Papapietro Perry Winery and Four Roses Bourbon Take Top Honors (March 6, 2026) — Winners have been announced in the fifth annual Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge. A pinot noir from Papapietro Perry (Sonoma County, Calif.) and a small batch bourbon from Four Roses Distillery (Lawrenceburg, Ky.) topped their fields to be named Best of the Best. The competition was established in 2022, in conjunction with Los Angeles-based beverage professionals (representing both the on- and off-premise channels), to highlight the best of the best wine and spirits producers in the world, and to introduce those producers to the largest market of consumers in the United States. Judging took place February 18-19, 2026. Competition this year was stellar, says event producer Debra Del Fiorentino of Wine Competitions Management & Production: “Year after year, our judges continue to be impressed with the depth in each category. The quality of product was fantastic!” Wh

We had a fantastic showing at the WIN Expo at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds last week! It was great connecting with so many familiar faces, including Joel from Lynmar Estates and the team from Floria Gloria Vineyards in Sonoma. We also had a visit from the legend himself, Daniel Robledo, who stopped by to talk shop and discuss the current shifts happening in the wine industry. He said it best: “Farmers are going to farm. We aren’t going anywhere.” While the market continues to face challenges, our commitment at Garton Tractor remains the same. We’re here to stand alongside our growers — not just as an equipment provider, but as partners ready to problem-solve and support their operations in any market. Proud to serve the people who keep this industry moving.

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

For years, discounting has been the default lever wineries pull to spark sales and reward loyal customers. But in today’s crowded marketplace, deep discounts can erode brand value and condition customers to buy only when the price drops. There’s a better way: loyalty points programs. Retention, without discounting, comes from making customers feel known, valued, and part of something special. They’ll stay not because it’s cheaper, but because it’s theirs. Instead of discounting away margin, wineries can encourage repeat visits and purchases by offering rewards that feel aspirational, personalized, and memorable. Loyalty points add up over time, giving guests a reason to come back again and again, all the while protecting your brand’s premium image. 10 Reasons Why Loyalty Points Work Shift from price to experience. Points reward frequency and engagement, not bargain hunting. The program should reinforce experience, access, and emotional loyalty, not

May 2025 Marketplace Roundup Custom Sparkling Shiners from Rack & Riddle — Available Now! Rack & Riddle offers sparkling wine shiners—tirage bottled and aged sur lees from 6 months up to 3 years—ready now and prepared for custom finishing. This pre-aged, pre-stocked wine is ready to move. Simply select your AVA and wine style, and Rack & Riddle handles the riddling, disgorging, and finishing for you. Choose from Brut, Low Alcohol Brut, Rosé, Blanc de Noirs, or Blanc de Blancs, with AVAs including California, Sonoma Coast, Napa Valley, Russian River, North Coast, and Central Coast. Available in 750ML, 375ML, and select 1.5L formats, these ready-to-label wines offer a fast, flexible way to bring premium sparkle to your brand. View Listing Explore by Category Grapes Bulk Wine Shiners Production Vineyard Real Estate Services Grapes Cabernet Sauvignon - Robert Young Chardonnay - Robert Young Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (828) - Gloria Ferrer Need Grap

Watch the rep[lay of this fast-paced session is packed with actionable strategies you can implement between now and the end of the year! Jennie Gilbert, Co-Founder of RedChirp, and Susan DeMatei, President of WineGlass Marketing, will be joined by a special guest from Gloria Ferrer to share real-world techniques for driving sales, engaging customers, and improving margins in what’s left of the critical OND season.

Join us on October 31st at 11:00am for this fast-paced session packed with actionable strategies you can implement between now and the end of the year! Jennie Gilbert, cofounder of RedChirp, and Susan DeMatei, President of WineGlass Marketing, will be joined by a special guest from Gloria Ferrer to share real-world techniques for driving sales, engaging customers, and improving margins in what’s left of the critical OND season. This webinar will cover: Promotion ideas to stand out this busy BFCM season Highly targeted micro-promotions for the home stretch of 2024 Best practices for holiday gifting And bonus tips to increase winery visits and improve shipments Make the most of the busiest time of the year with practical, fast, and easy-to-implement ideas. Register Now Speakers Jennie Gilbert, Red ChirpSusan DeMatei, WineGlass MarketingSpecial Guest Natalie Morgan at Gloria Ferrer Wines

Throughout July, InnoVint is bringing together top winery CEOs, COOs, finance leaders, and winemakers to share their secrets to running a successful, healthy wine business. The Healthy Winery Webinar Series consists of three events, each dedicated to exploring a critical dimension of winery health: financial, operational, and cultural. Join the discussion and get practical tips to bring back to your own winery, regardless of your role. Event 1: Financial Health - Strategies for Sustainable Winery Growth Tuesday, July 9th at 11:00 AM PDT Peter Willmert, CEO, Hudson Napa Valley Rick Lawson, Director of Finance, Shafer Vineyards Event 2: Operational Health - Best Practices for Efficient Winery Operations Monday, July 15 at 1:00 PM PDT Juan Munoz-Oca, COO, Marchesi Antinori Ryan Pennington, COO, L’Ecole Event 3: Cultural Health - Building and Nurturing a Positive Winery Environment Wednesday, July 24 at 11:00 AM PDT Remi Cohen, CEO, Domaine Carneros Kyle Altomare, Winema

Afternoon Brief, April 10th

Scientists Launch Wine Bottle Washing Project in Finger Lakes, New York: Glass scientists in New York State are studying ways to wash and reuse wine bottles in order to mitigate rising costs for Finger Lakes producers...