It’s no secret that people are drinking less. The consistent, downward trends in alcohol consumption are presenting significant challenges to the wine industry, which is already having to operate in a complex, competitive marketplace. In order to dissect what is happening in the world of wine and figure out how to make adjustments, industry leaders need solid information on which to base their current business practices and future projections. Fortunately, the industry has Terrain, a group of experts providing exclusive insights and forecasting to customers of American AgCredit and other participating Farm Credit associations in order to promote a more vigorous agricultural economy. Chris Bitter, Ph.D., a senior wine and grape analyst with Terrain and American AgCredit, has recently written two comprehensive articles for "Winescape", a publication that delves into current wine sales data and explores what those show about trending topics such as overall alcohol consump

LAST-MINUTE WAYS TO SUPPORT WINE AND JOIN COME OVER OCTOBER Come Over October launched in 2023 with a simple but powerful premise: wine has connected people for 8,000 years, and October is the month to honor that. The campaign invites us to slow down, gather with friends or family, and make wine the centerpiece of togetherness. In just one year, it’s grown from a spark to a movement. Thousands have embraced the idea, from consumers hosting casual dinners to wineries, retailers, and restaurants using the campaign to remind people that wine isn’t just a beverage—it’s a culture, a history, and a human connection poured into a glass. For the industry, it’s a chance to reframe wine as essential, not optional, in modern life. The wine industry needs this now more than ever. The pressures are piling up. Research from Stanford and other institutions is eroding the belief that “wine is good for your heart”, and the U.S. Surgeon General has recommende

Gossip in the workplace — it can feel like a harmless pastime, a way to connect with colleagues over a shared tidbit or two. But beneath the surface, gossip can be a silent killer of employee engagement, fostering negativity, distrust, and a decline in morale. This topic comes up frequently for us in our work with our clients. So much so, in fact, that we created a training on this topic. Check out our upcoming leadership training in Boise. Reduced engagement translates to a significant cost for businesses. Studies by Gallup show that disengaged employees cost U.S. companies an estimated $1 trillion annually in lost productivity. So, how do we silence this killer of productivity and cultivate a thriving workplace environment where employees feel valued, motivated, and engaged? First, let’s take a minute to delve into the negative impact gossip has on employee engagement. Gossip leads to: • Reduced Trust: When whispers and rumors abound, trust among colleagues

180: Social Responsibility at Vina Robles, Marketing Tip Monday While telling your sustainable story serves a practical purpose in educating consumers about the real-world impact of your sustainable practices, it also goes deeper than that: it builds meaningful emotional connections. Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. The brand-new Sustainable Story worksheet is a simple yet powerful free tool that helps you tell your own personal sustainable message. Simply download the worksheet linked in the show notes, complete it with your whole team, and keep following along with this podcast series to learn how to incorporate your story into every aspect

Afternoon Brief, August 15th

Gallup Poll: Wine Lags Behind, Spirits Gain Ground: Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits poll, which tracks American attitudes toward drinking and surveys who drinks what, shows wine dropping in popularity...

These past 12 months have been like no other. With vaccination rates increasing by the day and declining COVID-19 numbers (that we hope will continue) we look ahead to a brighter, more stable, stronger economic future for our businesses. Here, we summarize a brand new law for California employers as well as share trends in performance management in 2021. Topics covered in this newsletter: Senate Bill 95 | Trends in Performance Management and Reviews | Senate Bill 95 - California COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave On March 19, 2021, SB 95 was signed into law by Governor Newsom. This new California law provides supplemental paid sick leave (SPSL) to employees for defined COVID-19-related reasons. Below are the highlights of SB 95. SB 95 is effective March 29, is retroactive to January 1, and expires on September 30, 2021. The law applies to employers with 26 or more employees. The law provides up to 80 hours of SPSL to full-time employees (pro-rated to the average amount of hours a p