CEO of Sonoma County Winegrowers, used the organization’s annual meeting to unveil a number of innovative programs and impressive new partnerships all linked to building upon its role as a global leader in sustainable farming. “Our growers always ask, ‘what’s next?’ While we have made great progress in our commitment to sustainability, we refuse to rest on our laurels or assume we have reached our goal,” said Kruse. She added, “We are using our proven leadership in sustainability and climate stewardship to flip the narrative to go on offense for the future of farming in Sonoma County and beyond.” In 2023, Sonoma County Grape Growers, celebrating its 40th anniversary, continues to drive the marketing for the region through its partnership with Landry’s, which operates m